Population Health Working Group

The aim of this group is to assess information needs, use-cases, and design recommendations for considering population health outcomes and risks in disaster scenarios as part of collaboration between UW School of Medicine and the College of Engineering funded in part by the National Science Foundation RAPID program. The heterogeneous datasets from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria could contribute crucial information about geospatial factors and population health trends in the wake of mass resource and infrastructure loss. The efforts to archive and integrate these datasets will highlight unmet cyberinfrastructure needs (Objective 2; RAPID project 2017-2018).

Activities

1. Conduct informational interviews to gather feedback about what has worked and not worked with past collaborative networks and/or integration of new technologies (e.g., data, software, methods)
2. Identify population health researcher information prioritizations for water-related disaster scenarios
3. Identify data gaps in the disaster scenario that may be addressed with environmental and clinical information systems

Planned near-term outcome

Peer-reviewed journal publication towards completion of a PhD Disseration in Biomedical Informatics by Jim Phuong

Expected long-term outcomes

Advances in integrating health and environmental data models; new proposals and projects between UW Medicine & Engineering in collaboration with academic and stakeholder partners in Puerto Rico and other regions.

Collaborators

Jim Phuong: PhD Student, Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington

Christina Bandaragoda, PhD: NSF RAPID PI, Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, University of Washington

Sean Mooney, PhD: Chief Research Information Officer (CRIO), UW Medicine; Professor, Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education

Kari Stephens, PhD: Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and an adjunct assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education.

Andrea Hartzler, PhD: Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education.

Patricia Ordóñez, PhD: Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras

Qualitative study with health researchers

We are using a systematic approach of treating the first three interview codes as 'new', and explore how new themes emerge, with IRB approval for up to 20 in person and remote interviews. The interview has two parts: starting with card sorting to generate priorities and identifies specific usability issues. The card sort becomes a framework to focus on specific information on needs and barriers for the health researcher.

Scenario A hurricane has hit a remote island territory. There are reports that there is no power or clean drinking water. What data is available? What other information is needed for decision-making? What information is needed for population health researchers to work towards preventing water-borne disease and other health impacts after the event, and in advance of future events? Baseline information includes economic status before and after hurricane, as well as location of the event and vulnerable populations.

Key research questions to address

What are information needs and barriers?

What are population health use-cases identified for information?

What is the mental health and physical health and socioeconomic factors affected by the hurricanes?