University of Kentucky UKnowledge Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications 5-2009 Public Health Systems and Services Research: Dataset Development, Dissemination, and Use F. Douglas Scutchfield University of Kentucky, [email protected] Nikki Lawhorn University of Kentucky Rick Ingram University of Kentucky Debra Joy Pérez Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Rick Brewer University of Kentucky, [email protected] See next page for additional authors Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits oy u. Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pmeh_facpub Part of the Environmental Public Health Commons Repository Citation Scutchfield, F. Douglas; Lawhorn, Nikki; Ingram, Rick; Pérez, Debra Joy; Brewer, Rick; and Bhandari, Michelyn, "Public Health Systems and Services Research: Dataset Development, Dissemination, and Use" (2009). Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications. 4. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pmeh_facpub/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors F. Douglas Scutchfield, Nikki Lawhorn, Rick Ingram, Debra Joy Pérez, Rick Brewer, and Michelyn Bhandari Public Health Systems and Services Research: Dataset Development, Dissemination, and Use Notes/Citation Information Published in Public Health Reports, v. 124, no. 3, p. 372-377. ©2009 Association of Schools of Public Health The opc yright holder has granted the permission for posting the article here. This article is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pmeh_facpub/4 Practice Articles Public Health Systems and Services Research: Dataset Development, Dissemination, and Use F. Douglas Scutchfield, MDa SYNOPSIS Nikki Lawhorn, MPPa Rick Ingram, MEda Public health systems and services research (PHSSR) is defined as “a field of Debra Joy Pérez, PhDb study that examines the organization, financing, and delivery of public health Rick Brewer, MSLSc services within communities and the impact of those services.” PHSSR is a Michelyn Bhandari, DrPHd relatively young field and suffers from a paucity of research resources. In this article, we describe the development and utility of a data resource, housed on the Health Services and Sciences Research Resources website maintained by the National Library of Medicine, which provides easy access to instruments, indices, and datasets that are relevant to PHSSR researchers. We also inves- tigate efforts to promote the use and dissemination of these data resources, including the awarding of research grants and the organization of a PHSSR conference. aUniversity of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington, KY bRobert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ cUniversity of Kentucky Medical Center Library, Lexington, KY dEastern Kentucky University, Department of Health Promotion and Administration, Richmond, KY Address correspondence to: F. Douglas Scutchfield, MD, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Room 105, 121 Washington Ave., Lexington, KY 40536-0003; tel. 859-218-2024; fax 859-218-2024; e-mail <[email protected]>. ©2009 Association of Schools of Public Health 372 Public Health Reports / May–June 2009 / Volume 124 Public Health Systems and Services Research 373 While public health systems and services research HSR strengthens the capacity to conduct PHSSR. This, (PHSSR)1 is a relative newcomer to research synthesis in turn, facilitates the use of existing datasets and and evidence-based practice, the field of health ser- instruments for secondary analysis, and encourages vices research (HSR) has a history that extends sev- the further development of databases and instruments eral decades.2,3 Health services researchers have long for PHSSR. This article describes an ongoing project recognized the need for databases that are suitable intended to address the need for PHSSR resources. for secondary data analysis, as well as data collection instruments that have been refined through psycho- BACKGROUND metric and common use procedures. These resources have enabled health services researchers to become Since 2006, the University of Kentucky, in conjunction productive quickly, and have helped HSR to become with the NLM and with support from the Robert Wood a well-defined area of inquiry. Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the NLM, has been The National Library of Medicine’s (NLM’s) developing the PHSSR subset of the HSRR database. National Information Center on Health Services The PHSSR subset reflects the recognition by RWJF Research and Health Care Technology sponsors several and the NLM that efforts focused on improving qual- research tools of use to HSR, including the Health ity in public health practice must be evidence-based. Services and Sciences Research Resources (HSRR) The provision of reliable and easily accessible data for database—an Internet database that contains approxi- PHSSR is an essential element of these efforts. mately 800 records of various research resources (i.e., The project described in this article represents instruments/indices, datasets, and software) that have an essential first step in providing researchers with utility for HSR. NLM also sponsors the Health Services information about data suitable for PHSSR. The proj- Research Projects in Progress (HSRProj) website, ect’s objectives are threefold: (1) identify and create which gives researchers access to descriptions of cur- descriptive records of data resources for inclusion in rent research projects in HSR. These NLM Web-based a PHSSR subset of the HSRR database maintained by resources serve as a clearinghouse of information on the NLM, (2) disseminate information about the new HSR data and research. PHSSR subset of the HSRR database to the research The efforts of researchers and the NLM to make community, and (3) encourage increased use of these relevant research readily available have contributed to resources by those who conduct PHSSR. the support, identity, and respect that HSR currently enjoys. Many of the NLM HSR resources can also be PHSSR DATABASE DEVELOPMENT useful in PHSSR.3 However, a need exists for resources that serve the specific needs of those conducting The PHSSR subset of the HSRR database is the result research in the field of public health, particularly those of a comprehensive search for PHSSR resources. Devel- involved in PHSSR. opment of the PHSSR subset of the HSRR database PHSSR is an area of inquiry that examines the began with a comprehensive review of the existing data organization, financing, delivery, and impact of public included in the HSRR database (available at http:// health services within communities, and has emerged www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/hsrr_search), using the key- as a vehicle for applying the concepts and methods of words and MeSH (NLM’s medical subject headings) HSR to public health settings. However, PHSSR has terms contained in the Table, to identify existing HSRR been hindered by the lack of systematic resources that resources with potential utility for PHSSR. The search satisfy the information needs of researchers engaging in resulted in the identification of 473 existing resources PHSSR. Anderson and colleagues describe the current with potential utility for PHSSR, not including dupli- state of PHSSR: “At a time when demand for evidenced- cate resources. based practice (in public health) has reached its peak, Two project staff members then reviewed the HSRR a parallel understanding of how scientific evidence data resource profile to ascertain the relevance of each contributes to the larger realm of knowledge for deci- item for PHSSR. Resources identified by the keyword sion making has not been adequately explicated.”2 search were tagged PHSSR only if both reviewers agreed To strengthen the nation’s public health systems, on the appropriateness of including the resource, and practitioners and researchers need “reliable, timely if the profile of the resource contained or collected information with which to make information-driven information on the following issues: (1) organiza- decisions, better ways to communicate, and improved tions/agencies that deliver or administer public health tools to analyze and present new knowledge.”4 A PHSSR services; (2) financing, spending, and/or payment resource comparable to those found in the field of for public health services; (3) access to, and delivery Public Health Reports / May–June 2009 / Volume 124 374 Practice Articles Table. Identification of data resources We also queried the major public health practice through targeted PHSSR search organizations (Figure 3) about the availability of data- bases or data instruments for inclusion in the PHSSR Keyword used in Number of data resources HSRR search identified by keyworda subset of HSRR. This identified some additional and very useful data resources, such as the National Asso- Assessment 103 ciation of County and City Health Officials Profile of Capacity 25 Local Health Departments and the National Public Infrastructure 13 Performance 32 Health Performance Standards Data. Study staff then Public health systems 61 worked with each practice organization to post the data Standards 20 resource profile on the PHSSR subset of HSRR. In addi- Surveillance 110 tion,