JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Professionals with expertise in medical 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.

Objective:

This study therefore aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive health informatics training program on graduates with respect to their job roles and transitions, their competencies, and to provide insights for curriculum design and future research.

Methods:

A 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.

Results:

The study received 161 responses. Graduates of the program had diverse academic backgrounds and consequently undertook various informatics tasks after their training. Most (72.2%) graduates are now involved in tasks such as data preprocessing, visualizing results for better understanding, and report writing for data processing and analysis. Many respondents, especially those with a master’s degree, reported the program had a positive impact on their professional careers. A significant number of respondents indicated that the training had a substantial influence on their career transitions, primarily by providing a better understanding of job roles and generating intrinsic interest in the field.

Conclusions:

The 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 medical informatics for graduates regardless of their discipline.