COVID-19 Data Utilization in North Carolina: Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Experiences (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND As the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, medical professionals, technologists, community leaders, and policymakers sought to understand how best to leverage data for public health surveillance, as well as community education. With this complex public health problem, North Carolinians relied on data from state, federal, and global health organizations to increase their understanding of the pandemic and guide decision making. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the role that stakeholders involved in COVID-19-related data played in managing the pandemic in North Carolina. The study investigated the processes used by organizations throughout the state in using, collecting, and reporting COVID-19 data. METHODS The authors used an exploratory qualitative study design to investigate North Carolina’s COVID-19 data collection efforts. To better understand these processes, key informant interviews were conducted with employees from organizations that collected COVID-19 data across the state. The study team developed an interview guide, and interviews were conducted in an open-ended, semi-structured format. Interviews lasted between 30 and 45 minutes and were conducted by data scientists over the online video conferencing platform, Zoom. Data were subsequently analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS Results indicated that electronic health records were primary sources of COVID-19 data. Often, data were also used to create dashboards to inform the public or other health professionals, to aid in decision making, or for reporting purposes. Cross-sector collaboration was cited as a major success in the study. Consistency among metrics and data definitions, data collection processes, and contact tracing were cited as challenges. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that, during future outbreaks, organizations across regions could benefit from data centralization and data governance. Data should be publicly accessible and in a user-friendly format. Additionally, established cross-sector collaboration networks are demonstrably beneficial for public health professionals across the state as these established relationships facilitate a rapid response to evolving public health challenges.