Strengthening data management skills amongst public health professionals during the war in Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract Background The current war in Ukraine has led to disturbances in public health surveillance and epidemiological data flow, which impacts timely decision-making at regional and national levels. The five-year USAID project “Public Health System Recovery and Resilience Activity” (PHS R&R) aims to strengthen the Public Health system of Ukraine, including through the training of specialists in data management and disease surveillance. Objectives An innovative mixed-method, multi-module course was piloted in January 2023 to provide epidemiologists and other public health professionals with up-to-date knowledge and practical skills in disease surveillance and data management. The course was designed based on a needs assessment study carried out across the regional Centres for Disease Control (CDCs) in 2022. Modules were delivered both in person and online to reach a wider audience. Results 1,540 public health specialists attended the first module on Excel skills, online. A further 26 completed a second module, covering disease surveillance methods, data management, and data flow across regions, in person. Over 85% of participants in the second module reported that it was highly relevant to their day-to-day work, especially practical sessions on data analysis and reporting. The second module is currently under revision based on participants’ feedback before being scaled up. A more advanced module on data management is being developed and aimed to launch at the end of 2024. Conclusions The course was timely and relevant for Ukrainian public health specialists in need of enhanced surveillance and data management skills to detect and respond to public health threats. Its innovative format allowed it to train a large cohort of specialists across a variety of essential public health functions despite the full-scale war. This experience would be relevant for any country aiming to strengthen its preparedness for potential public health emergencies, especially in fragile settings. Key messages • The comprehensive training course on epidemiological surveillance and data management will equip Ukrainian public health specialists with data-driven decision-making skills in the war context. • The described training approach would be relevant for the countries which seek sustainable workforce development solutions to strengthen public health systems in fragile settings.