Background

The Pacific Women’s Data Advisory Group (PWDAG) was formed in 1992 at the request of Pacific women who attended the first National Pacific Screening Workers conference. Pacific women at that conference expressed concern with Pacific women’s data being collected and held in a database with no obvious control or protocols on who has access to that data, and how that data maybe used.

What are the group’s functions?

The Pacific Women’s Data Advisory Group's (PWDAG) task is to consider applications for the release of Pacific women’s aggregate data from the National Cervical Screening Programme-Register (NCSP-Register), and to provide advice to the National Screening Unit on the release of the aggregate data. One of the main roles of the group is to ensure that if data is to be released it must be released in big enough numbers to protect any Pacific women from being identified.  It is very rare that the group would advice the National Screening Unit not to release data. One of the main reasons why the group may advise against release of data is if the group feels that the data may not be used to benefit Pacific women.

The principles the group uses when considering an application are:

• to protect the sanctity and integrity of Pacific women’s life as appropriate to each island group
• to provide protection so that data is only used for the enhancement of Pacific women’s health.

How many meetings are there?

The Pacific Women's Data Advisory Group usually meets in April, July, October and February.  The next dates for the Pacific Women's Data Advisory Group meetings are as follows:

19 July
10 October
27 February 2008.

Applications for data are required at least three weeks prior to a meeting.  Where important matters require consideration outside this schedule, ad-hoc meetings or teleconferences may be held if a quorum can be achieved.

Confidentiality

In releasing approved data, the Pacific Women's Data Advisory Group will ensure that such releases protect the confidentiality of Pacific women on the NCSP-Register.  Very small numbers that might identify individual women will be aggregated into bigger groupings.

Data release

The timeframe for data release is approximately six to eight weeks (depending on the complexity of the request) following notification of the NCSP-Register staff of approved data releases.  Very complex applications may also incur a cost, which will be made clear to applicants.  Approved information will usually be released to applicants on hard copy (on paper).  However, it is possible for data to be released in an excel spreadsheet format.  Applicants requiring this form of response should provide a disk to NCSP-Register staff to assist this process.

How to apply

All applications for data need to be received by the Pacific Women's Data Advisory Group three weeks prior to a meeting. 
Please send all applications to: 

Vaifagaloa Naseri-Moepogai, 9 Rosewarne Crescent, Glendene, Auckland.

For application forms contact Anne Allan-Moetaua, National Screening Unit, by email at: anne_allan-moetaua@moh.govt.nz