268910
Fostering community engagement using technology for easier access to and better understanding of public health HIV data
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
: 12:50 PM - 1:10 PM
Nick Reid
,
HIV Prevention Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
Nicholas J. Moss, MD, MPH
,
HIV Prevention Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
Glenn-Milo Santos, MPH
,
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California - San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
Priscilla Lee Chu, DrPH, MPH
,
Population Health and Prevention, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
H. Fisher Raymond
,
HIV Epidemiology Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
Susan Scheer, PhD, MPH
,
HIV Epidemiology Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
Background Dissemination of public health data can be challenging. The San Francisco Department of Public Health publishes detailed annual reports on the local HIV epidemic. New technologies provide opportunities to supplement these with simple online tools for visual exploration of data. We piloted an interactive portal for local HIV surveillance data in order to broaden the ability of individuals without statistical expertise to engage with these data. Methods We extracted routinely collected San Francisco HIV surveillance data from publically available reports. We used open-source technology to generate a novel internet interface for exploring these data. The project is a presentation of de-identified data, rather than a database query interface. Results We created an internet site for visualizing dynamic bar charts of age, gender, race/ethnicity and behavioral risk category data for prevalent and newly reported HIV cases in San Francisco. The site also compares local, state, and national data on burden of HIV disease. Our tool allows users to electronically submit comments on surveillance data and share those comments. Conclusion Our interactive internet site is a pilot effort to engage community and disseminate information more effectively. We plan to expand the capabilities of this site and evaluate similar projects. To evaluate our pilot against the traditional report, we will measure click through rates and returning visitors. Additionally, we will compare engagement between DPH staff versus non-DPH community members by tracking users' IP-address. New methods of disseminating public health data require the development of best practices and strategies to ensure sustainability.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Learning Objectives: Discuss best practices for creating non-statistical tool to disseminate information and sustaining that technology long term.
Keywords: Public Health Informatics, Information Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a programmer working at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, where I focus on media campaigns and community engagement. In another life I have done design research for Yahoo! and implemented fundraising campaigns for national and international non-profits.
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.
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