Project: International research on the health needs of populations and the capacity of healthcare systems to meet those needs, may be conducted using either primary data collection strategies, or less expensive and potentially efficient secondary analyses of existing data. Secondary analyses require that accurate, comprehensive, standardized, quantitative data from legitimate and reliable sources be readily available to the scientific community. This paper reports on a project undertaken to determine the extent to which country-specific occupational health and healthcare data and statistical reports are being made available via internet access. Web tracking included data and statistics available from UN-chartered and other international health organizations, such as UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, WHO, PAHO, IPPF, etc. Governmental entities (health ministries and departments of health) for all 194 WHO member nations were also tracked for an internet presence and posting of relevant data.
Results: WHO Basic Health Indicators represents the best example of standardized, web-accessible quantitative data, however only includes very aggregate national measures of health and healthcare system capacity. WHO and UN-chartered organizations are also a source for regional statistics, however these are typically reported in non-standardized qualitative (narrative) form. All web-sites from international health organizations also posted email addresses for key contact personnel. Of 195 WHO-member nations, less than half posted clearly traceable web-sites maintained by that country’s recognized health authority. Most nation-based web-sites were operational upon testing, though not all. Email contact information was tracked down for approximately 175 of the country-specific health authorities. Further follow-up correspondence is underway.
Learning Objectives: 1. Explore the utility of web-based data for secondary analyses 2. Examine the availability of contry-specific web-based health and health systems data 3. Discuss strategies for facilitating improved access to country-specific web-based health and health systems data
Keywords: Data/Surveillance, Internet
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.