Coded Statutory Datasets for Public Health Law Research

The growth of public health law research as a multidisciplinary field requires access to legal datasets. Because compilation of a coded statutory dataset is time-consuming and expensive, it is important to identify existing coded datasets in areas relevant to public health law. The search included a range of indexes to peer-reviewed literature, publications from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes, and government agencies. Bibliographies and reference lists were reviewed to identify potential additions. Further detailed inquiries with leading authors provided information regarding accessibility, updates, and related issues. Coded datasets have been used for research in public health law-related areas including reproductive health, violence prevention, tobacco and alcohol control, nutrition and physical activity, and motor vehicle safety. Datasets maintained by NGOs and government agencies are more likely to be updated but less likely to be coded for empirical research, while coded datasets are typically used at one point in time and not updated. Leading investigators noted the lack of dependable funding for ongoing updates, the difficulties encountered in attempting to share datasets with other investigators, and the lack of common understanding for coding standards. While coded datasets suitable for public health law research have been developed and used effectively by several investigators, broader use will require more consistent funding and methods training.