The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although an increasing number of studies are documenting uses of syndromic surveillance by front line public health, few detail the value added from linking syndromic data to public health decision-making. This study seeks to underst...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2012-10-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/929 |
| _version_ | 1818832074938777600 |
|---|---|
| author | Chu Anna Savage Rachel Willison Don Crowcroft Natasha S Rosella Laura C Sider Doug Garay Jason Gemmill Ian Winter Anne-Luise Davies Richard F Johnson Ian |
| author_facet | Chu Anna Savage Rachel Willison Don Crowcroft Natasha S Rosella Laura C Sider Doug Garay Jason Gemmill Ian Winter Anne-Luise Davies Richard F Johnson Ian |
| author_sort | Chu Anna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although an increasing number of studies are documenting uses of syndromic surveillance by front line public health, few detail the value added from linking syndromic data to public health decision-making. This study seeks to understand how syndromic data informed specific public health actions during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with participants from Ontario’s public health departments, the provincial ministry of health and federal public health agency to gather information about syndromic surveillance systems used and the role of syndromic data in informing specific public health actions taken during the pandemic. Responses were compared with how the same decisions were made by non-syndromic surveillance users.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Findings from 56 interviews (82% response) show that syndromic data were most used for monitoring virus activity, measuring impact on the health care system and informing the opening of influenza assessment centres in several jurisdictions, and supporting communications and messaging, rather than its intended purpose of early outbreak detection. Syndromic data had limited impact on decisions that involved the operation of immunization clinics, school closures, sending information letters home with school children or providing recommendations to health care providers. Both syndromic surveillance users and non-users reported that guidance from the provincial ministry of health, communications with stakeholders and vaccine availability were driving factors in these public health decisions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Syndromic surveillance had limited use in decision-making during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in Ontario. This study provides insights into the reasons why this occurred. Despite this, syndromic data were valued for providing situational awareness and confidence to support public communications and recommendations. Developing an understanding of how syndromic data are utilized during public health events provides valuable evidence to support future investments in public health surveillance.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T01:57:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e932ae5b63943318cdcb908a61b51c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T01:57:15Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e932ae5b63943318cdcb908a61b51c62022-12-21T20:41:10ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582012-10-0112192910.1186/1471-2458-12-929The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative studyChu AnnaSavage RachelWillison DonCrowcroft Natasha SRosella Laura CSider DougGaray JasonGemmill IanWinter Anne-LuiseDavies Richard FJohnson Ian<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although an increasing number of studies are documenting uses of syndromic surveillance by front line public health, few detail the value added from linking syndromic data to public health decision-making. This study seeks to understand how syndromic data informed specific public health actions during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with participants from Ontario’s public health departments, the provincial ministry of health and federal public health agency to gather information about syndromic surveillance systems used and the role of syndromic data in informing specific public health actions taken during the pandemic. Responses were compared with how the same decisions were made by non-syndromic surveillance users.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Findings from 56 interviews (82% response) show that syndromic data were most used for monitoring virus activity, measuring impact on the health care system and informing the opening of influenza assessment centres in several jurisdictions, and supporting communications and messaging, rather than its intended purpose of early outbreak detection. Syndromic data had limited impact on decisions that involved the operation of immunization clinics, school closures, sending information letters home with school children or providing recommendations to health care providers. Both syndromic surveillance users and non-users reported that guidance from the provincial ministry of health, communications with stakeholders and vaccine availability were driving factors in these public health decisions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Syndromic surveillance had limited use in decision-making during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in Ontario. This study provides insights into the reasons why this occurred. Despite this, syndromic data were valued for providing situational awareness and confidence to support public communications and recommendations. Developing an understanding of how syndromic data are utilized during public health events provides valuable evidence to support future investments in public health surveillance.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/929Decision makingPandemic influenzaPublic healthSurveillanceSyndromic surveillance |
| spellingShingle | Chu Anna Savage Rachel Willison Don Crowcroft Natasha S Rosella Laura C Sider Doug Garay Jason Gemmill Ian Winter Anne-Luise Davies Richard F Johnson Ian The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study BMC Public Health Decision making Pandemic influenza Public health Surveillance Syndromic surveillance |
| title | The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study |
| title_full | The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study |
| title_short | The use of syndromic surveillance for decision-making during the H1N1 pandemic: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | use of syndromic surveillance for decision making during the h1n1 pandemic a qualitative study |
| topic | Decision making Pandemic influenza Public health Surveillance Syndromic surveillance |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/929 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chuanna theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT savagerachel theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT willisondon theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT crowcroftnatashas theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT rosellalaurac theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT siderdoug theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT garayjason theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT gemmillian theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT winteranneluise theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT daviesrichardf theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT johnsonian theuseofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT chuanna useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT savagerachel useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT willisondon useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT crowcroftnatashas useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT rosellalaurac useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT siderdoug useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT garayjason useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT gemmillian useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT winteranneluise useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT daviesrichardf useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy AT johnsonian useofsyndromicsurveillancefordecisionmakingduringtheh1n1pandemicaqualitativestudy |