Table 2 The public health triangulation process.

1. Identify key questions

2. Ensure question(s) are important, actionable, answerable and appropriate for triangulation

3. Identify data sources and gather background information

4. Refine the questions

5. Gather data/reports

6. Assess data reliability and make observations from each data set

7. Note trends across data sets and hypothesize

8. Check (corroborate, refute, modify) hypotheses

9. If necessary, identify additional data and return to Step 5

10. Summarize findings and draw conclusions

11. Communicate results and recommendations

12. Outline next steps for public health action