Moore Hannah C, Blyth Christopher C
Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth,
Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia; Division of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth.
Public Health Res Pract. 2018 Jun 14;28(2):2821810. doi: 10.17061/phrp2821810.
Infectious diseases remain a major cause of morbidity in Australia. A wealth of data exists in administrative datasets, which are linked through established data-linkage infrastructure in most Australian states and territories. These linkages can support robust studies to investigate the burden of disease, the relative contribution of various aetiological agents to disease, and the effectiveness of population-based prevention policies - research that is critical to the success of current and future vaccination programs. At a recent symposium in Perth, epidemiologists, clinicians and policy makers in the infectious diseases field discussed the various benefits of, and barriers to, data-linkage research, with a focus on respiratory infection research. A number of issues and recommendations emerged. The demand for data-linkage projects is starting to outweigh the capabilities of exisiting data-linkage infrastructure. There is a need to further streamline processes relating to data access, increase data sharing and conduct nationally collaborative projects. Concerns about data security and sharing across jurisdictional borders can be addressed through multiple safe data solutions. Researchers need to do more to ensure that the benefits of linking datasets to answer policy-relevant questions are being realised for the benefit of community groups, government authorities, funding bodies and policy makers. Increased collaboration and engagement across all sectors can optimise the use of linked data to help reduce the burden of infectious diseases.
传染病仍是澳大利亚发病的主要原因。行政数据集中存在大量数据，在澳大利亚大多数州和领地，这些数据集通过既定的数据链接基础设施相互关联。这些关联能够支持开展有力的研究，以调查疾病负担、各种病原体对疾病的相对贡献以及基于人群的预防政策的有效性——此类研究对于当前和未来疫苗接种计划的成功至关重要。在珀斯最近举行的一次研讨会上，传染病领域的流行病学家、临床医生和政策制定者讨论了数据链接研究的各种益处和障碍，重点是呼吸道感染研究。出现了一些问题和建议。对数据链接项目的需求开始超过现有数据链接基础设施的能力。有必要进一步简化与数据获取相关的流程，加强数据共享并开展全国性合作项目。通过多种安全数据解决方案可以解决对数据安全以及跨管辖边界共享数据的担忧。研究人员需要做出更多努力，以确保将数据集链接起来回答与政策相关问题所带来的益处能够为社区团体、政府当局、资助机构和政策制定者所用。各部门之间加强合作与参与能够优化对链接数据的利用，以帮助减轻传染病负担。
