Lauren N. Carroll|Alan Au|Landon T. Detwiler|Tsu?Tan Fu|Ian Painter|Neil F. Abernethy
Visualization and analytics tools for infectious disease epidemiology: A systematic review
University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington
myriad new tools algorithms developed help public health professionals analyze visualize complex data used infectious disease control better understand approaches meet users information needs conducted systematic literature review focused landscape infectious disease visualization tools public health professionals special emphasis geographic information systems gis molecular epidemiology social network analysis objectives review 1 identify public health user needs preferences infectious disease information visualization tools 2 identify existing infectious disease information visualization tools characterize architecture features 3 identify commonalities among approaches applied different data types 4 describe tool usability evaluation efforts barriers adoption tools identified articles published english january 1 1980 june 30 2013 five bibliographic databases articles primary focus infectious disease visualization tools needs public health users usability information visualizations included review total 88 articles met inclusion criteria users found diverse needs preferences uses infectious disease visualization tools existing tools correspondingly diverse architecture tools inconsistently described tools review discussed incorporation usability studies plans dissemination many studies identified concerns regarding data sharing confidentiality quality existing tools offer range features functions allow users explore analyze visualize data tools often siloed applications commonly cited barriers widespread adoption included lack organizational support access issues misconceptions tool use volume complexity infectious disease data increases public health professionals must synthesize highly disparate data facilitate communication public inform decisions regarding measures protect publics health review identified several themes consideration users needs preferences computer literacy integration tools routine workflow complications associated understanding use visualizations role user trust organizational support adoption tools interoperability also emerged prominent theme highlighting challenges associated increasingly collaborative interdisciplinary nature infectious disease control prevention future work address methods representing uncertainty missing data avoid misleading users well strategies minimize cognitive overload