Epidemiological Data Challenges: Planning for a More Robust Future Through Data Standards
Abstract
Accessible epidemiological data are of great value for emergency preparedness and response, understanding disease progression through a population, and building statistical and mechanistic disease models that enable forecasting. The status quo, however, renders acquiring and using such data difficult in practice. In many cases, a primary way of obtaining epidemiological data is through the internet, but the methods by which the data are presented to the public often differ drastically among institutions. As a result, there is a strong need for better data sharing practices. This paper identifies, in detail and with examples, the three key challenges one encounters when attempting to acquire and use epidemiological data: (1) interfaces, (2) data formatting, and (3) reporting. These challenges are used to provide suggestions and guidance for improvement as these systems evolve in the future. If these suggested data and interface recommendations were adhered to, epidemiological and public health analysis, modeling, and informatics work would be significantly streamlined, which can in turn yield better public health decision-making capabilities.
- Authors:
-
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1489945
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-17-21702
Journal ID: ISSN 2296-2565
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001; CB3656; CB10007
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Frontiers in Public Health
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2296-2565
- Publisher:
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; epidemiology, data, standardization
Citation Formats
Fairchild, Geoffrey, Tasseff, Byron, Khalsa, Hari, Generous, Nicholas, Daughton, Ashlynn R., Velappan, Nileena, Priedhorsky, Reid, and Deshpande, Alina. Epidemiological Data Challenges: Planning for a More Robust Future Through Data Standards. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2018.00336.
Fairchild, Geoffrey, Tasseff, Byron, Khalsa, Hari, Generous, Nicholas, Daughton, Ashlynn R., Velappan, Nileena, Priedhorsky, Reid, & Deshpande, Alina. Epidemiological Data Challenges: Planning for a More Robust Future Through Data Standards. United States. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2018.00336.
Fairchild, Geoffrey, Tasseff, Byron, Khalsa, Hari, Generous, Nicholas, Daughton, Ashlynn R., Velappan, Nileena, Priedhorsky, Reid, and Deshpande, Alina. Fri .
"Epidemiological Data Challenges: Planning for a More Robust Future Through Data Standards". United States. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2018.00336. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1489945.
@article{osti_1489945,
title = {Epidemiological Data Challenges: Planning for a More Robust Future Through Data Standards},
author = {Fairchild, Geoffrey and Tasseff, Byron and Khalsa, Hari and Generous, Nicholas and Daughton, Ashlynn R. and Velappan, Nileena and Priedhorsky, Reid and Deshpande, Alina},
abstractNote = {Accessible epidemiological data are of great value for emergency preparedness and response, understanding disease progression through a population, and building statistical and mechanistic disease models that enable forecasting. The status quo, however, renders acquiring and using such data difficult in practice. In many cases, a primary way of obtaining epidemiological data is through the internet, but the methods by which the data are presented to the public often differ drastically among institutions. As a result, there is a strong need for better data sharing practices. This paper identifies, in detail and with examples, the three key challenges one encounters when attempting to acquire and use epidemiological data: (1) interfaces, (2) data formatting, and (3) reporting. These challenges are used to provide suggestions and guidance for improvement as these systems evolve in the future. If these suggested data and interface recommendations were adhered to, epidemiological and public health analysis, modeling, and informatics work would be significantly streamlined, which can in turn yield better public health decision-making capabilities.},
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2018.00336},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
number = ,
volume = 6,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {11}
}
Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journalFigures / Tables:
Figure 1: Screenshot showing part of the mosquito-borne illness epidemiological bulletin list. This is the most current and complete list, with data available through the 38th week of 2016.
Figures / Tables found in this record: