Introduction
The digital transformation of health systems in the Region of the Americas has reinforced the emphasis on data for decision-making, policy formulation, and population health monitoring. For this promise to translate into improved health outcomes, it is essential to develop data management competencies in the context of digital transformation, ranging from data collection to analysis and interpretation within health teams to inform decision-making.
The Action Plan to Strengthen Information Systems for Health 2024–2030 and the PAHO Policy on the Application of Data Science in Public Health highlight the need for a workforce capable of managing data ethically, securely, and with an equity-focused approach, using digital tools that enable the production of timely and high-quality information for public health action.
The certifiable webinar series on Data Management for Public Health Action aims to introduce health teams and health information professionals to key concepts and practical tools, ranging from the data life cycle and data quality to the management of basic indicators and the use of open data portals such as PAHO’s Basic Indicators Portal, which compiles more than 140 health and health-related indicators for countries across the Region.
Objective
To strengthen core competencies in public health data management in order to support informed decision-making.
By the end of the series, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the strategic role of data in digital transformation and in public health decision-making, in line with PAHO’s regional mandates.
- Identify the components of the health data life cycle (collection, recording, validation, processing, analysis, dissemination, and use).
- Describe key concepts of data quality and strategies to improve it.
- Recognize basic principles of data governance.
- Understand the logic behind the construction and selection of basic public health indicators and their link to health priorities, targets, and the monitoring of inequalities.
Target Audience
This webinar series is primarily aimed at:
- Health professionals involved in the collection, analysis, or use of health information.
- Members of teams working in information systems for health, surveillance, statistics, epidemiology, and planning.
- Program managers and technical leads who require indicators for monitoring and evaluation, describing population health situations, or benchmarking.
- Participants of the Digital Health Learning Pathway interested in strengthening their literacy and competencies in data management.
Learning pathway and methodology
The series is structured around three integrated components, a selection of recommended readings, and a set of assessments.
1. Audiovisual content
- Webinar 1: From data to decision: introduction to data management in public health.
- Webinar 2: Data quality in health and digital transformation.
- Webinar 3: Basic indicators in public health.
2. Recommended readings
- Rapid assessment tool for the collection of critical data (PAHO, 2021).
- Data disaggregation in public health (OPS, 2023).
Duration
- 3 hours of synchronous webinars (3 × 60 minutes).
- 2 hours of estimated reading time and completion of assessments.
Assessment
Participants will complete four assessments: one corresponding to each webinar and one associated with the recommended readings. To successfully complete the series, participants must pass all four assessments. Each assessment includes multiple-choice questions, true or false questions, and matching exercises.
Certification
Participants who complete the training cycle and successfully pass the assessments will receive a digital certificate of completion issued by the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH).
To obtain the certificate, participants must:
- Watch each webinar in the series
- Complete the proposed activities (readings and/or exercises)
- Pass the assessments
- Download their certificate