223835 Grid-Enabled Measures (GEM) Database: An Informatics Tool to Support Cancer Prevention and Control Research

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 10:30 AM - 10:40 AM

Richard Moser, PhD , Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Bradford W. Hesse, PhD , Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
Abdul R. Shaikh, PhD, MHSc , National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
Paul Courtney, MS , National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, SAIC-Frederick support to Behavioral Research Program, Rockville, MD
Gordon Willis, PhD , Division of Cancer Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
Erik Augustson, PhD, MPH , Tobacco Control Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
Kerry Levin, PhD , Westat Inc., Rockville, MD
Cynthia Helba, PhD , Westat Inc., Rockville, MD
Kisha Coa, MPH , Westat Inc., Rockville, MD
David Garner , Westat Inc., Rockville, MD
Marsha Dunn, MPH , Health Studies Sector, Westat, Rockville, MD
In this era of ‘Big Data' it is crucial to develop tools that facilitate the use of standardized measures and allow for sharing the resulting harmonized data via an interoperable platform. This presentation will describe the development and implementation by the National Cancer Institute of the Grid-Enabled Measures (GEM) tool for researchers. GEM is a web portal—mounted on a grid cyberinfrastructure (internet-based research environment)--that allows researchers to search for measures based on theoretically-based constructs (the concept the measure assesses), examine metadata about these measures (e.g., validity, reliability, constructs, history, and usage), download the measures as PDF files and also submit new ones. Users can also give feedback about existing constructs and measures using ratings and comments and can interact with the virtual community of users through a Wiki-like process. In addition, this cyberinfrastructure-based tool allows users to upload and exchange data with common data elements to promote data harmonization. The presentation will include a live demonstration of GEM and will show how GEM contains many constructs and associated measures that are directly applicable to studying cancer prevention and control such as risk behaviors (tobacco dependence, diet and nutrition, physical activity, cancer screening) and other cancer-related factors (health literacy, numeracy, quality of life, depression). Lastly, there will be a discussion of the challenges of deciding on criteria for vetting and approving the measures, and for creating a viable "business model" to provide incentives to the research community to agree upon the use of common measures and sharing of data.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the purpose of the GEM informatics tool and describe it's basic functionality; 2) Explain how this tool can help drive the use of standardized measures in research; 3) Explain the utility of creating and sharing harmonized data;

Keywords: Public Health Informatics, Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have expertise in measurement and research design and I have been leading this project since its inception two years ago.
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.