{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T06:30:12Z","timestamp":1787725812753,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787702400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"\n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n Between January and March 2022, the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team delivered a master\u2019s-level short course, Pandemics: Emergence, Spread and Response, designed to strengthen interdisciplinary knowledge and skills for pandemic preparedness. This study evaluated the course\u2019s perceived usefulness, outcomes, and longer-term impacts on professional practice, one year after completion.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n A participatory convergent mixed-methods design was used, involving course alumni as co-evaluators. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey (n = 31; 62% response rate), while qualitative data were generated through focus group discussions (FGDs), value creation stories (VCS), and iterative workshops. Wenger, Trayner and de Laat\u2019s Value Creation Framework informed the evaluation design and interpretation of findings. Quantitative analyses were exploratory and intended to identify patterns rather than test formal hypothesis.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Participants consistently reported that the course was relevant and useful to their professional roles. Exploratory analyses identified associations between perceived course usefulness and engagement, course content, delivery mode, learning platform, and facilitator diversity; these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the small sample size and exploratory design and should not be interpreted as causal. Qualitative findings provided explanatory depth by demonstrating how interactive pedagogy, interdisciplinary learning, practical case-based teaching, and exposure to diverse perspectives facilitated knowledge transfer and application in professional practice, generating value across Wenger\u2019s cycles of immediate, potential, applied, realised and reframing value.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Discussion<\/jats:title>\n Overall, the findings suggest that interdisciplinary, learner-centred online training may support professional practice change when engagement, inclusivity, and contextual relevance are prioritised. This study demonstrates the value of participatory, mixed-methods evaluation and Wenger\u2019s Value Creation Framework for understanding long-term learning outcomes in pandemic preparedness training.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1879989","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T06:04:12Z","timestamp":1787724252000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Strengthening capacity for pandemic preparedness among health care professionals through interdisciplinary online learning: a participatory mixed-methods evaluation"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Maryirene","family":"Ibeto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)","place":["London, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Imtiaz Mahmood","family":"Tahir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Allied Health Professionals, Government College University","place":["Faisalabad, Pakistan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mukhtar","family":"Danmallam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital","place":["Zaria, Nigeria"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Beatrice","family":"Kamau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"County Health","place":["Nairobi, Kenya"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Victor","family":"Mtaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Training and Education Centre for Health (I-TECH), Tanzania Department of Global Health, University of Washington","place":["Seattle, WA, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paul Msanzya","family":"Zulu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zambia National Public Health Institute, Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)","place":["Lusaka, Zambia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fred","family":"Tusabe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill","place":["Chapel Hill, NC, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Helen","family":"Wangai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"USAID Medicines Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program","place":["Nairobi, Kenya"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chimwemwe","family":"Waya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"World Health Organization","place":["Lilongwe, Malawi"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Clery","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)","place":["London, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chizaram","family":"Fide-Nwaogu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Department. 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