Attendance and focus

Attendance

Mr. Arpo Aromaa (Finland), mr. Eckardt Bergmann (Germany), mr. Ola Ekholm (Denmark), mr. Gerhard Fülöp (Austria), mr. Wolfgang Hellmeier (Germany), mr. Bernard Ledésert (France), mr. Jørgen Meisfjord (Norway), mr. Krisztian Nagy (Hungary), mr. Magnus Stenbeck (Sweden), ms. Denise Walckiers (Belgium), mr. Peter Achterberg (RIVM), ms. Sanja Kaiser (RIVM), mr. Pieter Kramers (RIVM), mr. Rutger Nugteren (RIVM), ms. Carla Sanderse (RIVM), mr. Roel Schreurs (RIVM), ms. Eveline van der Wilk (RIVM), mr. Vincent Draguet, mr. Artur Furtado, mr. Daniel Mann (all DG SANCO)

This meeting had the following three main issues on the agenda:

• Demonstration and discussion of the 2nd EUPHIX test release
• EUPHIX Working experiences over the past 8 months
• The EU Public Health Portal and its connection with EUPHIX
• Future work.

Demonstration and discussion of the second EUPHIX test release

The access to the 2^nd test release was given to the project partners one week prior to the meeting. Compared to the 1^st test release (February 2006), the website has been improved according to the remarks made in earlier meetings and the experience of the RIVM team.

Changed features include:

• An entirely new look-and-feel of the website (as well as of the Work-in-Progress website).
• Easier access to documents, tables, graphs and maps.
• Documents are named ‘EUphact’ and ‘EUphocus’ instead of ‘Topic’ and ‘Theme’.
• The editing and reviewing process involving external and partner reviewers is established.
• In addition to the six ‘EUphacts’, five ECHI indicators have been implemented (tables/graphs only).
• The lay-out for a new EUphocus on Mental Health has been included.
• Publishing protocols have been developed and implemented.
• An interactive graphics module connected to an underlying database available on the website.
• A search function has been implemented.

The members of the RIVM team gave an on-line demonstration of the website, focussing on:

• The homepage links to the three content elements of the site, ECHI indicators, EUphacts and EUphoci.
• The existing six EUphacts, each in a different status peer review, including the new approach to predefined structural elements and tables/figures/graphs.
• The creation of five ECHI indicators, presenting the tables/figures only, with a ‘remarks section’, providing minimal information needed to understand the data.
• The extra features of EUphoci, containing basic information for the policy maker, as well as the broader context.
• The CMS (Content management System) behind the website. This system has been specifically designed at the RIVM for the Dutch Public Health Compass, and is now the basis for six websites of this type, including EUPHIX. The system enables a fluent content creation process involving several editing and reviewing stages that can be managed by editors without particular technical knowledge.
• The presentation of interactive graphs. End users now can (1) highlight a line or bar within the graph and see the name of the line by mouse over and (2) select sex, time period and/or countries..

In the first round, comments and discussion items included:

• For basic data, the frequency of updating should keep pace with the updates in the original databases.
• The selection of data for a given indicator should be based on quality considerations.
• There is a wish for presenting data at a sub national level (e.g. NUTS2). Although this is appreciated, it will considerably enhance the load and complexity of the work. In some instances it will be done. Interaction with the ISARE project will be exploited.
• As to the ECHI indicators presentation, there is at present some duplication between EUPHIX and the DG SANCO website. In due course, EUPHIX may become the medium for the presentation of the ECHI indicators.
• There is apparently also some redundancy with the printed EU public health reports. An attempt is being made to combine the authorship on relevant issues.
• The interactive graphics tool will be followed by a tool for generating tables from the database. Still, it is not the intention to produce an analytical tool, only a tool to flexibly present the existing information.

The group was then split in a ‘content group’ and a ‘technical group’. Further elaboration of the discussion provided a number of interesting issues:

(1) Content group

• Concerning the user-friendliness of the website, suggestions were made about printing options, import and export of data, as well as for adaptations on the home page.
• Concerning the structure, partners had remarks about: making EUphacts and EUphoci more distinctive by appearance; prioritizing the filling of the ECHI indicators; keeping to the goal of producing a prototype, i.e. not attempting a full coverage; proposal of a EUphocus on ageing and a EUphact on e-health (DG SANCO).
• Concerning the data handling, remarks covered: the best way to ensure data quality (role of SANCO, Eurostat and ECHIM); the choice of reliable sources; keeping to the principle of the critical appraisal of data according to the message given.

(2) Technical group

• It was restated that EUPHIX should be an information tool, not an analytical tool; i.e., for doing calculations of the original data, people should be referred to original data sources. Simplicity is the key word here.
• As to sustainability, it is crucial to recognise that after the end of the project, the system should be hosted and maintained somewhere, and that trained experts should be available to perform these tasks.
• This applies to technical issues as well as to the filling and updating the system with validated documents and data. For the latter, a functioning expert network is needed, co-ordinated by permanent public health professional staff.

EUPHIX working experiences over the past 8 months

(1) Content production

The EUPHIX team is developing and applying procedures to obtain and maintain consistency in the working process and results. A publishing protocol has been developed for that purpose. Within the RIVM team, final editors are assigned separately for: ECHI indicators (Eveline van der Wilk), EUphacts (Sanja Kaiser/Martin Gommer) and EUphoci (Peter Achterberg). Reviewing of documents is assigned to two different reviewers (an external and a partner reviewer). When a EUphact is chosen, an author is selected (mostly external) and an editor assigned (within the EUPHIX team).

Data are generally derived from existing (international) databases or review sources, not from the separate countries. An assessment of the best (most reliable, comprehensible and up-to date) data for a certain indicator is performed. The ‘remarks’ section accompanying each data presentation indicates the essentials of the data source and other issues needed to understand the data. Regional data may be of interest but would generate an additional workload.

(2) Data handling

A structured data repository is being built to store data derived from primary sources, from which (interactive) presentations on the website can be generated. A set of metadata has been devised that is needed for proper storage and retrieval. A document ‘EUPHIX: Functional and technical aspects, version 1.0, October 2006’ gives the full description of this and was available to and discussed in the meeting.

(3) Role of the project partners

Until now the RIVM team has done most of the work on EUPHIX. The project partners have participated by engaging in discussions and giving general and technical comments, mainly during the full project meetings. They also are involved by reviewing documents. Options for future tasks include advising on authors, reviewers and the target group panel.

The EU Public Health Portal and its connection with EUPHIX

Daniel Mann and Vincent Draguet presented the EU Public Health Portal (HP), against the background that a major goal of EUPHIX is to eventually be linked to or incorporated into the Portal, as a sustained enterprise.

The presentation included the Portal’s background, costs (development 600,000 Euro), target audiences (mainly citizens), editorial board, content criteria and structure. Translation in all official EU languages is planned.

Of relevance for EUPHIX were:

• For background information there are currently deep-links to Diseases and conditions information sheets and to the ECHI indicator tables on the Europa Public Health website.
• There is a project which maps the research related to all the themes and topics of the HP.
• A new unit for communication in health will be established next year within DG SANCO. The Portal will be a part of this unit.

After this presentation, a lively discussion developed, covering the following issues:

• There is a logical complementarity between the Portal as a medium for access, and EUPHIX as a body of information. At the end of the EUPHIX project, the Portal may consider EUPHIX to become its main content source if DG SANCO considers it a useful tool for that.
• There is a clear difference in user profile: the Portal is aiming at the citizen, EUPHIX more at the policy maker, the professional, the media and the informed citizen.
• When integrating EUPHIX in the Portal, which are the demands in terms of technical issues, design, etc.? It would have to be translated into 24+ languages. This should be clear soon.
• When not really ‘integrating’ but providing deep-links from the Portal to EUPHIX, difference in software and design may not create problems. This may be the preferred choice.
• The end-product of EUPHIX will be a working prototype. Not all content units will be filled. This end-product is not, as in most projects, a static report, but a dynamic tool that requires maintenance to stay alive. We now need to develop prospects for this, together with DG SANCO.
• In order to facilitate this discussion, the Portal representatives will have a closer look at the EUPHIX release and forward their remarks.

Future work

Considering the fact that the website structure is almost final, we plan to focus on:

• Generating new content, in all three categories (ECHI indicators, EUphacts, EUphoci)
• Expanding the contributing expert network and implementing working procedures
• Establishing collaboration/integration with related activities/projects in the Public health Programme (a.o. ECHIM) and EU Health Portal
• Establishment of the underlying database and presentation tools
• Establishing and consulting the target group panel

For new EUphacts, ECHI indicators and EUphoci this implies:

• New Indicators: quick expansion; work with ECHIM and SANCO; procedure to be established
• New EUphacts: 12 new topics selected to give substance to the EUphoci
• New Euphoci: limited capacity; start on Mental health
• To keep in mind: EUPHIX’ ambitions are to develop the prototype, not the completely filled website; new proposals by DG SANCO will be considered (ageing, e-health).

The project partners agree with the proposed document. They agree to quickly expand the indicators and also to implement more EUphoci (since this shows the added value of EUPHIX), but at a slower pace.

Target Group Panel

The proposal for the establishment of the Target Group Panel is on the table. The tasks would include giving structured feedback on user-friendliness, apprehensiveness, policy relevance and on the scope/priorities of the system. A list of names is proposed from the following groups: policy makers at EU, national and regional level; stakeholders at EU level, public health professionals, and the media.

In the discussion, it was argued not to involve too many policy makers in the panel. Public health professionals and academics may be a more important user group, although younger policy makers are increasingly using internet. DG SANCO should have a special position beside the Panel, but participate in its meetings. Otherwise, the group supports the Target Group Panel and will give additional suggestions for names. It is considered that the present test release could be used to consult the Panel, provided some minor improvements suggested by this meeting could be implemented. It was also considered that he Target Group Panel would contribute to creating commitment.

In a final round, the participants stressed (again) the following issues:

• There is a general support for the site, its approach and implementation
• We should develop a prospect for EUPHIX, its maintenance after the end of the project, in relation with the Portal
• Clarification of the ambitions with regard to sub national data is needed
• The interaction with other projects under the Public Health Programme should be further considered
• We should increase the commitment within the EU by engaging more countries and have the Target Group Panel raise new ideas

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