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The Health Drivers Calculator (HD*Calc) is a statistical software designed to generate multiple summary measures to evaluate and monitor factors that result in differential outcomes in health among various populations. HD*Calc was created as an extension of SEER*Stat that allows the user to import Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data or other population based health data, such as National Health Survey sample data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) or the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Several of the measures included in HD*Calc are not commonly used to evaluate cancer-related health differences in outcomes. An important function of HD*Calc is to facilitate use of a range of HD measures so that researchers can explore their utility in different situations.
Cross sectional and trend data (e.g. cancer rates and survival statistics calculated from SEER; and prevalence of obesity and mammography use from the national survey data) categorized by various groups (e.g. area-SES, race / ethnicity, geographic areas) can be used with HD*Calc to generate four absolute and seven relative summary measures of disparity. Associated statistics include: standard errors, confidence intervals, and relative change over time for trends. The output is presented in both tabular and graphic formats; this allows users to specify various conditions and formats. Resulting tables and graphs can be exported from the program. In addition to summary measures, HD*Calc also provides pair wise comparisons that allow the user to explore underlying trends in the data.
Statistical properties also affect the choice of measures of health drivers. Different data sources, i.e. registry data or survey data, present distinct challenges in the statistical inferences of these measures. Detailed evaluations of inference methods for measures included in HD*Calc and their usage considerations are published in statistical journals.
National Cancer Institute Surveillance Monograph Series References
Harper S, Lynch J. Methods for Measuring Cancer Disparities: Using Data Relevant to Healthy People 2010 Cancer-Related Objectives. NCI Cancer Surveillance Monograph Series, Number 6. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, 2005. NIH Publication No. 05-5777.
Harper S, Lynch J. Selected Comparisons of Measures of Health Disparities: A Review Using Databases Relevant to Healthy People 2010 Cancer-Related Objectives. NCI Cancer Surveillance Monograph Series, Number 7. National Cancer Institute. NIH Pub. No. 07-6281, Bethesda, MD, 2007.
