Modernizing CDC’s Practices and Culture for Better Data Sharing, Impact, and Transparency
ESSAY — Volume 21 — March 21, 2024
PEER REVIEWED
The figure depicts data practices as critical pieces of a robust, integrated approach to using data. The graphic shows how practices of enabling open data and facilitating data use (eg, planning for timely mission-centric data sharing; promoting open data access from project inception; managing data use agreements; coordinating data management, processing, and stewardship; making priority data open and discoverable; protecting confidentiality and privacy; and ensuring a strong manuscript review process) help amplify impact and promote transparency when combined with a cultural shift and a comprehensive modernization plan (eg, improving data, collection, and interoperability; using data for better service and communication delivery; and helping upskill the workforce, establish data leadership, and leverage partnerships). These changes are influenced by the actors (eg, researchers, data stewards, and institutions) and informed by policy, data strategies, principles, literature, and lessons learned. The outcome is better health for individuals and communities.
Figure. Data practices to amplify impact and promote transparency through the lifecycle (black, center) informed by what we know (blue, bottom) with changes achieved by actors (green, left) in the setting of broader modernized data science strategies (orange) that leverage data use to accomplish mission objectives (purple, right).
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.