Data-Driven Infectious Disease Control: Qualitative Study of Professionals' Attitudes, Barriers, and Needs.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Data-driven strategies are increasingly vital for timely and proactive infectious disease control (IDC).
• Successful implementation hinges on aligning these strategies with the needs of IDC professionals.
• Limited understanding exists regarding professionals' perspectives on data-driven IDC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of IDC professionals regarding data-driven work (DDW).
• To identify professionals' needs, facilitators, and barriers in adopting DDW.
• To explore current practices and views on data utilization in IDC.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory online focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with IDC professionals from Dutch Public Health Services (PHSs).
• Participants included diverse roles: medical doctors, nurses, infection preventionists, epidemiologists, policy advisors, project leaders, and managers.
• The study employed the Attitude-Social Influence-Efficacy model and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, with thematic and framework analyses.

Main Results:

• Nine FGDs with 36 professionals revealed five key themes: work environment context, DDW interpretation, added value, team participation, and development/implementation perspectives.
• While some data-driven strategies are in use, data is often not translated into action, indicating untapped potential.
• Attitudes towards DDW varied, influenced by factors like role, workload, and perceived value; facilitators and barriers were identified at individual, process, and organizational levels.

Conclusions:

• IDC professionals generally hold positive attitudes towards DDW but highlight implementation barriers and needs.
• A supportive work environment with a shared definition of DDW, clear roles, and responsibilities is crucial for effective implementation.
• Investing in these areas can enable a shift from reactive to strategic, data-informed action, enhancing preparedness for future public health threats.