Development and formative evaluation of the Canadian Armed Forces Surveillance and Outbreak Management System (CAF SOMS): applications for COVID-19 and beyond. / Élaboration et évaluation formative du Système de surveillance et de gestion des éclosions des Forces armées canadiennes (SSGE FAC) : applications durant la pandémie de COVID-19 et futures applications.

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted limitations in the current public health data infrastructure, and the need for a comprehensive, real-time, centralized, user-friendly data management system suitable for both disease surveillance and outbreak management. To address these issues, the Canadian Forces Health Services Group developed the webbased Canadian Armed Forces Surveillance and Outbreak Management System (CAF SOMS). This paper details the development of the CAF SOMS, provides formative evaluation results and includes a discussion of the lessons learned and intent to use the CAF SOMS in future to enhance the CAF's disease surveillance and outbreak management capability beyond COVID-19.

The Canadian Armed Forces Surveillance and Outbreak Management System (CAF SOMS) was developed to address gaps in information management identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrating a formative evaluation in the phased development and implementation helped to address issues with the system prior to its national roll-out. Lessons learned from its development, implementation and evaluation can inform further refinement and future applications of the CAF SOMS, and potentially of other public health information systems. Increased uptake of the system, integration with electronic records and alignment with the pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy may enhance responses to disease threats and improve CAF health outcomes.