EVALUATION OF THE COLORADO ORAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM; DATA USES, DATA USERS, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS Open Access

Abstract

PURPOSE
Oral health surveillance is a new and different application of traditional disease
surveillance based in the roots of controlling and preventing population-based infectious
diseases. States have identified engaged data as an essential element of the existence and success
of oral health programs, thus necessitating the development of oral health surveillance systems.
To date the application of surveillance to oral disease and the data's usefulness to
public health practitioners has not been evaluated.
To determine how effectively oral health surveillance data are being used for the
prevention and control of oral disease in Colorado the present evaluation sought to determine the
usefulness of the Colorado Oral Health Surveillance System (COHSS) to inform
recommendations for the revision COHSS.
METHODS
Twenty COHSS data users were interviewed to determine basic characteristics of
COHSS data users, data uses, and data gaps. Themes within each evaluation question
were compared across and among categories of users.
FINDINGS
"Power users" and "critical mass" concepts emerged to describe two groups of data
users that have the potential to play a significant role in oral disease prevention and control
activities in the state. To date, however, insufficient connections exist between data users and the
COHSS, making data less useable for those working directly in prevention and control activities
in the state.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The identity of primary data users along with their respective program actions must be
clearly understood by the COHSS. Active connections between primary data users and the
COHSS must exist for surveillance data to be useful for prevention and control of oral disease.
The COHSS should consider collecting bi-annual oral health infrastructure data in the state
about primary data users and programs so that COHSS data collection, analyses, and
dissemination are guided by concrete end-targets and affecting health outcomes. Tailoring data
analysis, data products and strategically addressing data gaps will ensure that oral health
surveillance data are useful and fully engaged in oral disease prevention and control activities of
public health practitioners in the state.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements List of Figures List of Tables CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION Introduction and Rationale Public Health Problem Program Theory and Description Evaluation Purpose Evaluation Questions Significance Statement Summary CHAPTER II - LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction History of Public Health Surveillance Concepts of Modern Public Health Surveillance Public Health Surveillance in the United States Emerging Uses of Public Health Surveillance Public Health Surveillance of Oral Disease within the United States Evaluation Literature Summary CHAPTER III - EVALUATION METHODOLOGY Introduction Stakeholders and Primary Intended Users Population and Sample Evaluation Design Procedures Instruments Data Analysis Limitations and delimitations CHAPTER IV - RESULTS Introduction Findings CHAPTER V - MAJOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Introduction Key Findings Discussion of Findings Recommendations Implications References Appendices Appendix A COHSS Plan Appendix B COHSS Logic Model Appendix C Invitation Letter Appendix D Interview Guide Appendix E Code Book

Appendix F Analysis Plan

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Career Masters of Public Health
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology Health Sciences, Dentistry
Keyword	oral health engaged data surveillance dental public health data evaluation capacity building
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Alperin, Melissa, Emory University
Committee Members	Mathew, Christensen, South Dakota Department of Health Rene', Lavinghouze, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Brunson, Diane, University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine

Last modified

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	EVALUATION OF THE COLORADO ORAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM; DATA USES, DATA USERS, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS ()	2018-08-28 12:04:39 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions