Author Area of Expertise
1.Stacy Stanifer is an Assistant Professor in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and Co-Leader of the University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences Community Engagement Core. Dr. Stanifer's research interests concentrate on the avoidance of tobacco and radon exposure as a means of lung cancer prevention.
2. Beverly Delidow is Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University. Dr. Delidow’s research interests include the role beta-catenin in normal and cancer cell function, and the relationship between health and the social and physical environment in disadvantaged communities.
3. Kelly Kennoy is the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Center For Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Her research interests are environmental health with a special focus on climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
4. Kathy Rademacher is the Data Manager for BREATHE (Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments) at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. Kathy is a certified expert user of REDCap and Qualtrics, and she uses these software programs to design surveys for multiple research projects. Kathy has over 15 years of experience in survey development and data management. Her research experience is primarily focused on tobacco control, vulnerable populations, and radon. Kathy oversees recruitment and data collection for the Radon on the RADAR (Residents Acting to Detect and Alleviate Radon) project.
5. Luz Huntington-Moskos is an Associate Professor and Director of the Community Engagement Core for the Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Louisville. Dr. Huntington-Moskos research interests focuses on the intersection between adolescent health, environmental health and health disparities.
6. Amanda Thaxton-Wiggins is a Statistician in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. Dr. Wiggins provides biostatistical support to faculty and students ranging from data collection and management, analysis, presentation, and dissemination.
7. Craig Wilmhoff is a high school biology teacher with Buckhorn High School in Perry County, Kentucky. His research interests focus on citizen science in areas of air and water quality and climate change.
8. Ellen J. Hahn is Professor in the Colleges of Nursing and Public Health at the University of Kentucky (UK). Dr. Hahn is Director for UK-CARES (Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences; P30 ES026529), and Director for the Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Core of the NIOSH-funded Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center. Her research interests are population-based environmental risk reduction intervention and observational studies; and development and testing of evidence-based policy advocacy interventions to promote policy change.
Abstract
Introduction: Science communication plays a crucial role in tackling pressing regional, national, and global health issues. Effective communication with various audiences is integral to dissemination of science findings.
Purpose: This study evaluates changes in self-efficacy and attitudes toward science communication skills over time and also assesses program outcomes and satisfaction with a Faculty Fellows in Science Communication (FFSC) program among faculty (N = 30) with interest in environmental health science and/or education in Appalachia Kentucky.
Methods: A mixed methods program evaluation was employed using longitudinal data on behaviors, attitudes, and program outcomes from three cohorts of Faculty Fellows who participated in the year-long UK-CARES Faculty Fellows in Science Communication (FFSC) program from 2018 to 2021. Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance was used to evaluate changes over time in self-efficacy and attitude scores.
Results: A total of 30 Fellows enrolled in the program. Participation in the FFSC program significantly increased self-efficacy in communicating with peers in one’s own department (F = 7.6, p = 0.002), outside department (F = 7.3, p = 0.002), and lay audiences (F = 5.8, p = 0.006) and evaluations of the program were positive. Qualitative feedback from participants offered insights into how program participation helped them communicate with different audiences, incorporate narratives or stories to engage audiences, and develop innovative methods of communicating with lay audiences.
Implications: The FFSC program provides a useful framework for other institutions and supports faculty as they build the communication skills necessary to effectively translate science with various audiences.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0502.07
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Appendix: Workshop and training topics
Recommended Citation
Stanifer S, Delidow B, Rademacher K, et al. Evaluation of a faculty fellows program in science communication. J Appalach Health 2023;5(2):85–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0502.07.
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