Indicator based on previous year's output

Support - Assistance technique
1

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

2

Hi Edward

You probably don’t need an indicator for that. The knows how to analyse that data element in that cumulative manner once you choose that period during analysis.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Tlohang

···

On 28 Mar 2018 17:34, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

3

I am beginning to think what I’m trying to achieve is not possible within DHIS2 without using the API and creating custom reports, please correct me if I’m wrong.

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  1. I want a cumulative quarterly target for certain data elements. I want to base the target on the previous year’s performance (per OU). In the example below, the values there are based on the previous year’s actual values (possibly + 5% or another suitable figure):

  2. I want to compare the cumulative target values for the above period with the cumulative actual values for the same period…

…to produce the final output showing the percentage of target achieved for the cumulative number of visits:

I am thinking that for 1) we may need to create a new data element and record the cumulative values manually (or import). For the final result, I’m not sure, given that we’re expecting a comparison of cumulative figures, how doable it is without a custom report and the API. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ed

From: Dhis2-users dhis2-users-bounces+erobinson=projectbalance.com@lists.launchpad.net On Behalf Of Edward Robinson

Sent: Wednesday, 28 March 2018 5:35 PM

To: DHIS Users dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Subject: [Dhis2-users] Indicator based on previous year’s output

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

4

Thanks Tlohang, yes, I’m aware that we can produce a cumulative number of x over a period, but I need to then use those numbers to compare data from another period as covered in my last mail, hence I assumed I may be able to achieve it using an indicator. Sorry that I was a bit brief in my initial mail,

Regards

Ed

···

Hi Edward

You probably don’t need an indicator for that. The knows how to analyse that data element in that cumulative manner once you choose that period during analysis.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Tlohang

On 28 Mar 2018 17:34, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

5

Hi Edward,

I had the same need a week ago but chose to create a simple dataElement so they can fill it manually, I am not convinced that is the best way for data quality.

Please can you explain your idea how to do it with API and custom form? It should be perfect for me.

For your problem, hope you will find the best solution.

Regards.

Diao

···

On Mar 28, 2018, at 5:53 PM, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

Thanks Tlohang, yes, I’m aware that we can produce a cumulative number of x over a period, but I need to then use those numbers to compare data from another period as covered in my last mail, hence I assumed I may be able to achieve it using an indicator. Sorry that I was a bit brief in my initial mail,

Regards

Ed

From: Tlohang moeketsetf@yahoo.com

Sent: Wednesday, 28 March 2018 7:18 PM

To: Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com

Cc: DHIS Users dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Subject: Re: [Dhis2-users] Indicator based on previous year’s output

Hi Edward

You probably don’t need an indicator for that. The knows how to analyse that data element in that cumulative manner once you choose that period during analysis.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Tlohang

On 28 Mar 2018 17:34, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users
Post to : dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net
Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users
More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

6

Hi Edward

I see that I was on a different page altogether.

Well, I think your situation can still be addressed within DHIS 2 but you may have to do some java scripts to manage the data that has to be retrieved from the previous periods. We’ve done something close to this with one of our programmes.

Regards,

Tlohang

···

On 28 Mar 2018 19:53, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

Thanks Tlohang, yes, I’m aware that we can produce a cumulative number of x over a period, but I need to then use those numbers to compare data from another period as covered in my last mail, hence I assumed I may be able to achieve it using an indicator. Sorry that I was a bit brief in my initial mail,

Regards

Ed

From: Tlohang moeketsetf@yahoo.com

Sent: Wednesday, 28 March 2018 7:18 PM

To: Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com

Cc: DHIS Users dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Subject: Re: [Dhis2-users] Indicator based on previous year’s output

Hi Edward

You probably don’t need an indicator for that. The knows how to analyse that data element in that cumulative manner once you choose that period during analysis.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Tlohang

On 28 Mar 2018 17:34, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

7

Hi Edward,

  1. You might consider using predictors. Define additional data elements (with disaggregations if you like) for your targets. Use predictors to populate those data elements in the new period based on values from the old period(s). You can use a predictor formula to sum past data, and even add 5% if you like. Then you will have predicted (target) data in the same period to compare with your results in that period. For details see https://docs.dhis2.org/master/en/user/html/manage_predictor.html

  2. We are considering possible future enhancements to analytics expressions including things like pulling data from past periods into an indicator. If this would be more useful to you than using predictors, please write up a DHIS2 Jira ticket that describes your use case (the kinds of things you’ve said in this email thread would be just fine), and reference the Epic at https://jira.dhis2.org/browse/DHIS2-3187 (or let me know and I will reference it – I’m not sure what privilege is required for this.)

Cheers,

Jim

···

On Wed, Mar 28, 2018 at 4:05 PM, Tlohang moeketsetf@yahoo.com wrote:

Hi Edward

I see that I was on a different page altogether.

Well, I think your situation can still be addressed within DHIS 2 but you may have to do some java scripts to manage the data that has to be retrieved from the previous periods. We’ve done something close to this with one of our programmes.

Regards,

Tlohang

Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users

Post to : dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users

More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

–

On 28 Mar 2018 19:53, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

Thanks Tlohang, yes, I’m aware that we can produce a cumulative number of x over a period, but I need to then use those numbers to compare data from another period as covered in my last mail, hence I assumed I may be able to achieve it using an indicator. Sorry that I was a bit brief in my initial mail,

Regards

Ed

From: Tlohang moeketsetf@yahoo.com

Sent: Wednesday, 28 March 2018 7:18 PM

To: Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com

Cc: DHIS Users dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Subject: Re: [Dhis2-users] Indicator based on previous year’s output

Hi Edward

You probably don’t need an indicator for that. The knows how to analyse that data element in that cumulative manner once you choose that period during analysis.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Tlohang

On 28 Mar 2018 17:34, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

Jim Grace
Core developer, DHIS 2

HISP US Inc.

http://www.dhis2.org

8

Thanks Jim, I’ll look into predictors and see if they’re able to meet my specific need. I suspect they might be ideal for setting the targets, though we will likely set an annual target once a year and average that for quarterly targets – maybe once a year create quarterly target indicators based on the annual target elements / 4. I’ll put something more comprehensive together for a Jira ticket to explain exactly what we’re doing – I suspect it will be very useful for the whole community.

Regards

Ed

···

Hi Edward,

  1. You might consider using predictors. Define additional data elements (with disaggregations if you like) for your targets. Use predictors to populate those data elements in the new period based on values from the old period(s). You can use a predictor formula to sum past data, and even add 5% if you like. Then you will have predicted (target) data in the same period to compare with your results in that period. For details see https://docs.dhis2.org/master/en/user/html/manage_predictor.html

  2. We are considering possible future enhancements to analytics expressions including things like pulling data from past periods into an indicator. If this would be more useful to you than using predictors, please write up a DHIS2 Jira ticket that describes your use case (the kinds of things you’ve said in this email thread would be just fine), and reference the Epic at https://jira.dhis2.org/browse/DHIS2-3187 (or let me know and I will reference it – I’m not sure what privilege is required for this.)

Cheers,

Jim

On Wed, Mar 28, 2018 at 4:05 PM, Tlohang moeketsetf@yahoo.com wrote:

Hi Edward

I see that I was on a different page altogether.

Well, I think your situation can still be addressed within DHIS 2 but you may have to do some java scripts to manage the data that has to be retrieved from the previous periods. We’ve done something close to this with one of our programmes.

Regards,

Tlohang

On 28 Mar 2018 19:53, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

Thanks Tlohang, yes, I’m aware that we can produce a cumulative number of x over a period, but I need to then use those numbers to compare data from another period as covered in my last mail, hence I assumed I may be able to achieve it using an indicator. Sorry that I was a bit brief in my initial mail,

Regards

Ed

From: Tlohang moeketsetf@yahoo.com

Sent: Wednesday, 28 March 2018 7:18 PM

To: Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com

Cc: DHIS Users dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Subject: Re: [Dhis2-users] Indicator based on previous year’s output

Hi Edward

You probably don’t need an indicator for that. The knows how to analyse that data element in that cumulative manner once you choose that period during analysis.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Tlohang

On 28 Mar 2018 17:34, Edward Robinson erobinson@projectbalance.com wrote:

What’s the best approach to creating an indicator that’s based on a cumulative total of a data element captured monthly, for a set timeframe?

E.g. I have an indicator called “Number of patients” captured monthly.

I need an indicator that will give me the total number of patients for the set period October 2016 – September 2017.

Thanks in advance!

Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users

Post to : dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net

Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users

More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

–

Jim Grace

Core developer, DHIS 2

HISP US Inc.

http://www.dhis2.org