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Data in the MMWR

Additional practices (12 of 12)

Data in the MMWR (§7.1, §7.2, §7.3): Additional practices: How else might data presentation improve?
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2026-03-03

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Data in the MMWR (§7.1, §7.2, §7.3): Additional practices: How else might data presentation improve? On this site (opens in a new tab)
[2026-03-03]

§7.1 Intensive exposition of methods On this site (opens in a new tab)

Principle: Sophisticated, unfamiliar, or unconventional methods should be presented in balance with other detail while supporting focus on the public health issue and impact.

Observations: Some reports have extensive exposition on methods, either in the body of the report or in footnotes.

Recommendations: MMWR should allow for technical supplements, just as supplemental tables and figures are supported, and reports that warrant technical supplementation should maintain proper focus and scope within the body of the report.

§7.2 Incorporate less familiar methods On this site (opens in a new tab)

Principle: Public health practice can and should gather information and learn through the full variety of available data types and analytic methods, whether familiar or unfamiliar. Examples include electronic health records and wastewater. Methods with potential to enrich public health findings within the MMWR include economic methods and prevention effectiveness as well as machine learning, especially as applied to textual and image-based data. In all cases, data should be used rigorously and focus on public health relevance.

Observations: Several reports analyze data from electronic health record services or vendors, as well as systems fed by electronic health records or laboratory records as part of networks or programs (such as PCORnet and the National Syndromic Surveillance Program), state systems, and hospital systems. One report analyzed anonymized location data from mobile devices.

Recommendations: Stimulate and cultivate a richer set of methods, perhaps through focused solicitation with guest editors, keeping tight focus on public health relevance and credibility.

§7.3 Open data and analytic code On this site (opens in a new tab)

Principles: Federal policy has encouraged making data publicly available since 2013 and, subsequently, to make associated data and analytic code available in tandem with peer-reviewed publications. In addition, many peer-reviewed journals require a statement regarding availability.

Observation: While many reports use publicly available data sources, there is no current practice for sharing or describing availability of data or analytic code.

Recommendations: Require a brief statement on availability of data and analytic code. Allow and encourage publicly available data and analytic code.

This concludes the series on Data in the MMWR.

Data in the MMWR