Discussion Prompts

Prompts for the facilitated discussion following the challenges overview and rapid presentations.

The aim is a cross-cutting conversation about shared data challenges rather than a deep dive into any single one. For reference, see the guide’s challenges and modelling options pages. We will take notes during the discussion and circulate a written summary after the session for your feedback. If the room is large, we may split into smaller groups around flipcharts to give everyone space to contribute.

Cross-cutting prompts

These are the main prompts we plan to use:

  • Which of these challenges is the biggest barrier to timely analysis in your setting?
  • What kinds of questions are you being asked that you cannot currently answer because of these data challenges?
  • How do you currently handle recent incomplete data when briefing leadership?
  • How do you currently monitor or assess the completeness of your data?
  • Are there challenges, data or operational, you face that we have not covered?
  • What would be most useful to you from this effort?

Back-pocket prompts

We will keep these in reserve to prompt discussion if a topic stalls, rather than working through them in turn.

Reporting delays

  • What are the most common sources of reporting delay in your jurisdiction?
  • How long are typical delays for your main surveillance streams?
  • Have you seen delays change over time (e.g. during outbreaks, holiday periods, system changes)?

Data revisions

  • How often do your data get revised after initial release?
  • What causes revisions in your systems (deduplication, reclassification, date corrections)?
  • Have you experienced large retrospective corrections that affected interpretation?

Site drop-in and drop-out

  • Do you have sites that report intermittently?
  • How do you handle new sites joining or existing sites dropping out of reporting?
  • Does this vary between surveillance streams?

Other data quality issues

  • What data quality issues most affect your ability to interpret recent trends?
  • How do you handle missing dates or strata variables?
  • Are there format or system compatibility issues that create apparent delays?