Exploring the impact of public health-related academic competitions on the competencies of university students: evidence from Anhui Province

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019, public health emergencies have garnered widespread attention, leading to an increasing emphasis in academia on cultivating high-quality public health professionals. In the context of digital transformation, public health competitions have emerged as an innovative educational approach for developing multifaceted public health talent. Methods: This study examines the current state of university students' participation in public health competitions in Anhui Province, employing a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative analyses, including SWOT and PEST models, Pearson correlation analysis, cross-tabulation analysis, and regression analysis, to assess the impact of public health competitions on students' abilities. Results: Firstly, the overall environment for students' participation in public health discipline competitions is favorable, with more advantages than disadvantages and more opportunities than challenges. Secondly, the main reason why college students are willing to participate in these competitions is the job - hunting advantages they offer, while the primary reason for not participating is a lack of self - confidence. Thirdly, competitions have a significant effect on enhancing college students' comprehensive abilities, particularly in areas such as psychological coordination ability and the ability to learn medical knowledge and skills. Finally, the frequency of participation, the relevance between teaching and competition, and the enthusiasm for participation have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the competitions. Conclusion: Based on these findings, this paper offers corresponding recommendations to further improve the effectiveness of public health competitions, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for their promotion and optimization, thereby advancing the innovation and development of public health education.