Public Health Systems & Services Research Data Integration

This project combines the three principal public health associations’ (National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH)) survey datasets into a single dataset with common geographic variables, a common data dictionary, and the ability to link to other non-association data such as the US Census. The University of Kentucky Center for Public Health Systems and Services Research (UK CPHSSR) will collaborate with the three associations and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to: 1) facilitate the harmonization of the ASTHO, NACCHO, and NALBOH surveys and assist in producing a linkable dataset. 2) assist with the development of cross-cutting thematic questions to address public health priority areas, 3) complete a single merged, enhanced database which uses data from the three associations’ harmonized datasets and other sources to improve the utility of the data for researchers, and 4) provide technical assistance to new researchers using the datasets. The target audiences for this project include NACCHO, ASTHO, NALBOH, CDC, other public health agencies, practitioners, policy makers and PHSSR researchers. This project directly addresses the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations’ commitment to facilitate research that has the potential to improve public health practice. Through harmonizing the data collection of NACCHO, ASTHO, and NALBOH, the science base of public health research and practice will be enhanced. The UK CPHSSR seeks $200,000 per year for three years to complete this project.