MCR: Open-Source Software to Automate Compilation of Health Study Report-Back

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Sharing individualized results (report-back) with health study participants enhances data access and promotes health equity.
• Personalizing reports is time-intensive, limiting the scope and detail of information shared.
• Existing automated reporting tools are often study-specific, not open-source, or broadly modifiable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an open-source, generalizable software tool, the Macro for the Compilation of Report-backs (MCR), to automate the creation of individualized health study reports.
• To assess the impact of MCR on the report-back process, report detail, and researcher experience.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Macro for the Compilation of Report-backs (MCR), an open-source tool for automating report generation.
• Piloted MCR in two environmental exposure studies in Massachusetts.
• Conducted interviews with seven research team members to gather feedback on MCR's impact.

Main Results:

• Researchers using MCR generated more detailed reports, including individualized numerical, text, and graphical data, compared to manual methods.
• MCR led to time savings in producing both draft and final reports.
• Researchers reported increased creativity in report design and improved confidence in quality control.

Conclusions:

• The open-source Macro for the Compilation of Report-backs (MCR) tool reduces barriers to personalizing health study reports.
• MCR promotes more equitable access to individualized data and supports participant self-determination.
• While not expediting the entire process, MCR enhances the quality and efficiency of report personalization.