Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40926479›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of public health2025

User journeys in cross-European secondary use of health data: insights ahead of the European Health Data Space.

Rachel B Forster, Eva Garcia Alvarez, Adrian G Zucco, Enrique Bernal-Delgado, Gayo Diallo, Francisco Estupiñán-Romero, Andrea Ganna, Madeleine Gorman-Asal, Christina Hilmarsen, Petr Holub and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Rachel B ForsterDepartment of Health Registry Research and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.
Eva Garcia AlvarezBiobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC), IT department, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-3522-5088
Adrian G ZuccoCopenhagen Health Complexity Center, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Enrique Bernal-DelgadoData Science for Health Services and Policy Research Group, Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0961-3298
Gayo DialloTeam AHead, Bordeaux Population Health INSERM-U1219, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Francisco Estupiñán-RomeroData Science for Health Services and Policy Research Group, Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain.
Andrea GannaInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Madeleine Gorman-AsalTeam AHead, Bordeaux Population Health INSERM-U1219, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Christina HilmarsenNorwegian Institute of Public Health, Health Data Service, Tynset, Norway.
Petr HolubBiobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC), IT department, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-5358-616X
Klaus HoeyerSection for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Arti RawatTeam AHead, Bordeaux Population Health INSERM-U1219, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Naja H RodCopenhagen Health Complexity Center, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anna-Leena VuorinenInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-5658-1305
Tibor V VargaCopenhagen Health Complexity Center, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-2383-699X

Funding

EHDS2 Pilot 101079839ERC 101096999European CommissionEuropean Health and Digital Executive Agency 101079839European UnionNorwegian Directorate of HealthNorwegian Institute of Public HealthResearch Council of Finland 336357
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation aims to facilitate cross-border sharing of health data across Europe. However, practical challenges related to data access, interoperability, quality, and interpretive competence remain, particularly when working with health systems across countries. This study aimed to evaluate and report the user journey of researchers accessing and utilizing health data across four European countries for secondary research purposes prior to implementation of EHDS. We conducted a narrative reflection of individual and collective experiences on key aspects of the user journey-discovery, access, use, and finalization. Data were gathered from various structured and unstructured sources, including an online log, prospective questionnaires, regular meetings, and interviews. Researchers faced challenges at different steps of the user journey, which included lack of data quality in national metadata catalogues (discovery stage). Differences in national regulations led to inconsistent timelines for gaining access to data (access stage), with approval times ranging from a few months to over a year. At the use stage, researchers experienced challenges in harmonizing health data due to variations in coding practices and data quality. Issues related to computational capacity caused further delays. Substantial challenges must be addressed for EHDS to succeed. Establishing knowledge hubs, fostering collaborations, and streamlining access processes are essential. Close collaboration with experts will likely be essential for an effective user journey. This analysis underscores the importance of collaboration, analytical reproducibility, and clear documentation to ensure the success and timely delivery of cross-border projects.

Indexed as

Information DisseminationResearch PersonnelEuropeHumansSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID40926479
PMCPMC12420902

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.