Identifying a minimum data set of public health
tasks, knowledge and resources for network analysis
Jacqueline Merrill¹, Angela Wantroba², Kristine Gebbie²
Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Informatics,¹ School of Nursing²
WHAT WE LEARNED
Basic elements of public health work can be represented by a minimum set of 44
task, 54 knowledge, and 44 resource terms
BACKGROUND
VARIABLES
RESULTS
Organizational network analysis
•a tool for understanding complexity
•an empirical technique based on social
network and graph theory
•used to support management decisions
A 2005 feasibility study demonstrated utility
for public health management, but needed to
capture elements of public health work.
Terms de-duplicated, consolidated by cross
walk w/ Essential Services and 10 most
common activities from NACCHO 2005 Profile
Preliminary set of ~200 terms:
•reviewed by panel of practice experts
•validated by a focus group of practitioners
•terms both eliminated and added
•Minimum data set derived from established
practice documentation and practitioner review
OBJECTIVE
To identify a minimum set of public health
task, knowledge and resource terms for use
in a standardized instrument for conducting
network analysis in any local health
department.
DATA & METHODS
A multi-step qualitative method
Using iterative review > 500 terms extracted
from
•accreditation and evaluation instruments
•workforce surveys
•competency sets
•operational definition of public health
•public health business processes
RESULTS
•Terms can capture elements of work performed
across health departments that may vary in
administrative composition yet conduct common
activities
ONGOING STUDY
•Pilot a network survey instrument based on the
minimum data set in two NY State LHDs
•Comparative analyses of organizational
networks w/ NPHPS performance scores in a
national sample of LHDs
IMPLICATIONS
The instrument will produce standard
results to:
•support local management decisions
•build baselines for PH network
measurement
•allow comparisons of local health
departments
•inform system-wide planning and
infrastructure development.
This research was funded by a 2006 Pfizer Public Health Scholar Award