Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Oct 21, 2019
Open Peer Review Period: Oct 21, 2019 - Dec 16, 2019
Date Accepted: May 24, 2021
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Barriers State Agencies Face with the Dissemination of Local Health Data: The perspective of BRFSS Coordinators
ABSTRACT
Background:
Web Based Data Query Systems (WDQS) make health data at the local level easily accessible to the public health. Despite their benefits Many state and local health agencies face significant challenges with their dissemination.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to identify the most significant challenges they face from the perspective of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) coordinators. We also seek to find an association between perceived system aspects, challenges faced, contextual factors, and overall satisfaction with state level health data systems.
Methods:
We surveyed Behavioral Risk Surveillance System (BRFSS) coordinators from 43 states. We surveyed participants about contextual factors and asked them to rate system aspects and challenges they face with their health data system on a Likert scale. We used two sample t-tests to compare means on participant ratings for states with and without Web Based Data Query Systems (WDQS).
Results:
Overall, 95.4% of states make health data available over the internet, while 65.1% employ a WDQS. States reported the challenge of cost of hardware/software as a greater challenge between states with WDQS than without WDQS. States rated standardization of vocabulary more favorably in states with WDQS (n=3.32; 95% CI, 2.94-3.69) versus states without WDQS (n=2.85, 95% CI, 2.47-3.22).
Conclusions:
Securing adequate resources, and commitment to standardization are vital in the dissemination of local level health data. Factors such a receiving data in a timely manner, privacy, and political opposition are less significant of a barrier than anticipated.
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