Smoothing is a data visualisation tool available in some Prospection reports. Smoothing is a statistical approach which eliminates outliers from the data to help identify trends or patterns that might have otherwise been overlooked. It is achieved by using algorithms to eliminate statistical noise from datasets. 

The smoothing technique used in most Prospection reports is the moving average. A moving average smoothes data by consolidating monthly data points into longer units of time (i.e. the average of the data over the time period selected). The average may be patients or scripts depending on the report being viewed. 

Smoothing is set to Off by default in reports, however you can select from two types of moving average smoothing options:

• Moving Quarterly Average: Average number of patients/scripts over the last 3 months
  E.g. Moving Quarterly Average will replace the data point with the average of the month being observed and the two months prior (the average of three months)
  
  
• Moving Annual Average: Average number of patients/scripts over the last year.
  E.g. Moving Annual Average will replace the data point with the average of the month being observed and the 11 months prior (the average of 12 months) 

Some reports also use a moving total (i.e. a rolling yearly sum of the data).

• Moving Quarterly Total: Total number of patients/scripts over the last 3 months
  E.g. Moving Quarterly total will replace the data point with the sum of the month being observed and the two months prior. 
  
  
• Moving Annual Total: Total number of patients/scripts over the last year
  E.g. Moving Annual Total will replace the data point with the sum of that month being observed and the 11 months prior (the average of 12 months)