Common Data Tools

Some of the most common tools for using data in public health are software tools. These can help collect, analyze, and visualize data.

Software tools for statistical analysis and data management are essential for public health. They help us to collect, organize, and analyze data so that we can make informed decisions about public health policy. For example, statistical software can help us to identify trends in disease incidence, track the impact of interventions, and predict the future course of an epidemic. Data management software tools help us to store and share data securely, so that it can be accessed by researchers around the world. These tools are important because they allow us to use data to improve public health.

Tools CACTC uses regularly

Our Data and Epidemiology Team relies heavily on to data apps: SPSS and Tableau.

SPSS

SPSS is a statistical analysis tool from IBM. It's used in a wide range of fields, including social science research, market research, and public health. SPSS allows users to input and analyze data, as well as create graphical representations of the data. It also has a number of built-in statistical tests that can be used to assess the relationships between variables. SPSS is a powerful tool that can be used to answer a variety of research questions in public health. For example, SPSS can be used to examine the relationship between smoking and lung cancer, or to assess the effectiveness of a new medication.

Tableau

Tableau is a data visualization tool that helps people see and understand data. It can be used to create interactive charts, graphs, and maps that make it easy to see patterns and trends. Tableau also allows users to share their visualizations with others, which can help to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing. With Tableau, you can create static representations of data, or it can be used to create interactive dashboards that allow users to explore data in new ways.

Other Software Tools

Other important software tools include Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Epidemiological Investigation Software (EIS). GIS is used to understand spatial patterns of diseases, while EIS is used to investigate outbreaks of disease. These and other software tools are essential for public health professionals to effectively use data to improve the health of populations.

Even more common (and cheaper) programs like Microsoft Access or Excel can be useful tools for making sense of data.