Defining information needs for public health systems and services research

Area of Science:

• Public Health Systems and Services Research (PHSSR)
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Public health agency leaders require comprehensive information for effective job performance.
• Existing public health data systems often lack the necessary detail for Public Health Systems and Services Research (PHSSR) investigations.
• PHSSR investigators have information needs that overlap with, but exceed, routine data availability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical information needs for Public Health Systems and Services Research (PHSSR).
• To explore data requirements across key PHSSR domains including agency organization, health information technology, and economic evaluation.
• To bridge the gap between practitioner information needs and available data resources.

Main Methods:

• Convened a 1-day meeting with public health practitioners and PHSSR investigators.
• Focused discussions on data needs within three core PHSSR domains.
• Synthesized input to define requirements for future data collection and system enhancements.

Main Results:

• Identified specific data needs for PHSSR related to organizational structures, evolving health IT, and financial/economic aspects of public health.
• Highlighted the necessity for greater detail and comprehensiveness in public health data.
• Recognized the importance of aligning research questions, methods, and data investments.

Conclusions:

• Addressing PHSSR information needs requires strategic investments in data systems.
• Clarifying research questions and employing practical yet imaginative approaches are crucial for advancing PHSSR.
• Enhanced data capture in administrative, financial, and population monitoring systems is essential for future research.