1 An Introduction to the Minnesota Epidemiological Profile Minnesota State Epidemiological Workgroup and Minnesota Institute of Public Health Fall Forums

2 Agenda Introduction What’s in the Profile? Interpreting the Data Activity and Discussion

3 Purpose of Training By participating in today’s session, you will be better able to: Describe the purpose, format and content of the MN Epi Profile Describe how the MN Epi Profile fits with the Strategic Prevention Framework Begin to use the MN Epi Profile to identify needs related to substance abuse prevention

4 Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

5 Assessment Needs Resources Readiness

6 A Shift in Thinking “The statistical study of the distribution and determinants of disease in populations*.” *Source:

7 A Shift in Thinking Applying Epidemiology to Substance Abuse Prevention is a relatively new concept

8 Ways to Use Data Prevention professionals can use data to proactively identify: Substance use problems Level of capacity to address those problems Readiness of the community to implement prevention measures

9 What does the profile provide? Provides information about needs SPF and the profile allow customized prevention

10 Use of the MN Epi Profile How can the profile be used as a tool by prevention professionals at the state and community level?

11 Agenda Introduction What’s in the Profile? Interpreting the Data Activity and Discussion

12 What’s in the Profile? Consumption Consequences Risk Factors Are Not Addressed Consumption Consequence Risk Factors AlcoholTobaccoIllicit Drugs Students reporting any use of alcohol in past 30 days Impaired driving incidents per 1000 population N/A Deaths from lung cancer per 1000 population Adults reporting smoking 100 cigarettes in lifetime & smoke everyday N/A Adult prison inmates in MN sentenced for drug offenses Percent of population reporting illicit drug use in past 30 days

13 Activity Using the Profile and your yellow worksheet, look up the following data for your county and for the state:  12th Grade Male and Female Binge Drinking (p.150)  12th Grade Male and Female Drinking or Using Drugs and Driving (p. 152)  12th Grade Male and Female Riding With Friends After Using Alcohol or Drugs (p. 154)

14 Data Sources Alcohol-Related Disease Impact Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Fatality Analysis Reporting System MN Dept. of Corrections- Probation Survey and Inmate Profile Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs Crash Facts and Minnesota Impaired Driving Facts Minnesota Dept. of Public Health-Human and Economic Cost of Alcohol Use Minnesota Student Survey National Survey on Drug Use and Health National Vital Statistics System Uniform Crime Reports

15 Census A census is a survey of an entire population

16 Sample A sample is a subset of the population considered representative of groups of people to whom results can be generalized

17 Surveys A questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed

18 Rates A rate is the quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else A percentage is a type of rate

19 Do the percentages add up to 100? Page 60 “The Rate Trap”

20 Economic Cost Health Care Costs Other Impacts Productivity Impacts Alcohol Disorders Treatment, Prevention, Programs Loss of productivity due to alcohol- related illness Motor vehicle crashes

21 Economic Cost in the Profile Page 194

22 Costs of Motor Vehicle Crashes Page 192

23 Agenda Introduction What’s in the Profile? Interpreting the Data Activity and Discussion

24 Data Interpretation Introduction to Basic Epidemiological Descriptors  Magnitude  Severity  Time Trends Data interpretation and critical analysis

25 Magnitude How big is the problem? How many people are affected? What percentage of the population is affected?

26 Magnitude Benefits and Limitations Good way to describe the problem Percentages for small samples not useful Raw counts may not tell the whole story when comparing large and small samples Magnitude Limitations Benefits

27 Magnitude Counts and Percentages in the Profile Benefits Limitations Page 35

28 Magnitude Using data to interpret magnitude  Subgroup data  Disparity and disproportion Page 25

29 Magnitude Subgroup Data Looking for possible targeted interventions within subgroups Page 47

30 Magnitude Disparity and Disproportion

31 Magnitude Disparity and Disproportion

32 Magnitude Disparity and Disproportion

33 Magnitude Disparity and Disproportion Not much difference in the distributions. What does that tell us? Meth Users

34 Activity Review Impaired Driving Handout Table 1.04 (blue worksheet) Expect an even distribution of DUI arrests Sunday through Saturday Disproportionate number of arrests Friday - Sunday Ask why?

35 Severity How “bad” is the problem? How does my community compare? Comparison Ratios Discussing meaningful differences and acceptable ratios

36 Severity Benefits and Limitations Good way to track how your community compares to state and national numbers Meaningful differences and acceptable ratios are subjective concepts Severity Limitations Benefits

37 Comparison Page 96

38 Comparison The ratio of Big Stone County : MN is 1.4 Ratio = 66/ 46.4 = 1.4 Page 148 Page 149

39 Activity Using the data you looked up earlier (yellow worksheet), calculate your local county ratios Divide your county’s percentage by the statewide percentage to find the ratio County Percentage = Ratio State Percentage

40 Good News…Bad News “Our data is lower than the state’s, so we don’t have a problem!” Keep looking at the data - what else does it show? Use other data sources, maybe use recent local example

41 Comparison What is an acceptable comparison ratio? What is a meaningful difference?

42 Time Trends Reading Time Series Graphs Thinking Critically “Environmental” Causes of Trends

43 Time Trends Benefits and Limitations Incorporates the element of time Good for critical analysis of a community Usefulness depends on amount of available data Hard to evaluate interventions Time Trends Limitations Benefits

44 Time Trends Page 80

45 Time Trends

46 Time Trends

47 Summary: Benefits and Limitations Good way to describe the problem Percentages for small samples not useful Raw counts may not tell the whole story when comparing large and small samples Good way to track how your community compares to state and national numbers Meaningful differences and acceptable ratios are subjective concepts Incorporates the element of time Good for critical analysis of a community Usefulness depends on amount of available data Hard to evaluate interventions Magnitude SeverityTime Trends Limitations Benefits

48 Agenda Introduction What’s in the Profile? Interpreting the Data Activity and Discussion

49 Data Interpretation Activity Review and Discuss Information Calculations Critical Thinking Sharing Information

50 What’s Next Profile Updates Website For more information contact your Regional Prevention Coordinator or the Minnesota Institute of Public Health