Mobile-Based Emergency Public Health Response System for Sichuan Earthquake-Affected Areas Infectious Disease Reporting Investigation in China: China CDC and U.S. CDC Experience

Purpose: Using mobile technology for epidemiological investigation and surveillance is still an emerging idea in public health. During the aftermath of the devastating May 12, 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province, U.S. CDC experts worked with their counterparts at China CDC to rapidly establish an emergency public health response system (EPHRS) and provided a quick and effective solution to assist China CDC public health relief efforts.

Methods: Field Adapted Survey Toolkit (FAST) software and mobile technology with geographic information systems enabled handheld units were used for development of EPHRS. The FAST application was tested using data collection forms translated to support the Chinese language. A customized data collection form was then created in China. Data could be transmitted from handheld devices to a central server though wired and wireless media. Built-in data analytic tools were used for quick data aggregation, analysis, and reporting. Four teams field tested the EPHRS in Sichuan province, China. A similar paper-based survey form was also used for comparison.

Results: An in-house testing of data collection, transmission, analysis, and reporting showed the system worked properly and met the needs of China CDC’s public health relief. EPHRS was successfully implemented and deployed at China CDC and Sichuan Province. 637 householders with 1708 individuals were investigated. 1507 records were collected in the system and 201 records were collected on the paper form. 8 (0.5%) national reportable disease suspicious cases were found and reported for further confirmation.

Conclusions: PDA or mobile-based survey toolkits was recognized as a quick and effective response solution to this public health practices. The pilot field testing suggested that mobile-based data collection tools provided faster, easier, cleaner, standardized, and shareable data for critical decision making. This paper will share lessons learned and present an open discussion of recommendations for further use of mobile-based emergency response systems.