Piloting a data dashboard to support data-informed health promotion in secondary schools: qualitative analysis of stakeholder interviews

Background Schools are called upon to use data-informed practice to support student health and well-being. However, they face implementation challenges including data accessibility and literacy. Data dashboards offer a method to address these challenges, thereby promoting data-informed practice. This paper reports on a pilot of The School Health Research Network Data Dashboard with secondary schools. Methods The Dashboard was piloted by three secondary schools (recruited by size; free school meal entitlement) in Wales, UK. Interviews with school staff ( N = 7) and public health practitioners ( N = 6) were conducted. Data were analysed thematically. Research design, including interview questions, analytical interpretation and code, and theme development utilised Complex Adaptive Systems as the conceptual framework. Results School staff had access to multiple data sets for health promotion but often lacked the time and capacity to utilise them. The Dashboard was perceived to be a user-friendly method of enhancing data accessibility and usability in secondary schools, providing appropriate training and guidance for school staff was available to avoid data misinterpretation. National roll-out of the Dashboard was supported if it aligned with the needs of schools and the wider education system. Conclusion The Dashboard presents an opportunity for data-informed health and well-being practice and could also support schools to meet education system requirements, providing school staff receive appropriate training. This paper offers novel practical, policy-relevant insights on the interaction of digital dashboards with school systems, capacity constraints, and professional learning needs and valuable insights for public health systems seeking to support data-informed practice in educational settings.