Meaningful Data and Public Health Policy

Background: Information provided by Central Cancer Registries (CCRs) enables health professionals to address the burden of cancer. It also enables stakeholders to address health issues related to determinants of health. Registries can support and strengthen public health policy through meaningful data representation to reach the Healthy People 2020 objective, “Reduce the number of new cancer cases, as well as the illness, disability, and death caused by cancer”.
Purpose: Present different ways of making cancer data meaningful, interesting and accessible to stakeholders. Review and compare how public health data can be presented in useful ways to inspire health in all policies.
METHODS: We reviewed existing public health policies for CCRs. We also reviewed different ways CCRs, national organizations and researchers presented data. We examined how data representations matched with stakeholder’s specific interests. The presentation will demonstrate a variety of data representations.
Results: We will show key components needed to display disease registry data in a way that is meaningful to various stakeholders. There is a need for coordinated efforts to drive towards useful and efficient use of data and best practices to reach the healthy 2020 goals. Awareness of disease registry data are needed to encourage the effective use of cancer data to stimulate change and health for all.
Disdussion/Conclusions: Data to support stakeholders is available but may not be in a meaningful format. By using tools such as dashboards and score cards, we have the ability to make data available in a meaningful way. Coordinated efforts and effective presentation of data will facilitate attainment of Healthy 2020 goals.