Abstract
BackgroundData harmonisation is an important intervention to strengthen health systems functioning. It has the potential to enhance the production, accessibility and utilisation of routine health information for clinical and service management decision-making. It is important to understand the range of definitions and concepts of data harmonisation, as well as how its various social and technical components and processes are thought to lead to better health management decision-making. However, there is lack of agreement in the literature, and in practice, on definitions and conceptualisations of data harmonisation, making it difficult for health system decision-makers and researchers to design, implement, evaluate and compare data harmonisation interventions. This scoping review aims to synthesise (1) definitions and conceptualisations of data harmonisation as well as (2) explanations in the literature of the causal relationships between data harmonisation and health management decision-making.MethodsThis review follows recommended methodological stages for scoping studies. We will identify relevant studies (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from 2000 onwards, in English only, and with no methodological restriction, in various electronic databases, such as CINAHL, MEDLINE via PubMed and Global Health. Two reviewers will independently screen records for potential inclusion for the abstract and full-text screening stages. One reviewer will do the data extraction, analysis and synthesis, with built-in reliability checks from the rest of the team. We will use a combination of sampling techniques, including two types of ‘purposeful sampling’, a methodological approach that is particularly suitable for a scoping review with our objectives. We will provide (a) a numerical synthesis of characteristics of the included studies and (b) a narrative synthesis of definitions and explanations in the literature of the relationship between data harmonisation and health management decision-making.DiscussionWe list potential limitations of this scoping review. To our knowledge, this scoping review will be the first to synthesise definitions and conceptualisations of data harmonisation in the literature as well as the underlying explanations in the literature of the causal links between data harmonisation and health management decision-making.
Highlights
MethodsThis review follows recommended methodological stages for scoping studies
Data harmonisation is an important intervention to strengthen health systems functioning
An effective health system relies on a routine health information system (RHIS) that provides the informational support needed by health managers to identify gaps in service delivery and to inform planning, implementation and monitoring of interventions [1]
Summary
This scoping review will follow the methodological stages for scoping studies proposed by Arksey and O’Malley [15] who recommend a process that is “not linear but iterative, requiring researchers to engage with each stage in a reflexive way” in order to achieve both. The extraction framework will be used to collect, sift and sort data that can address the three objectives of the review This will be a mixture of general ‘demographic’ information about the study (such as country, level of the health care system) and specific information about the data harmonisation intervention (such as definitions, types of routine information systems, components, outcomes) and suggested causal mechanisms for the effect of data harmonisation on management decision-making. This will allow for comparison of key items across studies and allow for synthesis within and across data items (for example, comparing definitions across studies, or comparing within one study, the definition and the description of the intervention components and processes) As this scoping review aims to identify various characteristics, definitions and causal mechanisms of data harmonisation, we will not conduct any risk of bias or quality assessment of included studies. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations as well as shared with local and national stakeholders engaged in data harmonisation projects
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
