A Proposed Minimum Data Set for Mass Gathering Health - Updates and Moving Forward

Malinda Steenkamp - Torrens Resilience Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide/SA/ Australia
Sheila Turris - Department Of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver/BC/Canada
Adam Lund - Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver/BC/Canada
Alison Hutton - School Of Nursing And Midwifery, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon
Tyne/SA/Australia
Jamie Ranse - Faculty Of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra/Australia
Ron Bowles - Centre For Applied Research, Justice Institute of British Columbia, Vancouver/AB/Canada
Paul Arbon - Torrens Resilience Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide/SA/ Australia
Study/Objective: Collaborative, ongoing development of an integrated, systematic, evidence-supported
data set for Mass Gathering Health (MGH).
Background: There is currently no standardized approach to data collection at mass gatherings, making
comparisons across/ between events challenging. From 2013 an international team of researchers
collaborated to develop a Minimum Data Set (MDS) for Mass Gathering Health (MGH). They undertook a
Delphi process for those with a strong background/interest in MGH, preceding and during the 2015
World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WCDEM). At that time, consensus was reached
about the need for a standardized dataset to support researchers and clinicians, to build the knowledge
base underpinning MGH science. This presentation will provide an update about the next steps in
developing the MDS. Methods: Drawing on literature, previous Event/Patient Registry development,
expert input and the results of the team’s work, the authors developed a MDS framework with the aim
to create an online MGH data repository. The framework was populated with an initial list of data
elements. Experts and those interested in MGH were invited to participate in an online survey, to rank
these data elements in terms of importance.
Results: A framework for a MGH-MDS together with a list of potential data items will be presented.
Embedded in the data set will be the essential event phases (pre, during and post). Initial field names,
field description, format and source(s) for data will also be shown. In addition, further steps towards
developing an online data repository will be outlined. WCDEM 2017 parti- cipants will also be provided
with a further opportunity to refine the framework and data elements during a congress workshop.
Conclusion: The development of a MGH-MDS can grow the science underpinning this emerging field.
Input from the international community is essential to ensure that the proposed MDS is systematic,
comprehensive, and rigorous while remaining fluid and relevant for various users and contexts.

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