1. DATA MANIPULATION Wendy Harrison Mari Morgan Dafydd Williams
HCAI Information for Action 2009
DATA MANIPULATION Wendy Harrison Mari Morgan Dafydd Williams

2. Outline Importing data into Excel Formatting the spreadsheet
HCAI Information for Action 2009
Outline
Importing data into Excel
Formatting the spreadsheet
Observing the data
Using the data
Cleaning the data
Analysing the data
Presenting the data

3. Importing Data File types: ‘.xls’ ‘.csv’ ‘.txt’
Selecting delimiter types: tab, comma, “”
Selecting data types for each column
Saving as Excel file

4. Formatting Spreadsheet for Analysis
Making the columns wider
Changing data formats
Inserting Headings
Saving your changes

5. Observing the Data
Before you start to use the data you need to know what is there:
What data items?
- scroll across to look at all columns
What response types?
- Use filters to look at all responses given

6. Using the Data What questions do we have?
Can this data set answer these questions?
What questions can this data set answer?
Plan of Analysis

7. Cleaning the Data
Before you start analysis you need to make sure your data is as clean as possible.
If you have to make changes at a later date, you may have to reanalyse everything!!!

8. Cleaning the Data 1. Use filters to look for blanks
Do you want to remove records that have blanks in particular fields? Eg SSI
Replace blanks with “unknown” etc – can help with using pivot tables

9. Cleaning the Data 2. Use filters to look for errors For example:
- dates outside date range
- non consecutive dates
- inappropriate ages/ gender for procedures
- dependent responses
Are you going to follow these up or remove?

10. Cleaning the Data 3. Save the cleaned data set separately
- label it as clean

11. Analysing the Data Use the clean data set
Do you want to analyse all of the clean data or subset?
- Select on data range etc using filters
- Save subset for analysis – label as analysis data

12. Analysing the Data Make a definitive record count Use analysis plan
Questions can be answered using:
Sorting
Filters
Pivots

13. Analysing the Data Calculating rates
Is there a denominator already present in the data set?
– can use to calculate % (? include unknowns)
Can you access a denominator elsewhere? eg hospital throughput info from information dept

14. Presenting the Data Text in a document
Tables – can create in Excel or transfer to Word
Graphs