Impact of Health Informatics Analyst Education on Job Role, Career Transition, and Skill Development: Survey Study

Abstract

Abstract BackgroundProfessionals with expertise in health informatics play a crucial role in the digital health sector. Despite efforts to train experts in this field, the specific impact of such training, especially for individuals from diverse academic backgrounds, remains undetermined. ObjectiveThis study therefore aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive health informatics training program on graduates with respect to their job roles, transitions, and competencies and to provide insights for curriculum design and future research. MethodsA survey was conducted among 206 students who completed the Advanced Health Informatics Analyst program between 2018 and 2022. The questionnaire comprised four categories: (1) general information about the respondent, (2) changes before and after program completion, (3) the impact of the program on professional practice, and (4) continuing education requirements. ResultsThe study received 161 (78.2%) responses from the 206 students. Graduates of the program had diverse academic backgrounds and consequently undertook various informatics tasks after their training. Most graduates (117/161, 72.7%) are now involved in tasks such as data preprocessing, visualizing results for better understanding, and report writing for data processing and analysis. Program participation significantly improved job performance (P ConclusionsThe integrated practical education program was effective in addressing the diverse needs of trainees from various fields, enhancing their capabilities, and preparing them for the evolving industry demands. This study emphasizes the value of providing specialized training in health informatics for graduates regardless of their discipline.