Proposal for a modernized Iranian notifiable infectious diseases surveillance system: comparison with USA and Australia

This article reports on a comparative study of the national notifiable infectious diseases surveillance systems currently employed in the United States of America, Australia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the aim of developing a modified system specific to the needs of the Iranian health system. Features of the surveillance systems examined in each country included: official data gathering structures; types of data collected; case definition and classification criteria; data collection processes; data analysis methods; disease classification systems; data dissemination and distribution methods; data quality control; and confidentiality procedures and guidelines. After consolidating the data, a model for an Iranian notifiable infectious diseases surveillance system was developed and was tested by the Delphi method in 3 stages

comparative study on surveillance system of notifiable infectious diseases in the selected countries: proposed model for Iran

Complete, accurate and timely data gathering is necessary to find epidemics, to provide suitable control strategies, and finally to prevent and control infectious diseases. A comparative study on national surveillance systems of notifiable infectious diseases in the U.S.A., Australia and Iran and also suggesting a suitable model for Iran. This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in 2003-2004. Data gathering instruments were library resources, internet, and consultation with Iranian and foreign experts through face-to-face interview and E-mail. In this research a model for national notifiable infectious diseases surveillance system was presented. This model was tested by Delphi method in 3 stages, and finally a suitable model was designed for Iran. Our data showed that promoting the Iranian national surveillance system on notifiable infectious diseases, the structure, types of data, acceptance criteria for disease registry, data gathering, process, data analysis, information dissemination methods, classification of disease, data quality control, data privacy policies and instructions of the existing system must be modified. Comparison of national notifiable infectious diseases surveillance system of Iran and above-mentioned countries showed that the elements of this system cannot fulfill the Iranian Information requirements. Also, to promote, develop and reinforce a national integrated notifiable infectious diseases surveillance system and effective use of data, the structure of this system, needs modifications