Abstract:
Analysis of existing health data is often used as a cost-effective and
time-efficient means to provide evidence to inform important public
health decisions. However, the accuracy of the resultant decisions largely
depends on the quality of the accessible data, and how the data are
processed, analyzed, interpreted and reported. This case study, based
on an actual secondary data analysis that was conducted by a trainee
of the South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme during
April 2017, was designed to provide a classroom simulation of practical
considerations that should be taken into account when planning an
analysis of a secondary dataset. The case study is ideally suited to
reinforce principles already covered in lectures or in background reading
assignments.
