New Course to Strengthen the Use of Health Data in Public Health Practice
Participants will learn how to use data sources as a basis for better prioritisation in public health and prevention efforts.
How do we identify where health challenges are greatest, and how should resources be prioritised to make a real difference?
These are some of the questions participants will learn to address in the new continuing education course offered by the National Institute of Public Health: From Data to Action – Data-Informed Public Health Practice.
The course is aimed at professionals and managers working in municipalities, government agencies, patient organisations, and NGOs who are engaged in public health and prevention and wish to strengthen their ability to use data to inform decision-making and prioritisation.
“Health data are an important tool when planning and prioritising prevention initiatives. Data can help identify where the challenges are greatest and where interventions are likely to have the greatest impact,” says Anne Illemann Christensen, Head of Research at the National Institute of Public Health, who helped develop the course and will also be one of the instructors.
From Data to Action Plans
During the course, participants will learn how to find, understand, and use data from sources such as national registers, health profiles, and local surveys. They will also gain insight into how data can be translated into concrete strategies, policy recommendations, and action plans.
According to Anne Illemann Christensen, the demand for competencies in health data is growing.
“There is an increasing focus on data-driven approaches to public health. The forthcoming Public Health Act places greater emphasis on structural prevention, making it essential for municipalities and other organisations to use data to identify needs and target their efforts effectively,” she says.
Working with Real-Life Cases
The course provides participants with practical tools for extracting and visualising data, assessing data quality and uncertainty, and identifying patterns and areas of concern. Participants will also work on their own cases and develop action plans that can be implemented in their organisations.
“Many organisations want to become better at making decisions based on solid evidence. Data can help answer questions such as: Where are the greatest challenges? Which population groups have the greatest needs? And where will interventions have the greatest effect?” says Anne Illemann Christensen.
The course consists of five course days beginning on 18 November 2026. It combines in-person teaching, presentations, and workshops. All instructors are researchers from the National Institute of Public Health.
A free online information meeting will be held on 26 June, where prospective participants can meet the instructors and learn more about the course content.
Following the course, participants will have the opportunity to join a network facilitated by Sund By Netværket, where they can exchange experiences and further develop their work with data-informed public health practice.
Contact: Anne Illemann Christensen, Head of Research and Senior Researcher, Tel.: +45 6550 7773, E-mail: anch@sdu.dk, and Maria Holst Algren, Course Coordinator and Senior Researcher, Tel.: +45 6550 7774, E-mail: maho@sdu.dk, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark