I'm new to DHIS2, and going through the process of migrating a paper HMIS to a DHIS2 data schema.
I have a tabular data structure where I can identify the data elements, and the categories/dimensions of those elements. Data elements are such as "Number of patients testing positive for disease X" and categories are such as "in phase A", "in Phase B", etc.
I'd like the data entry form to show up with different cells to enter "Number of patients testing positive (in phase A)" and "Number of patients testing positive (in phase B)", as it seems they should if the categories are defined. However, I'm having trouble making this happen.
The documentation at several points makes references to "assigning a category to a data element" but I cannot find any place where it described how this is done, nor can I seem to make it happen after playing with the interface for about an hour. This is all very confusing, and I'm hoping someone can explain how it works?
Do I need to create a category combo? Why are category combos I create not showing up in the dataset section form's "category combo" dropdown, ever? Do categories associate with data elements or with (groups, sets, datasets, dataset sections), etc? How do all of these entities relate?
Its is a bit confusing to me as well. Let me try and explain as best
as I can. Others that understand the model may correct me.
You need to create a "Concept". In this case, it would probably
"Phase" as well.
You need to create categories. In your case this would be a "Phase".
You need to create category options, "Phase A" and "Phase B" for the
category "Phase".
You need a "Data element category combination" as well. In your case,
it would be "Phases" perhaps. If the data elements is further
disaggregated by categories "Age" and "Gender" you could add these
categories as well.
Finally , you need a data element "Number of patients testing positive
for disease X" assigned tp "Combination of categories"
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jason
···
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 5:25 PM, Dave Trombley <dave.trombley@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all
I'm new to DHIS2, and going through the process of migrating a paper
HMIS to a DHIS2 data schema.
I have a tabular data structure where I can identify the data elements,
and the categories/dimensions of those elements. Data elements are such as
"Number of patients testing positive for disease X" and categories are such
as "in phase A", "in Phase B", etc.
I'd like the data entry form to show up with different cells to enter
"Number of patients testing positive (in phase A)" and "Number of patients
testing positive (in phase B)", as it seems they should if the categories
are defined. However, I'm having trouble making this happen.
The documentation at several points makes references to "assigning a
category to a data element" but I cannot find any place where it described
how this is done, nor can I seem to make it happen after playing with the
interface for about an hour. This is all very confusing, and I'm hoping
someone can explain how it works?
Do I need to create a category combo? Why are category combos I create
not showing up in the dataset section form's "category combo" dropdown,
ever? Do categories associate with data elements or with (groups, sets,
datasets, dataset sections), etc? How do all of these entities relate?
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
chapter 4 on Data Elements
chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The data element dimension, and section 19.8 “From paper forms to multidimensional data sets - lessons learned”
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with 1 category combination (and a subset of the dataset’s data elements - all sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form (given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories, and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an advantage if the total of the data element’s category options add up to something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the manual.
Ola Hodne Titlestad (Mr)
HISP
Department of Informatics
University of Oslo
Mobile: +47 48069736
Home address: Vetlandsvn. 95B, 0685 Oslo, Norway. Googlemaps link
On 18 February 2011 21:02, Ola Hodne Titlestad olati@ifi.uio.no wrote:
Dave,
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
chapter 4 on Data Elements
chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The data element dimension, and section 19.8 “From paper forms to multidimensional data sets - lessons learned”
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with 1 category combination (and a subset of the dataset’s data elements - all sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form (given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories, and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an advantage if the total of the data element’s category options add up to something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the manual.
Ah, thanks for the informative replies! One of the problems I was having was that I was using the latest snapshot compiled from bzr and not the latest release, and the data element edit screen is completely different! Is there a way to do this currently in the current dev. branch? (We’ve already switched our proof-of-concept to the current release version, so this is making a lot more sense now following your advice and the user manual, which was confusing us in relation to the snapshot!)
···
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM, Ola Hodne Titlestad olati@ifi.uio.no wrote:
Dave,
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
chapter 4 on Data Elements
chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The data element dimension, and section 19.8 “From paper forms to multidimensional data sets - lessons learned”
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with 1 category combination (and a subset of the dataset’s data elements - all sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form (given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories, and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an advantage if the total of the data element’s category options add up to something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the manual.
Perhaps obviously it it also possible not to use the "default"
category as well. This essentially means that you have no categories
and would need to create separate data elements for each level of
disaggregation
Data element 1) Number of patients testing positive for disease X in phase A
Data element 2) Number of patients testing positive for disease X in phase B
Regards,
Jason
Ah, thanks for the informative replies! One of
the problems I was having
···
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 10:48 PM, Dave Trombley <dave.trombley@gmail.com> wrote:
was that I was using the latest snapshot compiled from bzr and not the
latest release, and the data element edit screen is completely different!
Is there a way to do this currently in the current dev. branch? (We've
already switched our proof-of-concept to the current release version, so
this is making a lot more sense now following your advice and the user
manual, which was confusing us in relation to the snapshot!)
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM, Ola Hodne Titlestad <olati@ifi.uio.no> > wrote:
Dave,
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
- chapter 4 on Data Elements
- chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
- chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The
data element dimension, and section 19.8 "From paper forms to
multidimensional data sets - lessons learned"
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data
sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different
column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with _1_
category combination (and a subset of the dataset's data elements - all
sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form
design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form
(given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on
columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category
combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I
recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and
presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will
take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories,
and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and
subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as
validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an
advantage if the total of the data element's category options add up to
something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a
form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the
manual.
We also have some very fresh material on this topic from a recent
workshop, which you can find here (look under Tuesday and the session called
"Design of data elements and data sets"): http://www.hisp.uio.no/events/201102-impl-workshop/programme2.html
Ola
---------
----------------------------------
Ola Hodne Titlestad (Mr)
HISP
Department of Informatics
University of Oslo
Mobile: +47 48069736
Home address: Vetlandsvn. 95B, 0685 Oslo, Norway. Googlemaps link
On 18 February 2011 18:02, Jason Pickering <jason.p.pickering@gmail.com> >> wrote:
Hi Dave,
Welcome!
Its is a bit confusing to me as well. Let me try and explain as best
as I can. Others that understand the model may correct me.
You need to create a "Concept". In this case, it would probably
"Phase" as well.
You need to create categories. In your case this would be a "Phase".
You need to create category options, "Phase A" and "Phase B" for the
category "Phase".
You need a "Data element category combination" as well. In your case,
it would be "Phases" perhaps. If the data elements is further
disaggregated by categories "Age" and "Gender" you could add these
categories as well.
Finally , you need a data element "Number of patients testing positive
for disease X" assigned tp "Combination of categories"
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jason
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 5:25 PM, Dave Trombley <dave.trombley@gmail.com> >>> wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> I'm new to DHIS2, and going through the process of migrating a
> paper
> HMIS to a DHIS2 data schema.
>
> I have a tabular data structure where I can identify the data
> elements,
> and the categories/dimensions of those elements. Data elements are
> such as
> "Number of patients testing positive for disease X" and categories are
> such
> as "in phase A", "in Phase B", etc.
>
> I'd like the data entry form to show up with different cells to
> enter
> "Number of patients testing positive (in phase A)" and "Number of
> patients
> testing positive (in phase B)", as it seems they should if the
> categories
> are defined. However, I'm having trouble making this happen.
>
> The documentation at several points makes references to "assigning
> a
> category to a data element" but I cannot find any place where it
> described
> how this is done, nor can I seem to make it happen after playing with
> the
> interface for about an hour. This is all very confusing, and I'm
> hoping
> someone can explain how it works?
>
> Do I need to create a category combo? Why are category combos I
> create
> not showing up in the dataset section form's "category combo" dropdown,
> ever? Do categories associate with data elements or with (groups,
> sets,
> datasets, dataset sections), etc? How do all of these entities relate?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: DHIS 2 Users in Launchpad
> Post to : dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net
> Unsubscribe : DHIS 2 Users in Launchpad
> More help : ListHelp - Launchpad Help
>
>
--
Jason P. Pickering
email: jason.p.pickering@gmail.com
tel:+260974901293
My point was that it is not “required” to have multi-dimensional data elements, although in some cases it does many a lot of sense to use them.
**Perhaps obviously, it it also possible to use the “default” category as well. This essentially means that you have no categories
and would need to create separate data elements for each level of
disaggregation.**
Regards,Jason
···
Data element 1) Number of patients testing positive for disease X in phase A
Data element 2) Number of patients testing positive for disease X in phase B
was that I was using the latest snapshot compiled from bzr and not the
latest release, and the data element edit screen is completely different!
Is there a way to do this currently in the current dev. branch? (We’ve
already switched our proof-of-concept to the current release version, so
this is making a lot more sense now following your advice and the user
manual, which was confusing us in relation to the snapshot!)
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM, Ola Hodne Titlestad olati@ifi.uio.no >> wrote:
Dave,
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
chapter 4 on Data Elements
chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The
data element dimension, and section 19.8 “From paper forms to
multidimensional data sets - lessons learned”
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data
sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different
column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with 1
category combination (and a subset of the dataset’s data elements - all
sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form
design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form
(given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on
columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category
combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I
recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and
presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will
take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories,
and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and
subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as
validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an
advantage if the total of the data element’s category options add up to
something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a
form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the
manual.
We also have some very fresh material on this topic from a recent
workshop, which you can find here (look under Tuesday and the session called
was that I was using the latest snapshot compiled from bzr and not the
latest release, and the data element edit screen is completely different!
Is there a way to do this currently in the current dev. branch? (We’ve
already switched our proof-of-concept to the current release version, so
this is making a lot more sense now following your advice and the user
manual, which was confusing us in relation to the snapshot!)
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM, Ola Hodne Titlestad olati@ifi.uio.no > >> wrote:
Dave,
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
chapter 4 on Data Elements
chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The
data element dimension, and section 19.8 “From paper forms to
multidimensional data sets - lessons learned”
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data
sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different
column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with 1
category combination (and a subset of the dataset’s data elements - all
sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form
design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form
(given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on
columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category
combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I
recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and
presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will
take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories,
and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and
subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as
validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an
advantage if the total of the data element’s category options add up to
something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a
form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the
manual.
We also have some very fresh material on this topic from a recent
workshop, which you can find here (look under Tuesday and the session called
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 9:48 PM, Dave Trombley <dave.trombley@gmail.com> wrote:
Ah, thanks for the informative replies! One of the problems I was having
was that I was using the latest snapshot compiled from bzr and not the
latest release, and the data element edit screen is completely different!
Is there a way to do this currently in the current dev. branch? (We've
already switched our proof-of-concept to the current release version, so
this is making a lot more sense now following your advice and the user
manual, which was confusing us in relation to the snapshot!)
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM, Ola Hodne Titlestad <olati@ifi.uio.no> > wrote:
Dave,
I recommend reading the following parts of the user manual:
- chapter 4 on Data Elements
- chapter 5 on Data Sets and Forms
- chapter 19 - Data Dimensions in DHIS 2, especially sections 19.2 The
data element dimension, and section 19.8 "From paper forms to
multidimensional data sets - lessons learned"
Just to add to what Jason wrote:
Category combinations are linked to individual data elements, not data
sets or sections.
If your forms consists of multiple tables (with or without different
column headings) you can split a data set into multiple sections with _1_
category combination (and a subset of the dataset's data elements - all
sharing the same category combo) for each section. Then your section form
design will automatically reflect the tables/sections in your paper form
(given that the category options are on columns and data elements on rows).
If you need to design an electronic form that e.g. has data elements on
columns and category options on rows or combining multiple category
combinations on columns in the same table you need to go for custom forms.
Although the category combinations simplifies how you design forms I
recommend thinking about how the data will be used in analysis and
presentation after the data has been collected, e.g. how aggregation will
take place, and let that guide how you design data elements and categories,
and not let the data entry form structure control that. The total and
subtotal of data elements are used in many data analysis components (such as
validation rules, indicators, reports, pivot tables) and it is definitely an
advantage if the total of the data element's category options add up to
something meaningful and is not just picked to mimic column headings in a
form. Many more thoughts and examples on this in section 19.8 in the
manual.
We also have some very fresh material on this topic from a recent
workshop, which you can find here (look under Tuesday and the session called
"Design of data elements and data sets"): http://www.hisp.uio.no/events/201102-impl-workshop/programme2.html
Ola
---------
----------------------------------
Ola Hodne Titlestad (Mr)
HISP
Department of Informatics
University of Oslo
Mobile: +47 48069736
Home address: Vetlandsvn. 95B, 0685 Oslo, Norway. Googlemaps link
On 18 February 2011 18:02, Jason Pickering <jason.p.pickering@gmail.com> >> wrote:
Hi Dave,
Welcome!
Its is a bit confusing to me as well. Let me try and explain as best
as I can. Others that understand the model may correct me.
You need to create a "Concept". In this case, it would probably
"Phase" as well.
You need to create categories. In your case this would be a "Phase".
You need to create category options, "Phase A" and "Phase B" for the
category "Phase".
You need a "Data element category combination" as well. In your case,
it would be "Phases" perhaps. If the data elements is further
disaggregated by categories "Age" and "Gender" you could add these
categories as well.
Finally , you need a data element "Number of patients testing positive
for disease X" assigned tp "Combination of categories"
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jason
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 5:25 PM, Dave Trombley <dave.trombley@gmail.com> >>> wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> I'm new to DHIS2, and going through the process of migrating a
> paper
> HMIS to a DHIS2 data schema.
>
> I have a tabular data structure where I can identify the data
> elements,
> and the categories/dimensions of those elements. Data elements are
> such as
> "Number of patients testing positive for disease X" and categories are
> such
> as "in phase A", "in Phase B", etc.
>
> I'd like the data entry form to show up with different cells to
> enter
> "Number of patients testing positive (in phase A)" and "Number of
> patients
> testing positive (in phase B)", as it seems they should if the
> categories
> are defined. However, I'm having trouble making this happen.
>
> The documentation at several points makes references to "assigning
> a
> category to a data element" but I cannot find any place where it
> described
> how this is done, nor can I seem to make it happen after playing with
> the
> interface for about an hour. This is all very confusing, and I'm
> hoping
> someone can explain how it works?
>
> Do I need to create a category combo? Why are category combos I
> create
> not showing up in the dataset section form's "category combo" dropdown,
> ever? Do categories associate with data elements or with (groups,
> sets,
> datasets, dataset sections), etc? How do all of these entities relate?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: DHIS 2 Users in Launchpad
> Post to : dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net
> Unsubscribe : DHIS 2 Users in Launchpad
> More help : ListHelp - Launchpad Help
>
>
--
Jason P. Pickering
email: jason.p.pickering@gmail.com
tel:+260974901293
