HEALTH RECORDS

MANAGEMENT
DATA PRESENTATION
Learning objectives
• Define data presentation
• List methods of data presentation
• Explain methods of data presentation
Definition of terms
Data presentation refers to the organization of data into tables, graphs
or charts, so that logical and statistical conclusions can be derived from
the collected measurements
Or
Data presentation refers to the use of different graphical techniques to
visually show the reader the relationship between different data sets
Methods of data presentation
• Tables
• Graphs
• Charts
Tables
Tabular presentation
• Presentation of data in tables so as to organization them into a
compact, concise and readily comprehensible form.
• They can display the characteristics of data more efficiently than the
raw data.
Types of Tabular
Simple Table
• One variable (quantitative or qualitative)
• Corresponding frequency
Tables…
Parts of a table
• Heading: consists of table number and title
• Stubs: classifications or categories which are found at the left side of
the body of the table
• Box head: the top of the column
• Body: main part of the table
• Footnotes: any statement or note inserted
• Source note: source of the statistics
Tables…
Simple table
Tables…
Cross tabulation/ Contingency table
• Two–dimensional tables: two variables are cross classified
• Three-dimensional tables: three variables are cross-classified
(outcome of treatment by age and sex)
• It demonstrates the relationship between two or more variables
Tables…
Tables…
Tables…
Criteria of a proper table
• Simple
• Understandable and self explanatory
• All symbols, codes, or abbreviations should be explained in details in a
foot note
• Each row or column should be labeled concisely and clearly
• Units of the data should be clearly mentioned
• The title should be clear, precise
• Totals should be shown
Tables…
Criteria of a proper table…
• The title should be separated from the body of the table by lines or
spaces
• Avoid too much ruling
• If the data are not original, their source should be mentioned as a
foot note or in the title
Graphs
Graphical Presentation
• The use of diagrams to display distribution or characteristics of one or
more sets of data in a compact and readily comprehensible form
• They can provide a better visual appreciation of characteristics of data
than tabular presentation
• Graphs can be drawn by hand or on a computer
Graphs…
Graph
• It is a pictorial display of quantitative data using a coordinate system,
where the X is the horizontal axis and the Y is the vertical axis.
• X-axis usually includes the independent variable (method of
classification)
• Y-axis includes the dependent variable
Graphs…
General Principles
• No more lines or symbols should be used in a single graph than the
eye can follow
• Self-explanatory
• The title can be placed at the top, or at the bottom of the graph.
• When more than one variable or relation is shown on a graph, each
should be differentiated clearly by a key
• Scale divisions and the units into which the scales is divided should be
indicated clearly
Graphs…
Types of Graphs
Arithmetic scale line graph
• This is particularly beneficial to present the trend of one or more sets
of data.
• In general the Y-axis is 2/3 the X-axis
• An equal distance represents an equal quantity anywhere on an axis.
• The slope of the line indicates the rate of increase or decrease
• Two or more lines following a parallel path indicate identical rates of
increase or decrease
Graphs…
Graphs…
Histogram
• Graphical display of frequency distribution of quantitative variable.
• The values of the quantitative variable (as class interval) will be placed
on the X-axis (representing the width of the rectangles), and the
corresponding frequency (or relative frequency) will be placed on the
Y-axis (representing the height of the rectangles)
• Class interval should be equal
• Only one set of data can be shown in one histogram
Graphs…
Graphs…
Frequency Polygon
• Another form of graphical presentation of frequency distribution of
quantitative variables.
• It is similar to the histogram, but instead of using rectangles to present
data, the midpoint of the top of each rectangle are plotted, and connected
together by straight lines.
• More than one set of data can be demonstrated on the same graph, to
facilitate direct comparison. It provides information about underlying
characteristics of data.
• The area under the frequency polygon is equal to the area under the
equivalent histogram
Graphs…
Graphs…
Graphs…
Cumulative frequency polygon, and cumulative frequency charts
• The cumulative frequency are plotted against the upper tabulated
value for each class .
• It is used to estimate by interpolation the frequency of occurrence of
a value of the variable less than or equal to a specified value. Stem-
and Leaf Plot
Graphs…
Graphs…
Scatter diagram
• A pair of measurements is plotted as a single point on a graph.
• The value of one variable of each pair is plotted on the X axis and the
value of the other variable is plotted on the Y axis
• The pattern made by the plotted points is indicative of the
relationship (correlation) between these two variables, which might
be linear (if they follow straight line) or curvilinear (if the pattern
doesn't follow straight line)
Graphs…
A scatter diagram could suggest;
• No relationship: when one variable changes with no change in the
other variable, or when the pattern is buzzard
• Linear relationship: an increase in the 1st variable is associated with
an increase (positive) or decrease (negative) in the 2nd variable, and
the pattern follows a straight line.
• Curvilinear (positive or negative) relationship: the pattern of increase
or decrease will not follow a straight line.
Graphs…
Graphs…
Pictorial presentation
Pictorial Presentation
• Is visual representation as by photography or painting
Pictograms
• Uses series of small identifying symbols to present the data. Each
symbol represents a fixed number of units
Pictorial presentation…
Charts
Charts
• These are pictorial methods of presenting statistical information .
They can convey many different types of information as lengths,
proportion, geographical distribution, and special relationships.
Bar chart
• Used to present discrete or qualitative data
• It includes separated bars of equal width
• The method of classification of the variable is usually placed on the
X-axis, and the Y-axis usually represents the corresponding
frequency or relative frequency.
Charts…
Bar chart
• It can be used to present more than one set of data
simultaneously using different colors, shades, etc. In this case a key
should be used.
• Comparison will be made on the basis of the height of the bar
(frequency). i.e.: the width of the bar has no value.
• It is important that the vertical axis should start at the zero,
otherwise the heights of the bars are not proportional to the
frequencies.
Charts…
Charts…
Component bar chart
• It is a type of charts based on proportion.
• It uses bars that are either shaded or colored to show the relative
contribution of each of its components
Charts…
Charts…
Pie chart
• It is a type of charts based on proportion
• It uses wedge-shaped portions of a circle to illustrate the relative
contribution of each part to the total (division of the whole into
segments)
• To demonstrate the angel of each wedge, we multiply the relative
frequency of each division by 360 degrees.
• Start at 12 o‘clock,
• It is preferable to arrange segments in order of their magnitude
(starting with the largest), and proceed clockwise around the chart.
Charts…
Charts…
Map charts
• These are used to present the geographical distribution of one or
more sets of data
Flow chart
• It is used to illustrate the sequence of a series of events.
• It is characterized by multiple arrows
• Development of Atherosclerotic Plaques
Charts…
Methods of data presentation
Suggestions for the design and use of tables, graphs, and charts
• Choose the method most effective for data and purpose
• Point out one idea at a time
• Limit the amount of data and include one kind of data in each
presentation
• Use adequate , properly located titles and labels
• Mention the source , if it is not yours
• Care and caution in proposing conclusions