200208 Total Army Injury and Health Outcomes Database (TAIHOD): Future directions

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Monika Wahi, MPH, CPH , Military Performance Division/Injury Epidemiology Section/TAIHOD, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Ashley Beth Kay, MSPH , Military Performance Division/Injury Epidemiology section/TAIHOD, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Robert Wallace, ScD , Military Performance Division/Injury Epidemiology Section/TAIHOD, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Paul J. Amoroso, MD, MPH , Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA
Owen T. Hill, PhD, MPAS, PA-C , Military Performance Division/Injury Epidemiology Section/TAIHOD, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
INTRODUCTION: The Total Army Injury and Health Outcomes Database (TAIHOD), a data repository on United States active duty Army Soldiers (ADAS), began in 1995 with the acquisition of datasets from the Defense Data Manpower Center (DMDC) of ADAS rosters.

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE: The TAIHOD facilitates epidemiologic research on ADAS. Many TAIHOD upgrades are planned for the coming year.

METHODS: Currently, datasets from various source data systems are stored as separate Statistical Analysis Software (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC) datasets on a secure file server. Their integration is required for every protocol, posing unnecessary cost. Plans to integrate the datasets are being designed. New datasets are being sought for inclusion, and several pertinent datasets are in preparation for integration. Plans to provide real-time access to summary statistics via a reporting front-end are under development. Finally, to assist with regulatory compliance, a standard operating procedure (SOP) is maintained and updated frequently.

RESULTS: According to the current SOP, 28 datasets are undergoing a current TAIHOD process. Of these, 22 (75%) have usable data incorporated into the TAIHOD, and 11 (39%) of TAIHOD datasets contain complete, up-to-date data.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, members of the audience will be able to: • List at least 3 datasets available in the TAIHOD. • Describe 3 challenges associated with maintaining a data repository for epidemiologic analysis. • Explain the process of requesting TAIHOD data for a research project.

Keywords: Public Health Informatics, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was involved in the design and execution of the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.