It Describes Four High-Level Goals

It Describes Four High-Level Goals

Introduction

Healthy Ireland is the National Framework for action to improve health and wellbeing of people living in Ireland. It is a response to the many risks that threaten Ireland’s future health and wellbeing, as well as its economic recovery. Healthy Ireland’s vision is where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential, where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyone’s responsibility.

It describes four high-level goals:

  • Increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life
  • Reduce health inequalities
  • Protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing
  • Create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland

An important feature of Healthy Ireland is a focus on research and evidence to ensure goals, policy and programming decisions are based on robust evidence, best practice approaches, and integrated with service delivery to maximise impact.

The Healthy Ireland Survey is an interviewer administered face-to-face survey commissioned by the Department of Health (DoH). The objectives of this survey are to:

  • Provide and report on current and credible data, to enhance the monitoring and assessment of the various policy initiatives under the Framework
  • Support and enhance Ireland’s ability to meet many of its international reporting obligations
  • Feed into the Outcomes Framework and overall Research, Data and Innovation Plan for Healthy Ireland and it will be important in assessing, monitoring and realising the benefits of the overall health reform strategy
  • Allow targeted monitoring where necessary, with an outcomes-focussed approach, lending enhanced responsiveness and agility from a policymaking perspective
  • Support the DoHin on going engagement and awareness-raising activities, in the various policy areas and support better understanding of policy priorities

In June 2014 the DoHcommissioned Ipsos MRBI to undertake this survey. Following a detailed survey design process, fieldwork for the initial wave of this survey commenced in November 2014. The report from this wave (Wave 1) of data collection was published in October 2015. The results from the second wave of data collection (Wave 2)were published in October 2016.

To further the objectives of Healthy Ireland it is proposed to provide further access to the research community through the provision of a Healthy Ireland Research Micro data file (RMF(s)).

This document proposes to outline the general principles guiding access to the RMF(s) and the process of approval and data transfer.

Healthy Ireland RMF Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria outlined below provide a framework for the assessment of requests for access to RMFs. The criteria will be used to inform the decision making process. However ultimate discretion regarding the provision of access to RMFs rests with the DoH and the criteria listed below shall not limit that discretion. The application for access will be assessed against the following criteria including without limitation

  • That the proposed research is technically sound and the arrangements are legal, practical and ethical;
  • That the individual/organisation can prove their ability to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the data. This will include their appreciation of the provisions of the data protection legislation and the procedures necessary to protect the data including statistical disclosure control techniques;
  • The extent to which the individual or organisation for which the individual works has a track record in the research field or experience in the analysis of large data files will be considered during the assessment process;
  • The proposed usage of the outputs and the extent to which the outputs will be made freely available to the public;
  • The extent to which the outputs will serve the public good;
  • The extent to which the proposed work/outputs supports/contributes to evidence-based policy-making;
  • The extent to which the proposal has the potential to reduce the cost of research and helps to avoid duplicate data collections;
  • The extent to which the request for access could be met by other means e.g. the provision of aggregate data or through access to existing AMF(s).
  • In general it shouldbe noted that
  • Only one version of an RMF will be created containing the maximum level of detail that can/will be provided for that particular survey instance.
  • Access to RMF(s) will not be facilitated outside of Ireland.
  • Access to RMF(s) for students will be restricted to those undertaking at a minimum post-graduate work and in all such cases their supervisor(s) must also apply and be approved before access can be granted
  • Access will in general be limited to
  • Individuals who, either in their own right or as employees of a recognised organisation/institution that has a proven track record in data analysis or research; and
  • Individuals or individuals working in organisations/institutions that can give a clear rationale, acceptable to the DoH for access being granted
  • Access to RMF(s) is granted solely for statistical purposes
  • Requests for access to RMF(s) must be made using the Healthy Ireland Survey RMF application form; the access procedure is detailed below.

Access procedure:

  1. On receipt of a request for access to the RMF the Analyst/Statistician will forward an application form along with a standard agreement form for reference along with any relevant guidance.
  2. The next step is to create an RMF application number and record the details including
  3. The RMF reference code (of the format YYYY_DS_RMFNO e.g. 2017_HI_001
  4. Date application received
  5. Dataset requested
  6. Organisation
  7. Main applicant details
  8. Summary of the research proposal
  1. After reviewing the application form the applicant should discuss the specific request with the Analyst/Statistician in the area and any additional requirements or queries.
  2. Once finalised and agreed between the applicants and the Analyst/Statistician, the application form should be completed and signed and returned. Electronic submission is acceptable with the names and dates of the applicants included in the document. The RMF register should be updated with the submission date of the application
  3. The Analyst/Statistician can then review and if appropriate sign off their recommendation to approve access and initiate the RMF approval cycle.
  4. The Analyst/Statistician should then forward the application for approval to the Senior Statistician and also to thenominated representative of the Health and wellbeing Programme team in the DoH.
  5. Once the application has been approved, the RMF register is updated with this date; following this a standard agreement is then sent to the research representative so that they can review the terms and agree to the conditions that will be met in relation to storage etc.
  6. A date is agreed to arrange the transfer of the dataset in a secure format and inspection of facilities as agreed. This is to be transferred on an encrypted USB key by a DoH Representative who may take the opportunity to fully audit the facilities to ensure they comply with the agreement. Once satisfied that conditions are met and that the standard agreement has been signed and dated, the data can be transferred.
  7. All data transfer facilities should then be disabled on the analysis site outside of the secured network.
  8. The RMF register is updated with the standard agreement signoff and data transfer date.
  9. On the expiration of the agreement the organisation will remove the data and individual outputs from their systems and notify the DoH of the same.
  10. The Analyst/Statistician may contact the researcher to remind them either to initiate a new agreement or to remove the data from the facilities. However, it is the responsibility of the researchers to ensure that their agreement is in place to cover their work.
  11. The researcher should also notify the DoH of all pending publications from the dataset and share the resulting publications.
  12. The applicant accepts sole responsibility for any assumptions from the dataset while the data remains the property of the DoH.
  13. The terms and conditions of access will adhere to those as set out in the standard agreement signed by both parties.
Top View