Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41248479›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2025

Data-Driven Infectious Disease Control: Qualitative Study of Professionals' Attitudes, Barriers, and Needs.

Babette van Deursen, Cornelia H M van Jaarsveld, Tessa van der Bruggen, Stijn Raven, Julie E M Swillens, Aura Timen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Babette van DeursenDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7643-7888
Cornelia H M van JaarsveldDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4269-0041
Tessa van der BruggenDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9827-6467
Stijn RavenDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3471-0329
Julie E M SwillensIQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9337-1318
Aura TimenDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5793-5443

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundData-driven strategies are increasingly integrated into infectious disease control (IDC), enabling professionals to act in a timely and proactive manner; however, their implementation requires alignment with professionals' needs. Little is known about professionals' views on data-driven IDC.

objectiveThis study aims to assess IDC professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward working in a data-driven manner, as well as their needs, facilitators, and barriers.

methodsWe conducted exploratory online focus group discussions (FGDs) with IDC professionals from the Public Health Services (PHSs) in the Netherlands. FGDs were organized by profession, followed by a final mixed-group session that included medical doctors, nurses, infection preventionists, epidemiologists, policy advisors, project leaders, and managers working in IDC. The topic guide was based on the Attitude-Social Influence-Efficacy model and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, complemented with questions on current practices within the PHS related to data-driven work (DDW). Framework and thematic analyses were performed.

resultsBetween September 2024 and January 2025, nine FGDs were conducted with 36 IDC professionals. Five main themes emerged: (1) context of the work environment, (2) interpretation of DDW in the context of IDC, (3) added value of DDW, (4) views on team participation, and (5) perspectives on development and implementation. While participants mentioned that some data-driven strategies were already implemented within the PHS, they observed that data were not often translated into action. Attitudes toward DDW varied across participants, particularly regarding its definition, application in daily practice, the importance of data interpretation by professionals, results, implementation, and added value. Participation in DDW varied within teams and was influenced by role, interest, workload, time, knowledge, and willingness to change. Participants also identified various facilitators, barriers, and needs at the individual, process, and organizational levels, such as a national approach of data-driven IDC guided by a shared vision, defined role assignments, and clear protocols for data registration.

conclusionsIn this study, IDC professionals generally expressed a positive attitude toward DDW but also identified several barriers and needs for future implementation. The limited translation of data into action was viewed as untapped potential. To support effective data-driven IDC, we recommend investing in a supportive work environment that promotes a clear, shared definition of DDW, including defined roles and responsibilities. By doing so, IDC professionals can shift from reactive to strategic, data-informed action and be better equipped future public health threats.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelCommunicable Disease ControlHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth PersonnelAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsQualitative Researchattitude of health personnelcommunicable disease controldata-driven decision makingpublic health informaticsqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID41248479
PMCPMC12670049

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.