Services

Data management services are available depending on the scope of the project and researcher’s needs.

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C-POD makes several survey options available to researchers, including computer-assisted telephone interviews, mailed self-administered surveys, and internet surveys. Internet surveys are optimized within Qualtrics and REDCap, which can be administered using desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices.

C-POD provides initial data processing services which include, but are not limited to, data entry, scanning readable forms, editing and coding survey data, and maintaining scientific quality assurance standards. Data management services are provided based on the scope of the project and researcher needs. Services include database development and documentation; systematic handling of data collection, tracking and storage; customized tracking and reporting systems (progress reports); links to public data sources; preparation of analysis data sets; and data confidentiality, security, backup and virus protection.

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C-POD assists with qualitative research by collecting data via focus groups and in-person interviews.

C-POD also provides qualitative data analysis using the NVivo software.

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C-POD also provides services in the identification, collection, tracking and storage of biological specimens from participants in survey studies. C-POD personnel have experience with collection of medical records as well as buccal/saliva samples, tumor tissue slides and blocks, urine, dried blood cards and blood (serum, plasma) samples. C-POD coordinates with other campus groups for sample handling and disposition, including the Office of Clinical Trials, State Laboratory of Hygiene and the Cancer Pharmacology Core Shared Resource, and the Translational Science BioCore Shared Resource.

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Project costs are calculated at an hourly rate. Data collection services are charged to UW Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) members at a subsidized rate.

Direct costs are passed on to the researcher for services, such as for printing surveys, which C-POD outsources to UW Printing Services.

C-POD has developed a strong partnership with the University of Wisconsin Survey Center (UWSC) that has produced great benefits for UWCCC members engaged in cancer survey research. Small projects can be customized and completed more economically by C-POD, whereas large projects can take advantage of the resources available within the UW Survey Center. For large projects, C-POD creates a seamless transition between C-POD project development services to UW Survey Center data collection services.

The Health Innovation Program (HIP) stores data on Wisconsin statewide medical claims and the electronic health record (EHR) for UW patients. HIP also can provide the national Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse (CCW) and Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) data.

The Population Health Institute is home to the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps program. The annual County Health Rankings measure vital health factors, including high school graduation rates, obesity, smoking, unemployment, access to healthy foods, the quality of air and water, income, and teen births in nearly every county in America. The Rankings data between 2010 and 2015 are available to health professionals and researchers.

The Department of Population Health Sciences has developed the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW). Research team travels to 60 Wisconsin communities each year and gathers questionnaire and in-person clinical measurement (e.g., blood pressure, weight, etc.) data on a wide variety of health conditions and exposures. Additionally, information is gathered about health care access and utilization so as to provide a comprehensive and current picture of the health of state residents. SHOW’s data and biological samples are available upon request.

The Department of Surgery has purchased and houses the linked data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) and Medicare data (SEER-Medicare). SEER-Medicare data is housed within the Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research Program (WISOR).

The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (CTRI)  has collected abundant data on tobacco studies. Particularly, the CTRI owns data from the Wisconsin Smokers’ Health Study (WSHS) study, a large 3-year longitudinal study among adult smokers in quitting participated in a double-blind, randomized smoking cessation clinical trial. Study participants provided baseline information about lifestyle and physical and mental health, provided blood samples, and completed medical tests.

The UWCCC Cancer Health Disparities Initiative (CHDI) holds cancer related data on minority groups in Wisconsin, including African Americans, American Indians, and Latinos.

Consultation regarding use of these data is provided at no cost to UWCCC members. Customized datasets are provided to UWCCC members at reduced cost. Additional work, including but not limited to reformatting data sets, computing simple descriptive statistics, and calculating sample sizes/power, are charged to UWCCC members at a subsidized rate. The data navigation services to other campus data resources are provided to UWCCC members at no cost. However, the data resources may involve charges before data are available for investigator-initiated projects.