Using visualization to make public health services data accessible for decision-making

Research Objective. Local public health leaders face barriers to obtaining and using data for decision-making. The IOM states that “accessible” data for decision-making are those which are easily obtained and deliver meaningful information with practical uses providing “actionable insights.” Investigators with the Public Health Activities and Service Tracking Study, in collaboration with Practice-Based Research Network partners, are developing approaches to increase access to and utilization of public health service delivery data among public health leaders for planning and decision-making.

Methods. For this pilot study we used service delivery data collected among Washington (WA) State practice partners. Detailed data represented local public health service activity in 2012 or annually since 2009. Thematic analysis of interviews with practice leaders guided development of interactive displays that practice leaders can use for examining their community’s service delivery activity over time and relative to other local factors and peers. 

Results. Interactive data displays were designed for practitioner needs regarding what would present information ‘simply,’ show ‘comparability’ to other jurisdictions of similar size/context, and ‘captivate’ community partners and boards. The data and displays facilitate discussions among local leaders regarding opportunities for performance improvement, community-wide policy- and decision-making, and state-wide planning.  Further analyses will determine the most effective components of these online visualization dashboards.

Conclusions. Local practice leaders currently make limited use of data visualization but see benefits in access to a visual means for discussing the nature of services and capacity in their communities. More states are being included in expanded efforts beyond this pilot.