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Health promotion specialists and the multidisciplinary public health agenda: Implications for postgraduate education

Objective To identify the postgraduate educational needs of health promotion specialists that have emerged as a result of recent public health policy induced changes to roles and functions. Design A questionnaire survey that combines closed and open-ended questions to generate quantitative and qualitative data. Setting A national study with respondents drawn from health promotion services across England. Methods A total of 222 health promotion specialist from a wide geographical spread responded to a postal survey which asked them to map out their current competencies against the draft National Standards for Specialist Practice in Public Health and to state their education and training needs. Results Education and training needs are in line with public health specialist rather than health promotion functions and encompass management and health assessment competencies. Conclusion Health promotion specialists are experiencing a range of policy-induced changes that are impacting on their remits. Their needs relating to education and training in strategic public health specialist roles have challenging implications for postgraduate educational provision.