Fieldwork Information Session

October 9, 2012

Fieldwork Information Session Overview

1. Faculty

2. Major players

3. What is fieldwork

4. Time line and tasks

5. Possible fieldwork strategies

6. IRB needs

7. Forms and Handbook

8. Questions

PH 737 Faculty Fall 2012, Spring 2013

COMHE –C. Platkin EOHS – F. Mirer EPI/BIOS – L. Thorpe HPM – L. McDowell NUTR – C. Platkin

Major Players & Responsibilities

1. Student

2. Preceptor (aka fieldwork supervisor)

3. Academic advisor

4. Fieldwork faculty member

Why Fieldwork  The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

requires that all MPH students in its accredited programs demonstrate the application of basic public health concepts through a practice experience that is relevant to the students’ areas of specialization.

In the SPH, fieldwork experience provides MPH and MS students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to use the knowledge gained during their graduate coursework.

Fieldwork and Capstone“The Relationship”

Fieldwork is a prerequisite for Capstone. Students may start Capstone course only when they have completed their fieldwork.

During the fieldwork semester, students compose a short essay summarizing reflections on their fieldwork experience, which will be incorporated in the student final portfolio submitted during Capstone.

The Capstone paper may or may not be developed based on the fieldwork experience.

Practice papers must be based on fieldwork. Research papers may or may not be based on fieldwork. Master’s essays and theses may or may not be based on fieldwork

Possible Fieldwork Strategies For those with 9-5 jobs with limited flexibility:

Explore feasibility of a public health project in your workplace that enhances institutions goals but would not be done otherwise

Identify field data collection opportunities that can occur nights and weekends Seek out faculty with interests in your area and devise an academic-based

fieldwork project on non-traditional time

For those who are completely undecided on what to do: Fill out ‘prospective fieldwork student’ form (see website) and discuss with

your academic advisor Consider formal training opportunities with the NYC Health Dept (HRTP) Look for fieldwork opportunities in East Harlem to help the school contribute

to neighborhood health

Prerequisite for Fieldwork Completion of 18 credits toward the

master's degree. Including:

at least 3 required core courses (biostatistics, epidemiology, and the course most relevant to your specialization)

and at least 2 courses in students' specialization.

Fieldwork Site Selection Provide appropriate public health experience as it relates to the student’s

career goals and area of concentration. Provide support and space for the student, appropriate for the experience. Ensure an available preceptor who is qualified and able to spend time to

guide the student. Have an understanding of the educational needs of public health students,

and increase responsibility and independence gradually.

If fieldwork is to be performed in a student’s own current job setting, the student must engage in substantially different assignment outside the scope of his or her usual activities. Activity must be approved by capstone faculty.

Fieldwork Preceptor Educational requirements of preceptor Assist the fieldwork student in determining specific, mutually- agreeable,

written fieldwork objectives & deliverables to the agency. Orient the student to the field organization’s mission, programs, policies,

protocols. Commit time for instructional interaction & dialogue w/ student. Provide supervision of the student’s activities. If indicated, resolve conflicts w/ agency or organization policy. Prepare an evaluation of the student, and discuss it with the student prior

to sending it to the fieldwork faculty member.

Fieldwork Site Examples Federal agencies, such as the USDHHS, VA, CDC, USDA, OSHA State, county or city health departments or social service agencies Managed care organizations Neighborhood health centers and community clinics Hospitals (public, nonprofit, for profit) Extended care facilities or community mental health centers Environmental health consulting companies or other industrial settings Head Start, public schools, private schools, nursery schools Academic or other non-governmental research institute Analyzing data provided by faculty, if the product of the analysis has

potential public health impact.

Fieldwork Expectations and Deliverables

Fieldwork Timeline Steps are needed at each of the following

junctures: The semester before your planned PH737

Fieldwork experience Just before and during the fieldwork semester End of the fieldwork semester

The Semester Before PH 737(Pre-Fieldwork)

Notify your program advisor of your intention to register for PH 737.

Discuss eligibility and possible fieldwork options you are considering.

Have a good sense of what your intended project or organization is by the time you register for the next semester’s PH737 course.

Just Before & During the First 2 Weeks of PH 737 Fieldwork

Finalize details of project site, preceptor and project.

Develop a written work plan, including the “fieldwork contract.”

Secure approval of fieldwork faculty member and preceptor.

On-going Through the Semester Undertake fieldwork Meet w/ fieldwork faculty member & preceptor as

arranged Keep a daily log of activities, as required

End of SemesterAt a minimum, submit these written materials to your fieldwork faculty member:

Your fieldwork evaluation Preceptor’s evaluation of your performance (sent

directly to Fieldwork Advisor, however please make sure that it is sent)

Reflections for your portfolio Brief literature review (for your capstone paper)

Fieldwork Capstone/Master’s Essay

When Do I Submit My Fieldwork/Capstone Paperwork to

CUNY/Hunter IRB?

Only a Few Capstone/Essays will Require a Full IRB Submission

1) How do I know what IRB level my project will require?

2) When do I submit IRB-related forms?

3) How long does this process take?

(1) How Do I Know What IRB Level My Project Will Require?

ALL students must submit a simple “IRB Research Determination Form” as soon as they have a reasonably clear idea of what they’d like to do for their Capstone or Master’s essay

The CUNY/Hunter IRB Office will review this form and either approve it as: IRB Exempt Requiring a full IRB protocol submission

CUNY/Hunter CollegeInstitutional Review Board

http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/irb/ for general information

www.IRBNet.com for locating forms and submitting all IRB documentation

Research Determination Form is short and easy! It’s less than one page of writing It is advantageous to submit it as early as possible It is very important to not falsify or skirt over details

IRBNet Website – Under “Forms”

Content of IRB Research Determination Form Submission

Present the following: Description of project in clear “lay” terms (roughly 5-10 sentences)

Objective, study population or community involved, collaborators, etc.

Duration of project

Description of potential human subjects involvement

If data (quantitative or qualitative) are actively being collected for your project, describe recruitment plan, human subject risks, etc

If data are already collected, describe how you will be granted access

Will need to include your CITI Human Subjects Certificate

What is Typically IRB Exempt?

Review and analysis of de-identified, public use or administrative data (e.g. analysis of CDC BRFSS data)

Analysis of de-identified secondary data that was already IRB approved (e.g. analysis of a de-identified dataset maintained by a faculty researcher)

Collection/analyses of information used to improve program quality only (e.g. not intended to be published for generalizable knowledge)

Literature review

How Long Does This Process Take? Research Determination Form is relatively quick (≤ 1 month) Full IRB protocol submission should be timed to meet IRB office

deadline for that month’s meeting (CALL office or review website).

1-3 months, depending on questions that arise (more questions, more back and forth…..)

A well-written IRB Protocol will generate fewer questions and be much more likely to pass the first time around without questions

Have someone familiar with IRB review your draft proposal before submitting

(3) When Do I Submit Research Determination Forms?

It depends……on how you are designing your fieldwork and Capstone project

Students take a number of different paths, all legitimate.

Fieldwork and Capstone/Essay are distinct and unrelated projects (i.e. fieldwork does not provide the content for Capstone/Essay)

Fieldwork is specifically designed to produce a known Capstone/Essay project

Fieldwork and Capstone/Essay are related, but specific Capstone/Essay project is not clearly defined until middle or end of fieldwork

Submit when you have a reasonably clear idea of capstone or essay topic and procedures

Fieldwork Forms and Handbook

1. Preceptor’s Evaluation of Fieldwork Student

2. Student’s Evaluation of Fieldwork Experience

3. Fieldwork Log (if applicable)

Fieldwork Handbook available at: http://www.cuny.edu/site/sph/hunter-college/campus-resources/fieldwork.html

Do You Have Questions?