Research On The Indexes System For Comprehensive Evaluation Of Chinese Communicable Disease Surveillance Systems

BackgroundChina has established the surveillance systems for communicable diseases, which mainly based on the notifiable diseases reporting system, and was assisted by the specific surveillance systems for the single disease. It is essential to evaluate the whole surveillance systems comprehensively to make them be more reasonable and effective. China had few practices on evaluation of communicable diseases surveillance systems, and lack of the comprehensive index system, so it is very important to research on this special subject in China.ObjectiveTo establish the comprehensive evaluation indexes system for Chinese communicable disease surveillance systems.MethodDelphi Method was adopted. After two rounds of specialist consultation, a series of indexes were formulated based on the methods and index systems for evaluating surveillance system which suggested by USCDC and WHO, and combined with the current operating situation of Chinese communicable disease surveillance systems,Result40 specialists were consulted for 2 rounds, and the feedback rate was 100% for the first round and 95% for the second round. According to the 2 rounds feedbacks, a comprehensive index system was established with 4 items of primary indexes,26 items of secondary indexes, and 95 items of tertiary indexes. The weights for each item of primary indexes were:importance of public health(0.2785), structure and function of surveillance system(0.2666), support for system operation(0.2292), and basic characters of surveillance system (0.2256). The weights for the first 10 items of secondary indexes were:frequency of disease (0.0796), morbidity (0.0740) preventability (0.0670), social concern (0.0580), purpose of surveillance (0.0418), definition of surveillance (0.0414), fund (0.0411), content of surveillance (0.0406), training (0.0384) and staff (0.0380). The weights for the first 10 items of tertiary indexes were:control capacity (0.0338), case fatality (0.0333), effectiveness of control (0.0331), incidence (0.0283), mortality (0.0267), prevalence (0.0246), case definition (0.0216), hospitalization (0.0203), disability rate (0.0203), and definition of outbreak (0.0197)。The authority coefficients at the first round consultation were 0.83,0.84 and 0.82 for the primary, secondary and tertiary indexes; and the coordination coefficient for the total items was 0.24. The authority coefficients at the second round consultation were 0.84,0.84 and 0.83 for the primary, secondary and tertiary indexes; and the coordination coefficient for the total items was 0.36.ConclusionThe research method for establishment index system is suitable,and the result is credible, assuring the character of science,system and maneuverability. It is useful reference for developing the evaluation of surveillance system in the future.