Improving Data Quality in Mass-Gatherings Health Research

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Disaster Medicine

Background:

• Mass gatherings present unique challenges to health and emergency resources.
• Mass-Gatherings Health (MGH) is an emerging field integrating emergency medicine, management, and public health.
• Data quality is essential for advancing MGH research and practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing data quality in mass gatherings.
• To propose recommendations for improving data quality in MGH research.
• To enhance the foundation for future MGH research.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of five years of experience with a mass-gathering event and patient registry.
• Leveraging decades of clinical and operational experience in emergency medicine and disaster management.
• Identifying human, environmental, and logistical factors impacting data quality.

Main Results:

• Several human, environmental, and logistical factors contribute to poor data quality at mass gatherings.
• Specific recommendations are proposed for pre-event planning, on-site actions, and post-event follow-up.
• Addressing data quality is fundamental for robust MGH research.

Conclusions:

• Improving data quality is a critical first step for advancing Mass-Gatherings Health research.
• Strategic interventions before, during, and after events can enhance data integrity.
• High-quality primary data capture is necessary for meaningful MGH research and improved public health outcomes.