AB013. Assessment of one health core competencies among the Malaysian One Health workforce
Muslimah Ithnin1, Nur Indah Ahmad2, Latiffah Hassan2, Mohammad Farhan Rusli3, Tongkorn Meeyam4, Thura Kyaw4
Background: The Competency Framework and Evaluation Toolkit, developed under the One Health Workforce-Next Generation (OHW-NG) initiative, supports cross-sectoral, skill-based training and evaluation. This study assessed core One Health (OH) competencies among Malaysia’s workforce. Identifying competency gaps is vital for evidence-based human resource development.
Methods: A One Health Core Competency (OHCC) assessment questionnaire was developed based on the Competency Framework and Evaluation Toolkit. The tool was adapted for local relevance, incorporating six priority domains identified by experts from both government and academia. The questionnaire was administered to participants of the 2023 and 2024 Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN) Field Epidemiology Training and Tabletop Simulation Exercise Programme. Participants self-assessed their proficiency using a five-point scale, ranging from 0 (“not relevant”) to 4 (“proficient”). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.
Results: A total of 123 participants completed the survey. Most were female (68%), aged 30–39 years (62%), and had no prior OH experience (64%). Respondents were primarily from human health (62%), followed by animal health (26%), environmental health (8%), and others (4%). Limited or no knowledge was reported in OH risk analysis (72%), principles and concepts (62%), and epidemiology (60%). The remaining three domains also showed over 50% reporting limited or no knowledge. Age was negatively correlated with OH principles and concepts (r2=−0.194, P=0.032). While years of OH experience were positively correlated with OH epidemiology (r2=−0.182, P=0.044) and OH risk analysis (r2=0.193, P=0.032). The assessment found substantial gaps in OH competencies, especially in risk analysis, epidemiology, and OH concepts. This highlights the value of using competency-based assessments to guide capacity-building efforts.
Conclusions: Addressing these gaps will enhance Malaysia’s readiness for health threats and offer a model to strengthen OH workforce capacity in other regions, supporting global health security and sustainability.
Keywords: Core competencies; Malaysia; Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN); One Health (OH); workforce
Footnote
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Cite this abstract as: Ithnin M, Ahmad NI, Hassan L, Rusli MF, Meeyam T, Kyaw T. AB013. Assessment of one health core competencies among the Malaysian One Health workforce. J Public Health Emerg 2026;10:AB013.
