The Visual Dictionary of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Infection Control, and Institutional Surveillance Data.

Julia Keizer,Corinna Glasner,Lisette Van Gemert-Pijnen,Casper Albers,Christian F Luz,Bhanu Sinha,Nienke Beerlage-De Jong

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.743939

Abstract

Objectives: Data and data visualization are integral parts of (clinical) decision-making in general and stewardship (antimicrobial stewardship, infection control, and institutional surveillance) in particular. However, systematic research on the use of data visualization in stewardship is lacking. This study aimed at filling this gap by creating a visual dictionary of stewardship through an assessment of data visualization (i.e., graphical representation of quantitative information) in stewardship research.Methods: A random sample of 150 data visualizations from published research articles on stewardship were assessed (excluding geographical maps and flowcharts). The visualization vocabulary (content) and design space (design elements) were combined to create a visual dictionary. Additionally, visualization errors, chart junk, and quality were assessed to identify problems in current visualizations and to provide improvement recommendations.Results: Despite a heterogeneous use of data visualization, distinct combinations of graphical elements to reflect stewardship data were identified. In general, bar (n = 54; 36.0%) and line charts (n = 42; 28.1%) were preferred visualization types. Visualization problems comprised color scheme mismatches, double y-axis, hidden data points through overlaps, and chart junk. Recommendations were derived that can help to clarify visual communication, improve color use for grouping/stratifying, improve the display of magnitude, and match visualizations to scientific standards.Conclusion: Results of this study can be used to guide data visualization creators in designing visualizations that fit the data and visual habits of the stewardship target audience. Additionally, the results can provide the basis to further expand the visual dictionary of stewardship toward more effective visualizations that improve data insights, knowledge, and clinical decision-making.

Highlights

The amount of and reliance on data increases with the increase of scientific publications and information technologies in healthcare (Murdoch and Detsky, 2013; Wang et al, 2018)
We focus on the hospital level, where antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship, infection control, and institutional surveillance are the core components of strategies that promote the responsible use of antimicrobials and improve the quality and safety of patient care (Dik et al, 2016; Dyar et al, 2017)
The following sections are separated into visual vocabulary and dictionary with results stratified by identified attributes. These sections are followed by visualization ratings, identified visualization problems, and suggested recommendations for visualization creators

Summary

Introduction

The amount of and reliance on data increases with the increase of scientific publications and information technologies in healthcare (Murdoch and Detsky, 2013; Wang et al, 2018). These big data raise various issues to be resolved by innovative big data analytics, including integrating, analyzing, and visualizing data to translate them into meaningful information (Khan et al, 2014; Ambigavathi and Sridharan, 2018). The translation and communication to specific target groups is challenging (Murdoch and Detsky, 2013). The importance of data visualization can, once again, be observed in the COVID-19 pandemic with the ubiquitous presence of charts and dashboards that aim to inform and support decision-making for a wide variety of target audiences (Comba, 2020)

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion