LibGuides: Physician Associates research skills guide: Public health data

Sources of public health information and data

Any data available publicly can be used. Some databases might ask for you to request access and this is fine also.

Government and academic sites (available for UK and many other countries) provide a lot of public health data that may be useful. Data is usually analysed in multiple formats (sometimes by region or other demographics. You may be able to link this to other information to help answer a question. Access to the raw data used may not be possible if the analysis you are looking for isn’t available, so make sure you can find what you need early in your project planning.

CancerData
A data resource that is used to measure diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer. Produced by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service which collects, quality assures and analyses data on all people living in England who are diagnosed with cancer.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
ECDC aims to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases. The site includes interactive databases and downloadable data sets.
Health / UK Data Service
Data on topics as varied as the experience of illness, child development, access to care, lifestyle behaviour, subjective physical and mental well-being, diet and nutrition, immunisation programmes and attitudes towards health service provision.
Office for National Statistics, Health and Social Care
Life expectancy, health inequalities, disability and addiction as well as access to and expenditure on private and public healthcare systems.
Local Health
This site provided by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities allows you to explore a large number of health-related indicators at a small geographic level. You can then compare, map, and export the analysis for further use.
OECD data
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) aims to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The site includes data on a wide range of topics including health.
PHE data and analysis tools
High quality data and analysis tools and resources provided by Public Health England. Includes data on specific health conditions, lifestyle risk factors, wider determinants of health and health protection.
World Health Organization (WHO) data
WHO compiles a wide range of health-related data which can be downloaded.

Image from Local Health (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities).

Additional data sources

Take a look at the Library guide to finding statistics for other sources of data which might be useful:

Finding statistics