A Review of Strategies for Enhancing the Completeness of Notifiable Disease Reporting

Notifiable disease surveillance systems provide essential data for infectious disease prevention and control programs at the local, state, and national levels. Given that reporting completeness is known to vary considerably, this review identifies methods that can reliably enhance completeness of re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of public health management and practice 2005-05, Vol.11 (3), p.191-200
Main Authors: Silk, Benjamin J., Berkelman, Ruth L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Disease Notification
Health technology assessment
Humans
Interprofessional Relations
Population Surveillance - methods
Public Health Informatics
Quality Control
United States
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Summary:Notifiable disease surveillance systems provide essential data for infectious disease prevention and control programs at the local, state, and national levels. Given that reporting completeness is known to vary considerably, this review identifies methods that can reliably enhance completeness of reporting. These surveillance-related activities include initiating active surveillance when appropriate; implementing automated, electronic laboratory-based reporting; strengthening ties with clinicians and other key partners in notifiable disease reporting; and increasing the use of laboratory diagnostic tests in identifying new cases. Despite ample data in support of these strategies, notifiable disease surveillance continues to receive insufficient attention and resources. Recent attention to public health preparedness provides an opportunity to strengthen notifiable disease surveillance and enhance completeness of reporting.
ISSN:1078-4659
1550-5022
DOI:10.1097/00124784-200505000-00003