Evaluating Scalable Health Communication Training for Public Health and Healthcare Professionals

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical communication challenges within the public health workforce, emphasizing the urgent need for practical, scalable, and accessible training solutions. In response, an academic health communication center developed a Health Communication Training Series (HCTS) featuring asynchronous, online courses designed to strengthen communication skills among public health professionals. This paper presents an evaluation of three free, online courses delivered through a state-funded partnership aimed at bolstering workforce resiliency. A survey of 780 registered learners resulted in 70 completed responses, with participants representing various sectors including public health, higher education, and healthcare. Learners reported meaningful application of course objectives within their professional roles and shared course materials with peers. Feedback emphasized the uniqueness of the courses, citing format, content relevance, instructor expertise, and an engaging design. Participants valued the self-paced structure, timeliness of topics, and real-world applicability. Findings suggest that asynchronous mini-courses are a feasible strategy to meet the dynamic needs of a strained public health workforce, providing timely and relevant skill development in an accessible format. The results also point to the potential of such courses to facilitate professional reflection and peer dialogue. Despite limitations related to response bias and generalizability, the study supports continued investment in flexible, high-quality online education to support ongoing professional development and workforce sustainability in public health.