To understand the current status of epidemiological investigation capabilities among professional technical personnel in district-level centers for disease control and prevention (CDCs) of Guangzhou, and to explore the influencing factors.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among professional technical personnel from district-level CDCs in Guangzhou via online questionnaires. The questionnaire contents included the basic demographics, epidemiological investigation capabilities, and comprehensive personal competencies of the participants. Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted to study the basic characteristics of the participants, and multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to explore the influencing factors of their epidemiological investigation capabilities and comprehensive personal competencies.

A total of 335 participants of professional technical personnel from district-level CDCs were included. The proportions were high for females (60.60%), those aged 30–40 (42.99%), those with a undergraduate degree (61.49%), those majoring in preventive medicine (80.89%), those with primary professional titles (42.39%), and those with < 5 years of work hours in infectious disease-related departments (63.88%). The epidemiological investigation capability assessment showed that the analytical and reporting ability had the lowest score [(2.74 ± 1.00) points], while the organizational preparation ability had the highest score [(3.10 ± 0.99) points]. For comprehensive personal competency assessment, public speaking ability had the lowest score [(2.92 ± 0.86) points], and teamwork ability had the highest score [(3.72 ± 0.74) points]. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that epidemiological investigation capabilities were associated with gender (β = –0.41), educational background (β = 0.29), major (β = –0.40), professional title (β = 0.21), and work experience in infectious disease-related departments (β = 0.23) (all P<0.05). Comprehensive personal competencies were associated with gender (β = –0.22), educational background (β = 0.27), major (β = –0.12), and professional title (β = 0.12) (all P < 0.05).

The analytical and reporting capability of professional technical personnel in district-level CDCs of Guangzhou needs to be strengthened. Establishing academic upgrading and continuing education platforms, along with strengthening practical training in infectious disease-related departments, can improve the epidemiological investigation capabilities and comprehensive professional literacy of personnel in primary-level CDCs.