Problematic issues in developing public health policy based on data usage.

Abstract

Objective: Aim: To identify the opportunities, approaches, challenges, and needs of professionals at disease control and prevention centers in the process of using data for developing public health policy..

Patients and methods: Materials and Methods: The program provides for sociological surveys of professionals from disease control and prevention centers regarding the opportunities, needs, and challenges in using data to develop public health policy. The research materials included scientific publications, national-level regulatory legal acts, WHO program documents and sociological research questionnaires. The study utilized bibliosemantic, sociological, medical-statistical methods, and content analysis.

Results: Results: A range of issues was identified regarding the use of data for substantiating and developing public health policy. A survey of professionals from disease control and prevention centers indicated that they encounter a lack of data on social and mental health ([rate ± standard error] 19,7±3,5 per 100 respondents); work with at-risk populations (15,0±3,2); socioeconomic determinants (14,2±3,1); occupational diseases and labor protection (13,4±3,0); and non-communicable diseases and behavioral risk factors (11,0±2,8). Every sixth to tenth respondent reported challenges in obtaining and analyzing data. A high need (74,8±3,8 per 100 respondents) was identified for professional development in data usage for policy substantiation, along with preferred formats.Priority measures for improving data use in public health policy development were identified.

Conclusion: Conclusions: The identified issues in data usage for public health policy development, as well as the needs of professionals at disease control and prevention centers concerning data collection and analysis, and the priority measures for improvement, should be considered.