Project description
Guidance document for managing heterogeneity when pooling data from different surveillance systems
Context situation
This report addresses the heterogeneity that arises from pooling data from different surveillance systems and provides statistical and procedural approaches to minimise or remove its impact. The aim is to support public health specialists and researchers in answering key research and policy questions using available European data to the fullest possible extent.
Project activities
Inventory of methodological challenges
Identification of the most common methodological and statistical challenges faced when pooling data from EU/EEA national surveillance systems. This inventory included challenges in routine analyses and more advanced analyses including time series analysis and analysis of effectiveness/impact of interventions.
One-day in-house meeting
Organisation of a one-day meeting to discuss and prioritise the main challenges when analysing data pooled between countries.
Guideline document
Based on the conclusions of the one-day in-house meeting at ECDC, identification and test of the methods to address the pooling challenges as selected during the meeting and development of guidelines for the analysis of pooled data across national data sources.
