Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review

Abstract Background Open government data (OGD) in the health sector consolidates transparency, access to information, and collaboration between the government and different sectors of society. It is an essential instrument for health systems and researchers to generate initiatives, drive innovations...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Patrícia Nascimento Silva, Sarah Nascimento Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21149-6
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832594371319431168
author Patrícia Nascimento Silva
Sarah Nascimento Silva
author_facet Patrícia Nascimento Silva
Sarah Nascimento Silva
author_sort Patrícia Nascimento Silva
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Open government data (OGD) in the health sector consolidates transparency, access to information, and collaboration between the government and different sectors of society. It is an essential instrument for health systems and researchers to generate initiatives, drive innovations, and qualify decision-making, whether in health emergencies or supporting the creation of more effective public policies. This review aimed to identify OGD initiatives in healthcare and their possible applications. Methods A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and Scielo databases up to February 12, 2024. Eligibility criteria included original studies that addressed OGD initiatives in public health. Studies using open data to prepare other analyses, reviews, and opinion articles were excluded. The quality methodological of related studies was based on the JBI Critical Appraisal tool. Data extraction included the location of the application, description of the initiative/use of data, themes addressed, data quality, and respective evaluation tools. Results Of the 3,176 records initially identified, six studies were included describing initiatives to make available datasets or portals that publish OGD in the healthcare area between 2020 and 2023. Most publications evaluated quality and usability requirements, with five related to the COVID-19 pandemics. There is significant heterogeneity in the data formats available, obtaining, on average, a 3-star rating in the Berners-Lee evaluation model. The availability of open data presents geographic differences, with regions being more developed than others in both the most comprehensive and the most regionalized studies. Conclusions Few studies using OGD in health were identified in the scientific literature. The heterogeneity of open data formats, the lack of standards, and the quality of the data point to limitations and the need for improvements to enable the use and reliable reuse of this data. Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42024498446.
format Article
id doaj-art-d136ca1bf0c34468935788d5298f9063
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2458
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj-art-d136ca1bf0c34468935788d5298f90632025-01-19T12:41:49ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111110.1186/s12889-024-21149-6Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature reviewPatrícia Nascimento Silva0Sarah Nascimento Silva1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gestão & Organização do Conhecimento, Escola de Ciência da Informação, Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisNúcleo de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde, Grupo de Pesquisa Clínica e Políticas Públicas em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo CruzAbstract Background Open government data (OGD) in the health sector consolidates transparency, access to information, and collaboration between the government and different sectors of society. It is an essential instrument for health systems and researchers to generate initiatives, drive innovations, and qualify decision-making, whether in health emergencies or supporting the creation of more effective public policies. This review aimed to identify OGD initiatives in healthcare and their possible applications. Methods A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and Scielo databases up to February 12, 2024. Eligibility criteria included original studies that addressed OGD initiatives in public health. Studies using open data to prepare other analyses, reviews, and opinion articles were excluded. The quality methodological of related studies was based on the JBI Critical Appraisal tool. Data extraction included the location of the application, description of the initiative/use of data, themes addressed, data quality, and respective evaluation tools. Results Of the 3,176 records initially identified, six studies were included describing initiatives to make available datasets or portals that publish OGD in the healthcare area between 2020 and 2023. Most publications evaluated quality and usability requirements, with five related to the COVID-19 pandemics. There is significant heterogeneity in the data formats available, obtaining, on average, a 3-star rating in the Berners-Lee evaluation model. The availability of open data presents geographic differences, with regions being more developed than others in both the most comprehensive and the most regionalized studies. Conclusions Few studies using OGD in health were identified in the scientific literature. The heterogeneity of open data formats, the lack of standards, and the quality of the data point to limitations and the need for improvements to enable the use and reliable reuse of this data. Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42024498446.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21149-6Open government dataOpen health dataGovernment health dataOpen government health dataPublic HealthSystematic review
spellingShingle Patrícia Nascimento Silva
Sarah Nascimento Silva
Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review
BMC Public Health
Open government data
Open health data
Government health data
Open government health data
Public Health
Systematic review
title Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review
title_full Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review
title_fullStr Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review
title_full_unstemmed Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review
title_short Open government data in health sector: a systematic literature review
title_sort open government data in health sector a systematic literature review
topic Open government data
Open health data
Government health data
Open government health data
Public Health
Systematic review
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21149-6
work_keys_str_mv AT patricianascimentosilva opengovernmentdatainhealthsectorasystematicliteraturereview
AT sarahnascimentosilva opengovernmentdatainhealthsectorasystematicliteraturereview