Section 5: Identifying Skills for Preparing Profiles
The goal of the guidelines is to help you produce epidemiologic profiles that are
consistent in content, format, usefulness, and quality for prevention and care so as to
promote comparability across jurisdictions and the equitable allocation of scarce
resources to populations most in need. The guidelines dictate a common set of standards
and principles for epidemiologic profiles. The achievement of these goals relies in part
on the skills and knowledge of the profile writers and the resources available to them.
However, the personnel, expertise, and resources for preparing HIV/AIDS epidemiologic
profiles differ by service area.
A Multidisciplinary Approach
A multidisciplinary team approach is recommended, even if one person takes the lead in
writing the profile. A team can reduce strain on local resources (i.e., one person who
prepares the profile in addition to other responsibilities) and bring multiple skills and
experience to the work.
Skills for a multidisciplinary team
A multidisciplinary team should include persons with knowledge and skills in the
following areas:
- familiarity with clinical aspects of HIV/AIDS and its treatment
- familiarity with the local HIV/AIDS epidemic
- familiarity with strengths and limitations of available data sources
- skills in data analysis and interpretation
- knowledge of, and experience with, programs and research
- knowledge of the needs and duties of the prevention and care planning groups (setting
priorities among populations, interventions, and services)
- understanding of how the epidemiologic profile relates to HRSA and CDC
requirements for needs assessment and gap analysis
- knowledge of the data needs of the people carrying out prevention and care programs
- knowledge of policy issues
- knowledge and acceptance of the tenets of applicable confidentiality protocols
- ability to communicate to a diverse audience in user-friendly language
Desired Proficiencies
Whether the profile is being prepared by in-house staff or a consultant(s), certain
minimum skills and knowledge are needed to ensure a valid, useful profile. Additional
capabilities can enhance the development of the profile.
Minimum knowledge base
- knowledge of HIV/AIDS surveillance systems
- knowledge of basic principles of epidemiology and statistics
- basic knowledge of CDC and HRSA programs in HIV/AIDS prevention and care
- understanding of the confidential nature of HIV/AIDS and other data (e.g.,
restrictions in reporting small numbers) familiarity with the local HIV/AIDS
epidemic
- understanding of how data are collected and the strengths and weaknesses of the data
- ability to interpret data from HIV/AIDS and other surveillance systems to make
inferences for HIV prevention and care planning
Minimum skills
- statistical skills
- using descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, median, frequency, percentage, statistical
relationships)
- calculating rates
- assessing trends over time
- computer skills
- word processing
- use of basic statistical and graphics software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Microsoft
PowerPoint, Epi Info, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Statistical
Analysis Software)
- writing and speaking skills, including the ability to communicate difficult concepts
clearly to a variety of end users
- interpersonal skills and ability to work with persons from diverse backgrounds and
disciplines
Special Considerations: Working with a Consultant
Some planning groups may wish to employ a consultant to prepare or assist in preparing
the profile. For example, a small EMA with limited resources might hire an
epidemiologist from a local university to work with the planning groups.
When using a consultant, be sure to observe the following:
- Develop a contract that clearly delineates the scope of work, the timeline, and
ownership of the final product (the final document should be in the public domain
[i.e., not copyrighted]; the consultant should acknowledge the source when publishing
work that includes information from the profile).
- Choose a person with the skills and experience necessary to execute the work defined
in the scope of work (some consultants may need help understanding CDC and HRSA requirements, and the added “costs” of ensuring that the consultant is
knowledgeable enough to complete the work should be factored into your planning
for the time and resources you will need to develop the profile).
- Provide ongoing supervision and oversight of the consultant’s work; build in
supervision through such activities as periodic reviews of drafts.
- Ensure that people who have experience with, and expertise in, collecting and
working with surveillance data review drafts of the profile.
- Ensure that consultants who need access to, or use, confidential
public health surveillance data (e.g., HIV, STD, TB data) be required to
adhere to confidentiality and data release restrictions and be subject
to penalties for violating these restrictions.
For more guidance on choosing and working with a consultant, see the
HRSA HIV/AIDS
Bureau, Evaluation Monograph Series Report 1, Choosing and Using an External Evaluator.
Go
to Chapter 2, Section 6 |