Qualitative study on problems in the pilot program of standardized training for public health physicians

Objective This study aims to identify the problems in the pilot program of standardized training for public health physicians in China and provide insights for comprehensive promotion. Methods A total of 35 worker were recruited from of the centers for disease control and prevention(CDC) with purpose method in the descriptive qualititive study between July and August 2022. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via the Tencent Meeting platform. The interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 software with the content analysis method. Results The problems in the pilot program were categorized into three themes: deficient policy system (imperfect management, inaccurate clinical training positioning, inconsistent training content/materials), lack of support resources (insufficient financial support, inadequate training professionals, poor hardware conditions) and recruitment difficulties (work-training conflicts, lack of training motivation). Conclusions The standardized training for public health physicians in China is still in its exploratory phase. To advance this program, efforts should focus on strengthening system construction, increasing financial support, improving coordination between educational institutions and regional entities, and establishing effective incentive mechanisms. This will help lay a solid foundation for the success of the program.