title: Data dictionaries: what do they have to do with public health?
abstract: While various types of technologies continue to diffuse throughout the health and welfare sectors, there is one in particular that is ubiquitous -- the electronic database. Large databases are generally designed by information technology professionals with input from the health or welfare professional. However, whether large or small, an electronic database must have a data dictionary that is current and ideally derived from standards. This will avoid ambiguities and time consuming efforts which affect on precious resources.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Public Health Training Scheme, La Trobe University and Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia. negana@students.latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: Nilva
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egana
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bruinsma
mesh_terms: D004014:Dictionaries as Topic; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000592:standards*; D011634:Public Health; D011787:Quality of Health Care