The use of linked data evidence in UK decision-making related to early life health: Systematic mapping protocol

This systematic mapping protocol forms part of a PhD project being undertaken by Hollie Henderson at the University of York, which aims to understand how linked data can be used as a local health intelligence tool for child and maternal health. This project is funded by the White Rose Consortium and is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration (YHARC). This review aims to provide an overall description of how linked data research has been used in UK decision-making relating to early life health; explore the factors affecting the use of linked data as evidence in these decisions; and identify where evidence is lacking to inform further research. The findings from this review will inform the direction of a qualitative research study as part of Hollie’s wider PhD project and support the development of a toolkit to facilitate the use of linked data research by local decision-makers, in the area of child health and development. This protocol sets out the plans for conducting the review in terms of the methods of searching and retrieving the literature and then how the eligible evidence will be presented.