Evaluation of a Web-Based Notifiable Infectious Disease Surveillance System in China

Evaluation of a web-based notifiable infectious disease surveillance system in China

WANG Li-ping, MA Jia-qi

Background To evaluate a web-based real-time notifiable infectious disease surveillance system set up in China.

Methods The evaluation was made using the current framework published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. Two groups of system stakeholders, for data input and data analysis, were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires to know the operation of the surveillance system, resources used to operate the surveillance system. Some main system attributes, including timeliness, data quality, flexibility and simplicity were assessed by comparing before and after the establishment of surveillance system in 2004, China.

Results Qualitative data showed the poor staff stability, lack of the long-term specific investment were the main problem for the operation of the surveillance system. Timeliness analysis showed excellent case reporting, the time interval has become 13h comparing to 5d in the year of 2003. The outbreak early detection has become probable through the real-time monitoring the data. The capability to find emerge and re-emerge infectious disease at the early stage such as SARS, HPAI, has been improved through we take the pathogen unknown pneumonia as a surveillance emphasis. Analysis of data quality also improved significantly, the underreporting proportion has decreased comparing with that in 2003 and the completeness of surveillance has increased 38.95% in comparison with the average level of 5years before the system establishment. System flexibility and simplicity was found to be high.

Conclusions The web-based notifiable infectious disease surveillance system has acted as a more and more important role in the filed of infectious disease control and prevention in China, and it has meet its objectives decided at the beginning stage. At the same time, it is a relative young system, and faces some challenges.