Population Health Shared Resource

University Of Colorado Denver, Aurora CO

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Overview: The Population Health Shared Resource (PHSR) was launched in 2017 to support and accelerate the growth of the Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Program and integration of population focused research in the other programs of the University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC). The PHSR provides access to data, tools, and analysts to support multiple areas of research and strategic initiatives including Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC). Services and Expertise: The PHSR offers two categories of service: population data science and behavioral science. Population data science involves curation and manipulation of national, regional, and local databases pertaining to cancer surveillance, cancer care delivery and outcomes as well as federal and regional, surveys describing cancer risk, prevention, and early detection behavior. Behavioral science includes qualitative and quantitative research methods—study design and implementation that includes focus groups, key informant interviews, patient-reported measurement selection, and survey development and implementation. Resources: The PHSR maintains an extensive array of databases and the personnel with expertise in using the databases. The PHSR established data use agreements to access databases capable of answering population health research questions and maintains access to data from the Colorado All-Payer Claims Database (C-APCD), the Colorado Central Cancer Registry (CCCR), SEER-Medicare, and other cancer-relevant databases. Similarly, the behavioral science services maintain a library of digital data collection tools and psychometric instruments for use by UCCC members. The essential PHSR asset involves staff with experience designing, conducting, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data collected from human subjects. Leadership: The PHSR is co-led by Drs. Studts (behavioral scientist) and Perraillon (health economist) in collaboration with Ms. Meyer, MPH, Manager of the PHSR, overseeing six master's-level PHSR staff. Use of Services: Tracking of use metrics began in fiscal year 2018. Since then the PHSR has supported 42 investigators, 34 (81%) were UCCC members representing all 4 programs and generating 27 cancer-related publications (41% with an IF≥5). Based on increasing service volumes and scientific impact (scholarly publications and grant funding), user satisfaction ratings, as well as endorsement from the IAB, and EAB, the PHSR is transitioning from a developing core to a full UCCC shared resource. Future Directions: PHSR leadership continues to expand the library of databases available to users and enhance the digital data collection tool library. Other efforts involve expanding behavioral science services to conduct patient-oriented, non-therapeutic research in clinical and community settings to support UCCC member interest in cancer outcomes and community-based participatory research methods.