Database visualization: Metabase guide

The data sent from ESPEN Collect is stored in a database on which an automatic backup is made to compensate for the loss of data in the event of any possible accident or damage. The data sent daily by the field teams are raw data that requires cleaned up before any analysis can be done to produce results that are easy to read and understand in the form of charts, summary tables and so on. Since the data analysis is only carried out once the survey is completed, it becomes difficult to know before the end of the survey what results to expect or to determine the trends already for certain key indicators. 

In order to monitor and ensure data quality, it is therefore important to produce charts and tables that will be updated automatically from the data sent as the survey progresses. These charts and tables take the form of a dashboard that is designed to facilitate monitoring the progress of field activities by the ministry of health. 

The function of a dashboard is to allow easy visualization, monitoring and use of relevant data in the form of figures, ratios and charts. These indicators are linked to objectives in order to inform decisionmaking1 . That is why ESPEN Collect survey support services use the dashboard as one of the tools available to national survey teams.

It is designed to meet the specific needs of programme managers, monitoring/evaluation officers, data managers, supervisors, and team leaders for tracking survey progress, locating survey sites, inspecting data, assisting with data cleaning, previewing interim results, and assessing interviewer performance.