The physician-based sentinel surveillance project - a pilot programme for internet-based sentinel surveillance - Poster abstract

OBJECTIVE: To establish and evaluate an internet-based pilot programme for sentinel surveillance of emerging health problems among the private sector physicians in three Caribbean countries. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participating physicians were identified in cooperation with local chapters of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians in Jamaica, Trinidad andTobago and St Lucia. A menu-driven Epi Info programme was used for reporting as well as on-site analysis of individual site data. Hardware was installed,participants were trained and surveillance data entry began in September-October, 1999. Three disease entities were chosen by consensus as the initial targets for surveillance - diarrhoeal disease, fever/rash syndrome, and sexually transmitted diseases. Evaluation criteria for the programme included the achievement of timely data entry and reporting, the establishment of regular feedback, and the regular use of internet-based data transfer for reporting and communication. RESULTS: The practices of twenty-one physicians were chosen as initial pilot sites. All Ministries valued the enhancement of their existing surveillance through the project and cited improved public-private partnership as a positive impact. Reduced cost of communication through use of theinternet was partially offset by the high initial cost of computer hardware, and the relatively high cost of local internet connections. Other limitations included a constrained communication infrastructure, limited baseline computer skills administrative barriers, and cost. CONCLUSION: The strengths of the programme were simplicity; potential for improved data quality; and improved competency in computer skills and surveillance among participating physicians. Proposed changes in the next phase include improvement in the software programme and development of a more extended network and e-mail forum. (Au)

Where have all the graduates gone and why?

A stratified random sample was used to analyse some of the factors influencing career choices of the University of the West Indies (UWI) MBBS, graduates, their geographical distribution and specialities and family formation. This information could assist in the choice of postgraduate programmes provided at UWI and indicate perceived deficiencies. A list of graduates from 1954 to 1989 with addresses was stratified by country/continent of known address. A random sample of approximately equal numbers of both genders was sent copies of a questionnaire plus an addressed return envelope. 110 valid replies were received, coded and analysed using SPSS. One-third of graduates were in practice outside the Caribbean. The most frequent postgraduate qualification was internal medicine followed by paediatrics and anaesthesia. Career choices were affected by availability of postgraduate training. Satisfaction with a medical career and remuneration was almost 100 percent. Graduates have received international recognition and reached senior positions even abroad. More women than men were unmarried and childless. Men were more likely to choose partners from a lower socioeconomic group. Despite attraction of working in more developed societies the majority of graduates have remained in or returned to the region. However, there appear to be imbalances among these earlier graduates in specialities chosen. There are also gender differences in family formation. Reasons for this and influences on career path deserve further study.(AU)

Gender in the consultation room: Do physicians gender differentiate?

Looks at some of the documented facts on gender differentiation in the consultation room

Gender in the consultation room: Do physicians gender differentiate?

Looks at some of the documented facts on gender differentiation in the consultation room