Julianna Manske, Mary Raschka, McKenzie Liegel, Erin M Jonaitis, Katie Gillespie
{"title":"A One-Year Online Public Health Residency Program Supports Early-Career Professionals' Confidence, Competency, and Career Satisfaction.","authors":"Julianna Manske, Mary Raschka, McKenzie Liegel, Erin M Jonaitis, Katie Gillespie","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>There has been significant and persistent staff turnover in the nation's public health workforce, leaving the country with a largely inexperienced workforce. Emerging public health system uncertainties further fuel vulnerability to the workforce. Public health professionals, particularly those without advanced degrees, typically build competencies through employment. This informal approach can leave gaps in knowledge and competencies necessary for practice, which can negatively impact confidence and career satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Program: </strong>The New to Public Health Residency Program (N2PH) is a comprehensive, online, public health-focused residency program designed to support early-career public health professionals working in governmental public health organizations. It is designed after hospital-based nurse residency programs and intentionally adapted to the field of public health.</p><p><strong>Evaluation methods: </strong>This study evaluated the experience of 103 early-career public health professionals working in governmental public health departments who participated in N2PH cohorts 5 through 10. Quantitative and qualitative programmatic data from 6 measurement tools including the Modified Version of the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies), pre-and-post-session Knowledge Check Assessments, the Adapted Casey-Fink Nurse Retention Survey, Program Completion Surveys of residents and supervisors, and 1-Year Alumni Survey of program graduates were examined for all 6 cohorts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean Core Competencies scores increased substantially, and post-session Knowledge Check Assessments increased by 9 percentage points on average. Career satisfaction started high and remained relatively consistent by the end of the program. Supervisors reported that their employee had applied what they learned to their job.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Findings suggest that a 1-year, online, public health-focused residency program enhances competence and confidence of early-career public health professionals. Career satisfaction can be influenced by residency programs but is strongly linked to organizational infrastructure and culture. A thriving public health workforce requires strong organizational culture, supportive supervisors, and comprehensive residency programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148680190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kayla M Alvis, Stephanie M Mathis, Michael Meit, Haleigh Leslie, Benjamin Pelton, Rachel Dean, Casey P Balio
{"title":"Postpandemic Shifts in Local Public Health: Structural Change, Motivations, and Perceived Impacts.","authors":"Kayla M Alvis, Stephanie M Mathis, Michael Meit, Haleigh Leslie, Benjamin Pelton, Rachel Dean, Casey P Balio","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002429","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify and characterize the motivations and perceived impacts of formal structural changes to local health departments (LHDs), with a specific focus on perceived impacts for the public health workforce.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>We conducted a systematic search of publicly available news articles, outreach to public health organizations, and 17 semistructured interviews with individuals involved in a formal LHD structural change between 2020 and 2025.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>The exploratory study identified and examined structural changes in LHDs across the United States between 2020 and 2025.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Participants were individuals associated with a restructured LHD, including past or present staff or board members. We identified participants through structured search queries and systematic state outreach, followed by a review of LHD websites to obtain contact information.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 16 structural changes covering 12 states and all Census regions of the United States. Across these changes, 153 news articles were identified, ranging from 0 to 50 articles per change. Change classifications included regional health district dissolutions and splits, mergers and consolidations, formations, and closures or transfers of authority. The changes varied widely, although almost all occurred rapidly and carried a substantial administrative burden. COVID-19, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and population change were among the key drivers reported. Participants reported notable impacts, including job losses and gains, changes in administrative processes, increased employee stress, and greater innovation and productivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Local public health restructuring occurs for many reasons and yields perceived benefits and challenges. Robust monitoring and guidance on restructuring may support LHDs during changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148608795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Community-Driven Approach to Eliminating Congenital Syphilis: Lessons Learned from New York State's Congenital Syphilis Elimination Strategic Planning Group.","authors":"Natifa Walters, Patricia Ramos, Preeti Pathela, Karen Hagos, Beth DeLeon-Stevens, Aarathi Nagaraja, Audrie King, Rachel Hart-Malloy","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002407","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>In 2023, the Congenital Syphilis Elimination Strategic Planning Group was convened by the New York State Department of Health and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a community-led strategic planning process to develop a statewide elimination framework following a 410% increase in congenital syphilis cases from 2012 to 2022. Forty-three representatives from public health, healthcare, community organizations, and academia participated. Organized into 7 subcommittees and guided by a Steering Committee grounded in health equity and trauma-informed engagement, the group met over 13 months to identify actionable strategies. Using a structured prioritization process, members produced 6 prioritized and 18 general recommendations for implementation, linked to community collaborators. Strengths included rapid mobilization, inclusive leadership, and integration of community and public health expertise, whereas challenges involved gaps in statewide representation and the absence of a metrics committee. This initiative demonstrates a feasible, replicable model for equity-centered public health planning through authentic community partnership.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148580820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Agostini, Adriana Herrera, Elizabeth Paulson, Ramona Shyne, Christina Delgado, Shakirat Oyetunji, Kenisha Campbell
{"title":"Addressing Challenges in a Pilot Naloxone Distribution Program for BIPOC Communities in King County, Washington: A Community Practice Brief.","authors":"Thomas Agostini, Adriana Herrera, Elizabeth Paulson, Ramona Shyne, Christina Delgado, Shakirat Oyetunji, Kenisha Campbell","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002426","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Opioid overdose deaths disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, yet these communities often have less access to opioid education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs. This Practice Report describes practice-based observations from a group of interdisciplinary partners who developed OEND programming for BIPOC communities in Seattle, Washington. Funded by Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC), a pediatric primary care clinic partnered with community organizations to deliver culturally responsive OEND. To increase participation, the program integrated hands-only CPR training and embedded activities within existing community events. Across 12 community-based events, 879 naloxone kits were distributed, and participants received skills-based naloxone training. Efforts were retrospectively described using the RE-AIM framework to contextualize implications for policy and inform future practice. Framing naloxone education as a bystander intervention, like CPR, and delivering training within trusted community spaces may improve the reach of overdose prevention efforts for historically underserved populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna M Kelly, Stephanie C Walker, Georgia Carney, Kelera Levu, Christopher Horn, Mark A Jenkins, Natalie Taylor, Eleonora Feletto
{"title":"Effective General Practice-Led Interventions to Increase Uptake in Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Anna M Kelly, Stephanie C Walker, Georgia Carney, Kelera Levu, Christopher Horn, Mark A Jenkins, Natalie Taylor, Eleonora Feletto","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002367","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002367","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Primary care, specifically general practice, represents the front line of health care. For colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, general practice provides an effective setting to improve participation in organized screening.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to review evidence from systematic reviews with meta-analyses (SRMAs) on interventions to increase CRC screening, and from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness and implementation of general practice-led interventions.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This scoping review included 2 phases: 1) an umbrella review of SRMAs evaluating CRC screening participation after intervention delivery, and 2) a review of RCTs evaluating general practice-led interventions, which were also coded for implementation strategies.</p><p><strong>Eligibility criteria: </strong>For the SRMAs, interventions could be designed to increase participation of any type of population-based CRC screening. For the RCTs, only general practice-led interventions designed to increase screening using fecal occult blood tests were included. Studies had to be published in English and available in full text.</p><p><strong>Study selection: </strong>We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo, guided by PRISMA guidelines, from May 2016 to August 2023.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>All evidence was assessed for intervention effectiveness and, for RCTs, implementation strategies using one implementation science framework and 2 taxonomies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 15 SRMAs and 12 RCTs, which evaluated individual, primary care/general practice, and population-level interventions. Key interventions including patient reminders, risk assessment tools, and kit outreach improved CRC screening participation. Evidence on multicomponent interventions is promising. None of the included RCTs explicitly outlined implementation strategies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings highlight the possible effectiveness of individual, primary care/general practice, and population-level interventions and their potential use in combination. However, there was a lack of implementation strategies to support adaptation and sustainability. Future trials should explore how interventions can mobilize general practice to promote CRC screening, incorporating targeted implementation strategies to enhance their real-world application and sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":"437-448"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13178772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147870122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Aerin J deRussy, Joshua S Richman, Melissa E Dichter, Stefan G Kertesz, Gala True, Richard E Nelson, Kashfi Pandit, Jack Tsai
{"title":"Characterization of Veterans Who Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans.","authors":"Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Aerin J deRussy, Joshua S Richman, Melissa E Dichter, Stefan G Kertesz, Gala True, Richard E Nelson, Kashfi Pandit, Jack Tsai","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002246","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) is available 24 hours/7 days a week to connect Veterans experiencing homelessness or risk with information, referrals, and linkages to Veterans Affairs (VA) and community-based services. This study describes characteristics of call center contacts (n = 251 668) with Veterans during 2019-2023, including demographics, identified social needs, and contact outcomes. The majority of contacts were made by Veterans themselves (vs third party) and most frequently resulted in NCCHV referring the Veteran to their local VA Medical Center; most Veterans who contacted NCCHV had previously used VA healthcare. This study offers insights into which Veterans may need additional attention to connect to VA care and those who remain at high risk of housing instability after connecting with VA. Future work should assess how Veterans are linked with care, with the goal of improving the response to Veterans' needs and guide strategies to prevent homelessness.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":"602-607"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13640467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145597355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gwen Davis, Margaret Cunningham, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, Timothy C McCall
{"title":"An Overview of Public Health Services Among Local Health Departments in Rural Versus Urban Jurisdictions.","authors":"Gwen Davis, Margaret Cunningham, Kellie Perkins, Krishna Patel, Timothy C McCall","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002324","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002324","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Rural populations face greater barriers to care and worse health outcomes than urban populations. Local health departments (LHDs) serving rural populations may play a key role in bridging the clinical care gap within their communities.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess and describe the differences in services provided by rural and urban LHDs, as well as the contextual factors contributing to those differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from the 2022 National Profile of Local Health Departments was used to estimate the provision of various clinical and population-based services and types of occupations employed, across urban and rural LHDs. Analyses were descriptive in nature but weighted by jurisdiction size to provide nationally representative estimates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Rural LHDs were more likely to provide many clinical services, offering care that is often more limited from other providers in the jurisdiction than urban LHDs. Conversely, fewer rural LHDs tend to provide population-based services or programs related to emergent public health issues, such as substance use. While 88% of rural LHDs reported that clinical substance use care was available through other community organizations, this is less than the proportion of urban LHDs (94%). Fewer rural LHDs also provide population-based primary prevention in this area than urban LHDs. Fewer rural LHDs employ occupations that support the provision of population-based services than urban LHDs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Rural LHDs are a key clinical service provider in their communities. However, they may have challenges prioritizing population-based services and those addressing emergent public health issues. Implications include supporting rural LHDs through formula-based funding, workforce capacity, and partnerships to continue and bolster both clinical and population-based services available for their communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":"485-495"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13193177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145985813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christina I Nieves, Adam Wohlman, Stephanie A Arbelaez, Arlen Zamula, Nana Bonah, Carmita M Padilla, Luis Narvaez, Ann Cuevas, Padmore John
{"title":"Improving Household Food Security Among Foreign-Born Residents of New York City Through Grocery Store Vouchers: A Pilot Program.","authors":"Christina I Nieves, Adam Wohlman, Stephanie A Arbelaez, Arlen Zamula, Nana Bonah, Carmita M Padilla, Luis Narvaez, Ann Cuevas, Padmore John","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002342","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002342","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Many foreign-born residents of the United States are food insecure and are not eligible for government assistance programs that can improve food security, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This evaluation aimed to assess the implementation and impact of bi-weekly grocery store vouchers on household food security among New York City foreign-born residents at risk of food insecurity.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>We employed a pre-post-test evaluation design among program participants with a baseline assessment and a follow-up assessment 8 weeks later.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>This program was implemented in East Harlem, a diverse, low-income neighborhood in New York City with a large immigrant population.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>A total of 163 residents of East Harlem, New York City participated in the program.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>The paper-based food vouchers were distributed to study participants biweekly for 8 weeks, for a total of 4 distributions. Each voucher was valued at $10 and participants received either $100 or $150 in grocery store vouchers, bi-weekly, depending on household size. Participants completed evaluation surveys during each distribution period.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measure: </strong>Household food insecurity was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) 6-item short form Household Food Security Survey Module and the associated 6-item Food Security Scale developed by researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average food security score among participants significantly improved from 4.4 at the start of the program to 2.6 by the end of the program ( P < .001), with a lower score indicating higher food security. Food security status also changed significantly, with a change from 97% participants considered low or very low food security at the start of the study, to 66% by the end of the study ( P < .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Grocery store vouchers may be effective at improving household food security among foreign-born residents who do not participate in SNAP.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":"477-484"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13193160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146167320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kunal N Patel, M Omar Khaium, Nancy Amerson, Evan Gustafson, Cassandra Johnson, Nikki Woolverton, Sarah Dee Geiger
{"title":"Evaluation of an Asthma Home Visiting Program in the State of Illinois, 2020-2023.","authors":"Kunal N Patel, M Omar Khaium, Nancy Amerson, Evan Gustafson, Cassandra Johnson, Nikki Woolverton, Sarah Dee Geiger","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002368","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Asthma Home Visiting (HV) programs offer community-based education and environmental interventions to improve asthma control and reduce health care use.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the health, quality of life (QoL), and cost outcomes of a multi-site asthma HV program implemented across Illinois from 2020 to 2023.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Cross-sectional program evaluation using pre- and post- intervention comparisons of health outcomes and health care utilization data.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Four Illinois-based HV programs supported by the Illinois Department of Public Health and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>A total of 209 participants (58.4% children) with physician-diagnosed asthma who received HV services between 2020 and 2023.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Changes in emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, QoL indicators (Asthma Control Rating, ACT scores, and missed school/workdays), and program cost-benefit ratio.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ED visits declined from 17.8% to 6% ( P < .05), and hospitalizations from 7.6% to 0% ( P < .05). QoL indicators improved significantly, with ACT well-controlled scores increasing from 24.8% to 45.4%. Estimated annual savings totaled $1.4 million, exceeding program costs of $1.04 million (benefit-cost ratio = 1.34).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Illinois asthma HV program improved health outcomes and reduced health care utilization, supporting its inclusion in comprehensive asthma care strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":"532-541"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13178768/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147718379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qiang Xia, Kacie Seil, Prima Manandhar-Sasaki, Daniel Bertolino, Valentina Mara, Lucia V Torian, Wenhui Li
{"title":"The Associations Between Sensitivity and Specificity With Prevalence in Data Matching.","authors":"Qiang Xia, Kacie Seil, Prima Manandhar-Sasaki, Daniel Bertolino, Valentina Mara, Lucia V Torian, Wenhui Li","doi":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002355","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PHH.0000000000002355","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the associations between sensitivity and specificity with prevalence in data matching.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using publicly available data, a synthetic dataset of names (\"source population\"; 8 million records) was created with records randomly assigned as positive or negative for a health outcome, as well as sex and birth date. All positives were included in file 1 (\"disease registry\"), and a random sample of positives and negatives were selected and merged to create file 2 (\"study population\"). The prevalence in the source population was defined as the proportion of individuals in the synthetic dataset who were randomly assigned as positive, and the prevalence in the study population as the proportion of individuals in the study population who were positive. Multiple disease registry and study population file pairs were created and matched with various prevalence in the source and study populations. Link Plus 3.0, a probabilistic record linkage program, was used for the data matching.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As the prevalence in the source population increases from 0.1% to 10%, the sensitivity increases from 80.0% to 94.6% and the specificity decreases slightly; as the prevalence in the study population increases from 10% to 99%, the sensitivity remains stable around 95.0% and the specificity stays at about 100.0%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In data matching, the sensitivity is positively and the specificity is negatively associated with the prevalence in the source population, but not associated with the prevalence in the study population.</p>","PeriodicalId":47855,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health Management and Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e148-e156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}