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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.133173v1 AJPH.2007.133173v2 99/8/1505    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Agee, B. Articles by Gimbel, R. W. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Agee, B. Articles by Gimbel, R. W. Related Collections Ethics Health Law Health Professionals Public Health Practice

Brian Agee, MD and Ronald W. Gimbel, PhD

At the time of the study, Brian Agee and Ronald W. Gimbel were with the Preventive Medicine and Biometrics Department, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Ronald W. Gimbel, PhD, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814 (e-mail: rgimbel{at}usuhs.mil).

Objectives. We explored the relationship between the preparedness of master of public health (MPH) graduates in public health law and ethics and their completion of courses in these areas.

Methods. We reviewed accredited public health schools and programs to assess the supply of required and elective courses in law and ethics. In addition, we conducted an Internet-based scenario survey of MPH graduates. Survey results were analyzed, and relationships between scenario responses and completion of law and ethics courses were assessed.

Results. Of the 93 programs and schools reviewed, 14% required a course in ethics and 16% required a course in law. The majority (range = 55%–76%) of the survey respondents indicated being "prepared" or "very prepared" for each of the 9 public health scenarios. There were no significant relationships between scenario responses and completion of an ethics course. Responses to 2 scenarios (one involving food code violations and one involving a prison population) were significantly related to participants' completion of a course in law.

Conclusions. Few public health schools and programs require graduate courses in ethics and law. Most MPH graduates report being prepared to address public health challenges. Additional research is necessary to improve techniques for measuring preparedness.