2023 HSR&D/QUERI National Conference

1203 — Advancing FAIR Data and Synthesis Methods by Developing and Disseminating Repositories: Examples from PTSD, Suicide Prevention, and TBI

Lead/Presenter: Maya O'Neil,  COIN - Portland
All Authors: O'Neil ME (VA Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health & Science University), Hamblen JL (National Center for PTSD, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth) Veazie, S (VA Portland Health Care System) Denneson, L (VA Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health & Science University) Somohano, VC (VA Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health & Science University) Carlson, KF (VA Portland Health Care System, Oregon Health & Science University)

Objectives:
To advance FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data and synthesis methods by developing detailed data repositories applicable to and accessible by a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., patients, providers, researchers, educators, media, administrators).

Methods:
We established study- and individual participant-level (IPL) data repositories on clinical topics relevant to the VA (PTSD, Suicide Prevention, and TBI) using systematic and rapid review methods including detailed, standardized data abstraction and risk of bias assessment of studies contributing data to the repositories.

Results:
Study-level (PTSD-Repository, Suicide Prevention Trials Database) and IPL (TBI) repositories have been established and disseminated through operational partner organizations (e.g., National Center for PTSD, VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, NIH Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research Informatics System). Summary results across these PTSD, suicide prevention, and TBI databases will be presented to describe available data, descriptive statistics, and themes. Additionally, we will present tools created to disseminate and use these data repositories (e.g., publicly accessible curated datasets, sample code for analysis, data stories, interactive data visualizations, and examples of how to quickly combine and compare effect sizes across selected subgroups of studies). We highlight how combined data can be synthesized to examine results related to historically underrepresented populations when cross-study data are harmonized.

Implications:
Detailed, curated, harmonized data repositories, both study-level and IPL, can facilitate accurate and efficient data synthesis for a range of stakeholders when kept up to date and broadly disseminated. Compiled data can also be used to advance research related to historically underrepresented groups by enabling combined data synthesis across studies to understand themes and obtain more robust sample sizes.

Impacts:
PTSD, TBI, and Suicide Prevention data repositories have successfully been established and disseminated through key VA/DoD operational partners such as the National Center for PTSD, NIH FITBIR, and VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Examples of impacts will be highlighted including how these data repositories have been used to answer questions quickly and accurately from the Executive Branch of government, VA Central Office, clinicians using the PTSD Consultation Program, trainees and researchers developing research papers and grant applications, and media inquiries to the VA. Data can be easily sorted and synthesized to help answer timely and relevant questions about how well interventions work, or how common symptoms and comorbidities are for various groups.