Appendix A: Survey Instrument
Survey of Students Graduating from Schools and Programs of Public Health
Education:
1. Which public health degree did you earn most recently? (select one) a. MPH
b. MHA c. MS d. MSPH e. MHS f. PHD g. SCD h. DRPH i. BA j. BS k. BSPH l. MPH/MD m. MPH/JD n. MPH/MSN o. MPH/MBA p. MPH/MSW q. MPH/PHARMD r. MPH/DPT s. MPH/MA
2. Which year/semester did you complete this degree?
a. Year drop down with options i. Spring
ii. Summer iii. Fall
3. From which area did you earn this public health degree?
a. Biostatistics or similar b. Epidemiology
c. Health Services Administration (health policy, healthcare management, health services research, health law, hospital administration)
d. Public Health Practice (gerontology, dental public health, public health nursing, public health social work, veterinary public health, mental health)
e. Health Education or Behavioral Sciences (public health education, health education administration, health behavior, community health sciences, community health practice, health promotion)
f. Environmental Science (environmental health, toxicology, radiological health, occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene)
g. International Health (international health or tropical medicine)
h. Maternal and Child Health (women’s health, adolescent health, infant and child health) i. Nutrition
j. Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences k. General studies, non-specified l. Other, please specify ____________
4. Did you complete a practicum or internship while seeking a degree in public health?
a. Yes b. No
SKIP LOGIC: If no, skip to question 6 5. In which field was the practicum/internship?
a. United States Federal government b. State Health Department
c. State Government (not health department) d. Local (city or county) health department e. Local government (not public health) f. Tribal government
g. Military
h. Association, foundation, non-governmental organization, or other not-for-profit organization i. University or college
j. Pharmaceutical, biotech, or other medical device firm k. Consulting firm
l. Health insurance company
m. Hospital or other healthcare provider n. Foreign government or international agency o. Other industrial or commercial firm
p. Other, please specify ___________________
6. What were your intentions upon completing your most recent degree?
a. Enter the workforce If selected, please specify:
i. In which state(s) did you primarily look for employment?
2. No preference 3. International b. Continue with additional education
7. Upon completing your most recent degree did you have a preference for working for any of the following? (rank your top three choices with 1 being your most preferred choice)
o Educational Institution
o Not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) o For-Profit company
o Governmental Public Health Agency [local, state, federal (i.e., CDC, Dept. of Health and Human Services)
o Other Government Agency (i.e., Peace Corps, OSHA, AHRQ, FDA, etc.) o No preference
o Other _______
8. Have you ever considered working in a governmental public health agency?
a. Yes b. No
9. Rate the following factors influencing your interest in a governmental public health position. If the factor motivated interest, please use the positive scale with +3 being the most influential positive rating. If the factor deterred your interest, please use the negative scale with -3 being the most influential negative rating. If the factor had no impact use zero (0).
a. Job security: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
b. Flexibility of Work Schedule : -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 c. Ability to work from home : -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
d. Autonomy/Employee Empowerment : -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 e. Specific duties and responsibilities : -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f. Identifying with the mission of the organization: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 g. Ability to innovate: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
h. Immediate opportunity for advancement/promotion: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 i. Future opportunities for promotion: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
j. Opportunities for training/continuing education: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 k. Competitive salary: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
l. Competitive benefits: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
m. Enjoy living in the area (climate, amenities, culture): -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 n. Wanted to live close to family and friends: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
o. Wanted to work with specific individuals: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 p. Wanted a job in the public health field: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
q. Needed a job, but it didn’t matter if it was in public health: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
r. Personal commitment to public service: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
s. Family member/role model was/is working in public health: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
10. In anticipation of or since completing your most recent degree, have you applied to a governmental public health position?
a. Yes b. No
SKIP LOGIC: If No, skip to question 17
11. How many positions in each of the following public health agency levels have you applied to?
a. Federal public health___ (indicate number) b. State Health Department ____ (indicate number)
c. Local (city or county health department) ____ (indicate number)
12. In general, would you agree that the governmental job application/hiring process moved at a reasonable pace?
a. Strongly agree b. Somewhat agree c. No opinion
d. Somewhat disagree e. Strongly disagree
13. In general, would you agree that the governmental job application/hiring process has been relatively easy to navigate?
a. Strongly agree b. Somewhat agree c. No opinion
d. Somewhat disagree e. Strongly disagree
14. Would you agree that you received sufficient communication after submitting your governmental job application?
a. Strongly agree b. Somewhat agree c. No opinion
d. Somewhat disagree e. Strongly disagree
15. List any adjectives that describe the governmental job hiring/application process:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
16. Did any aspect of the application process deter you from pursuing the position or other governmental positions?
a. Yes, please explain ____________________
b. No
17. What is your current employment status?
a. Employed full-time b. Employed part-time
c. Fellowship, internship, or residency d. Not employed, seeking employment
e. Not employed, not seeking employment (i.e.: enrolled in new academic program) SKIP LOGIC: If not employed (d or e) go to Question 20.
18. Were you in the same job/position prior to or concurrent to earning your recent public health degree?
a. Yes b. No
19. Which of the following best describes your employer?
a. Federal government (US or foreign) b. State Health Department
c. State Government (not health department) d. Local (city or county) health department e. Local government (not public health) f. Tribal government
g. Military
h. Association, foundation, voluntary, non-governmental organization, or other not-for-profit organization
i. University or college
j. Pharmaceutical, biotech, or other medical device firm k. Consulting firm
l. Health insurance company
m. Hospital or other healthcare provider n. Foreign government or international agency o. Other industrial or commercial firm
p. Self-employed
q. Other, please specify ___________________
General Respondent Information:
20. Are you a United States citizen?
a. Yes b. No
21. Year of Birth (drop down of years for selection) 22. Gender:
a. Male b. Female 23. Ethnicity:
a. Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin b. Not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin 24. Race:
a. White b. Black
c. American Indian or Alaska Native d. Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander e. Asian Indian
f. Japanese g. Korean h. Chinese i. Vietnamese j. Samoan
k. Guamanian or Chamorro
l. Other ______________________
