Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41938953›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2026

Strengthening field epidemiology capacity in Canada: a mixed-methods evaluation of the Canadian field epidemiology program.

James A Flint, Pasha Marcynuk, Anja Bilandzic, Jennifer White, Tambri Housen, David N Durrheim, Martyn D Kirk, Kathleen Laberge

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Fifty years of the Canadian Field Epidemiology Program (1975-2025): Reflecting on the past, shaping the future.Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

James A FlintSchool of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Pasha MarcynukOffice of Public Health Field Services and Training, Center for Emergency Preparedness, Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Anja BilandzicOffice of Public Health Field Services and Training, Center for Emergency Preparedness, Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Jennifer WhiteSchool of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Tambri HousenSchool of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
David N DurrheimSchool of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Martyn D KirkNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Law, Governance and Policy, Australian National University, Canberra, NSW, Australia.
Kathleen LabergeOffice of Public Health Field Services and Training, Center for Emergency Preparedness, Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Field epidemiology training programs (FETPs) play a critical role in strengthening public health capacity for surveillance, outbreak investigation, and evidence-based decision making. The Canadian Field Epidemiology Program (CFEP), established in 1975, was the first program outside of the United States. This study presents findings from a mixed-methods evaluation examining program outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Methods: Canadian field epidemiology program was evaluated using a theory-based mixed-methods study design. An online survey was administered to all CFEP graduates completing the program from 2018 to 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with graduates, placement site supervisors, and current managers. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed and integrated through triangulation. Results: The online survey was completed by 24 (69%) CFEP graduates and interviews were conducted with 22 graduates, 15 placement site supervisors, and 13 current managers. Graduates developed and applied technical and non-technical skills across all six CFEP competency domains. Most trainees (91%, Discussion: CFEP made a substantial contribution to Canada's public health workforce by developing skilled field epidemiologists who applied their skills to strengthen disease surveillance, outbreak response and evidence-based decision making. Expanding mobilization opportunities, formalizing alumni networks, and providing ongoing professional development opportunities would further strengthen field epidemiology competencies and amplify program impact.

Indexed as

Capacity BuildingEpidemiologyCanadaDisease OutbreaksHumansProgram EvaluationPublic Health InfrastructureSurveys and QuestionnairesCanadian field epidemiology programevaluationfield epidemiology training programmixed methodsoutbreak responsesurveillanceworkforce development

Identifiers

PMID41938953
PMCPMC13047194

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.