A public health researcher in Delhi conducts a case-control study on the association between oral contraceptive use and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women aged 20–45 years. Among 150 women with VTE, 60 reported prior OCP use; among 300 controls without VTE, 40 reported prior OCP use. The researcher calculates an odds ratio of 3.0 (95% CI: 1.8–5.0, p < 0.001). Before presenting these findings to the state health authority, what is the most appropriate next step?