Accessing Data Through DASH: Researcher Impact Story

Are you interested in multi-regional research in Canada? Learn about the value of using administrative data from more than one province through the lens of a researcher. In this session, Dr. Scott Garrison and Erik Youngson will share the benefits, challenges and triumphs of multi-regional research conducted for the BedMed Randomized Controlled Trial, a pragmatic trial in primary care looking at the timing of taking anti-hypertensive medication. 

Request to Contact process

Researchers may request contact information for residents of British Columbia to invite them to participate in a research study.

This is done by submitting a Request to Disclose Personal Information for the Purpose of Contacting Individuals to Participate in Health Research form to the BC Ministry of Health Data Stewardship Committee (DSC) and the Office of Information and Privacy Commission for BC (OIPC). 

Frequently asked questions

General

What is PopData and what does it do?

Population Data BC (PopData) is a multi-university, data and education resource facilitating interdisciplinary research on the determinants of human health, well-being and development.

Providing a range of services to Researchers and data providers, PopData strives to ensure that Researchers have timely access to the data and training they need to address research questions on population health. Research using these data informs policy-making and leads to healthier communities.

Data access streams

There are currently three streams available for academic researchers to access data on the population of British Columbia: 

  • Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC)
  • Population Data BC
  • The Data Innovation Program (DI Program)

Researchers will be routed to a data access stream based on the data sets required to answer the research question.

Getting started with your Data Access Request (DAR)

1:
Define your research question.
2:
Make sure your project meets the eligibility requirements under the 5 SAFEs model. 
3:
Make sure that you, and your team members meet the eligibility criteria to apply for data

REDCap

Health Research BC is sunsetting its instance of REDCap and will stop providing REDCap services in spring 2025. 

Projects will be temporarily hosted by the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), who will work with teams to: 

  • assess their needs and safety transfer active projects to a new host institution where appropriate, and 
  • ensure the safe removal of data and documentation for projects that are completed. 

 

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                Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN) member
                International Population Data Linkage Network (IPDLN) member

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