Citation

Thacker SB, Parrish RG, Trowbridge FL. World Health Stat. Q. 1988; 41(1): 11-18.

Affiliation

Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

Erratum On

World Health Stat Q 1989;42(2):preceding 58

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, World Health Organization)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3269210

Abstract

Epidemiological surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of health data for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs. Established surveillance systems should be regularly reviewed on the basis of explicit criteria of usefulness, cost, and quality; systems should be modified as a result of such a review. Attributes of quality include: 1) sensitivity; 2) specificity; 3) representativeness; 4) timeliness; 5) simplicity; 6) flexibility; and 7) acceptability. The usefulness of a surveillance system is measured by whether it leads to prevention or control or a better understanding of adverse health events. The measure can be qualitative or quantitative. The cost of a system includes indirect as well as direct costs, and should be measured in relation to the benefit obtained. The sensitivity of a surveillance system is its ability to detect health events (completeness of reporting). Its specificity is inversely proportional to the number of false positive reports. Representativeness can be measured by comparing surveillance data covering part of the population to either nationwide data, where available, or to random sample-survey data. Simplicity in a system means it is easy to understand and implement, and is therefore usually relatively cheap and flexible. A flexible system is easily adapted by adding new notifiable diseases or conditions or extending it to additional population groups. Acceptability depends on perceived public health importance of the event under surveillance, recognition of individual contributions and time required for reports.

Language: en