You need to visualize patient data for advocacy. What are the best tools to use?

1 Why data visualization matters

Data visualization is not only about making your data visually appealing, but also about making it meaningful and actionable. As a patient advocate, data visualization can be used to raise awareness and empathy for the issues and challenges that patients face, as well as to highlight disparities in health care access, quality, and outcomes. It can also be used to compare and contrast different options and scenarios for treatment, prevention, and policy. Furthermore, data visualization can demonstrate the impact and value of your interventions and recommendations while engaging and empowering your audience to participate and take action.

2 What to look for in a data visualization tool

When selecting a data visualization tool, there are various factors to consider. You need to think about the type and source of your data, including the amount, format, and frequency of updates. Additionally, you should consider the purpose and audience of your visualization, such as the message you want to convey and the level of detail and interactivity required. Furthermore, features and functionality are important, such as the types of charts, maps, dashboards, or other visuals that can be created. You also need to consider the cost and availability of the tool, including the technical requirements and limitations. All these elements will help you choose the right data visualization tool for your needs.

3 How to evaluate data visualization tools

To help you find the best data visualization tool for your needs, you can use a simple evaluation framework consisting of three steps. First, define your data visualization objectives and identify the key metrics or indicators you want to measure or monitor. Second, establish the essential features or functions your data visualization tool should have, as well as any nice-to-have or optional features. Lastly, compare and test the potential data visualization tools based on your criteria and assess their performance in terms of ease of use, quality of output, and compatibility with your data and audience.

4 Some examples of data visualization tools

For some ideas and inspiration, here are examples of data visualization tools that you can use or explore for your patient advocacy work. Tableau is a popular and powerful tool that enables you to create interactive dashboards and reports with various types of charts, maps, and filters. You can also try Power BI from Microsoft, which allows you to create and publish interactive data visualizations with a drag-and-drop interface. Google Data Studio is free and easy-to-use, integrating with Google products to create dynamic reports and dashboards. Lastly, Flourish is a web-based data visualization tool that lets you create stunning and interactive visualizations with templates or custom code. All of these tools offer different versions, including free public versions, paid services, and nonprofit discounts.