Data Analysis and Visualization Activity

Data & Analytics
Data Life Cycle
Data Visualizations
Data Storytelling
Data Analysis and Visualization Activity
Data & Analytics
Data is important, but it’s the way it’s presented that can bring about real change.
“Data science and data analytics have the potential to transform healthcare in many dimensions. Data science is the general process of converting raw data into actionable insights, meaning it offers a systematic approach to answering analytical questions to improve decision-making. Using analytical techniques, data science has the potential to provide powerful insights across and within patients, institutions, regions, and nations (Hardy, 2024, p. 358).”
Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in displaying data visually to promote sanitation reform. Learn more about her approach and the advantages of using data to promote change in the visual below:

 

Data Visualizations

Data visualization is a powerful tool in nursing research, helping to make complex data more understandable and actionable.
Here are some key techniques used in this field:
1 Heat Maps: These are used to show the intensity of data points over a specific area, which can be particularly useful in identifying patterns in patient outcomes or the spread of diseases.
2 Scatter Plots: These plots help in identifying correlations between different variables, such as the relationship between patient age and recovery time.
3 Bar Charts and Histograms: These are commonly used to compare different groups or track changes over time, such as the effectiveness of different treatments.
4 Pie Charts: Although simple, pie charts can effectively show the proportion of different categories within a dataset, such as the distribution of different types of nursing interventions.
5 Box Plots: These are useful for displaying the distribution of data and identifying outliers, which can be critical in understanding variations in patient care.
6 Network Diagrams: These diagrams can illustrate relationships and interactions between different entities, such as healthcare providers and patients, or different symptoms and diagnoses.
7 Time Series Analysis: This technique is used to analyze data points collected or recorded at specific time intervals, helping to identify trends and patterns over time.
8 Geospatial Analysis: This involves mapping data to geographical locations, which can be particularly useful in public health nursing to track the spread of diseases or the availability of healthcare services.
Visualization Techniques for Nursing Research.pdf (nursingbigdata.org)
Links to an external site.
Digital Dashboards
Digital dashboards are another tool used to visually present data:
“Dashboard reporting systems play a significant role in reducing data fragmentation and in enhancing the communication of pertinent information. They are especially good at synthesizing “big data” into meaningful metrics that are needed to monitor and track quality indicators and performance metrics. Prior to the advent of clinical dashboards, an individual would be required to manually forage through the EHR in an effort to extract and aggregate insightful data needed to review health outcomes or measure health care delivery performance based on predetermined standards. Dashboards leverage visualization strategies to present data so that it is easily digested, reducing the cognitive burden needed to process the information (Khairat et al., 2018). Dashboard end users can include providers, care team members, administrators, researchers, and broader audiences with interests in public and population health, including disease surveillance. For providers, dashboards often serve as a means of automated audit and feedback, capable of summarizing one’s clinical performance as it relates to prescribing, screening, or performing recommended patient assessments (Burningham et al., 2020) (Hardy, 2024, p. 40).”
Example Performance Dashboards at Johns Hopkins:
5 Lessons for Creating Health Care Performance Dashboards | Voices for Safer Care (hopkinsmedicine.org)
Links to an external site.

Data Storytelling

Data Storytelling, Lydia Hooper “Data Storytelling couples data visualization with compelling narratives that help audiences better comprehend and take action based on data analysis (Lydia Hooper, Data Storytelling: How to Tell a Story With Data – Venngage
Links to an external site.).”
Connecting data visualizations with stories brings facts to life.
“Storytelling with data in nursing is a powerful approach to enhance healthcare outcomes and patient care. By combining data with narrative elements, nurses and healthcare professionals can create compelling stories that provide context, highlight important issues, and drive meaningful change (Storytelling with Data in Healthcare
Links to an external site.).”
Data Storytelling:
1 Humanizes Data: Data storytelling goes beyond charts and numbers by adding context, history, and emotion. This approach helps to see the larger story behind the data, and the focus on the patient.
2 Builds Trust: By integrating stories with data, healthcare providers can build trust among care teams and patients.
3 Creates Meaning: Storytelling helps to keep people at the center of healthcare decision-making. It ensures that the personal and emotional aspects are considered along with the data, making the information more relatable and actionable.
4 Educational Tool: Stories can educate patients, families, and communities about health issues. They can also be a powerful tool for advocacy and policy-making.
5 Innovation and Design: In nursing, storytelling is used in innovation and design processes. Storytelling can help stakeholders connect with healthcare innovations and solutions.
How Data Storytelling Fuels Better Healthcare Outcomes (healthcatalyst.com)
Links to an external site.

 

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