Development of a public health emergency preparedness competency model for European Union countries.

In 2017, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) developed a competency model for individuals who work in public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) in European Union (EU) countries. The model serves as the basis for developing competency-based training programmes to support professionals in PHEP efforts at the country level. The competency model describes the knowledge and skills professionals need when working in national-level PHEP, such as preparedness committee members or their equivalents. In order to develop the model, existing competency statements were reviewed, as well as case studies and reports. Fifty-three professionals from the EU and other countries provided feedback to the model by participating in a three-stage consultation process. The model includes 102 competency, 100 knowledge and 158 skill statements. In addition to specifying the appropriate content for training programmes, the proposed common competency model can help to standardise terminology and approaches to PHEP training.

[Evaluation of the surveillance system for human immunodeficiency virus infections of Navarra, Spain, 1985-2003]. / Evaluación del sistema de información de Navarra sobre diagnósticos de infección por el VIH, 1985-2003.

BACKGROUND: Navarra has an information system of HIV diagnoses working since the beginning of the epidemic up to the present day. This study aims at describing and evaluating this system, focusing on its sensitivity. METHODS: The updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems from the CDC were used to describe the purpose and operation of the system and to analyse its attributes for the period 1985-2003. For the evaluation of the sensitivity the regional database of antiretrovirals distribution was used. RESULTS: The HIV surveillance system of Navarra is confidential and name-based, and includes all HIV-infection cases diagnosed each year. The information sources of the system are: (a) all the laboratories in the public health system that perform the western blot test, and (b) hospital discharge registries. The system covers the entire population of Navarre (584,734 inhabitants). It uses the HIV case definition proposed by the European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS. The system is well-accepted by the community and by all the stakeholders, including those providing data. By the end of 2003 it included 2302 HIV cases, and 98.8% of all patients who had ever received antiretrovirals in Navarra. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV information system of Navarra is simple, useful, well-accepted and highly sensitive. The information about antiretroviral distribution was useful for this evaluation.

Evaluación del sistema de información de Navarra sobre diagnósticos de infección por el VIH, 1985-2003 / Evaluation of the surveillance system for Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections of Navarra, Spain, 1985-2003

Fundamento: Navarra cuenta con un sistema de información sobre los diagnósticos de infección por VIH que abarca desde el comienzo de la epidemia hasta la actualidad. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir y evaluar su funcionamiento y sus atributos, haciendo énfasis en el estudio de su sensibilidad. Métodos: Siguiendo las directrices para la Evaluación de Sistemas de Vigilancia en Salud Pública de los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades de Atlanta, describimos el sistema de información sobre diagnósticos de infección por VIH de Navarra (el sistema) y analizamos sus atributos cualitativos y cuantitativos entre 1985 y 2003. Para valorar la sensibilidad se utilizó como referencia el registro de dispensación de antirretrovirales de los hospitales de Navarra. Resultados: El sistema de información sobre diagnósticos de infección por VIH de Navarra es nominal y confidencial, e incluye los casos nuevos diagnosticados cada año. Sus fuentes de información son todos los laboratorios que realizan la prueba de confirmación de Western blot en el sistema público, y el registro de altas hospitalarias de la Comunidad Autónoma. Cubre a toda la población de Navarra (584.734 habitantes), y utiliza la definición de caso de infección por VIH del Centro Europeo para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica del VIH y el sida. Es un sistema bien aceptado por la comunidad y por los responsables de suministrar los datos. Hasta diciembre de 2003 se habían incluido 2.302 casos, incluyendo al 98,8% de los pacientes que reciben o han recibido antirretrovirales en Navarra. Conclusiones: Este sistema de información es sencillo, útil, bien aceptado y altamente sensible. La información sobre uso de antirretrovirales ha sido de utilidad para su evaluación

Background: Navarra has an information system of HIV diagnoses working since the beginning of the epidemic up to the present day. This study aims at describing and evaluating this system, focusing on its sensitivity. Methods: The updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems from the CDC were used to describe the purpose and operation of the system and to analyse its attributes for the period 1985-2003. For the evaluation of the sensitivity the regional database of antiretrovirals distribution was used. Results: The HIV surveillance system of Navarra is confidential and name-based, and includes all HIV-infection cases diagnosed each year. The information sources of the system are: a) all the laboratories in the public health system that perform the western blot test, and b) hospital discharge registries. The system covers the entire population of Navarre (584,734 inhabitants). It uses the HIV case definition proposed by the European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS. The system is well-accepted by the community and by all the stakeholders, including those providing data. By the end of 2003 it included 2,302 HIV cases, and 98.8% of all patients who had ever received antiretrovirals in Navarra. Conclusions: The HIV information system of Navarra is simple, useful, well-accepted and highly sensitive. The information about antiretroviral distribution was useful for this evaluation

[The Spanish Epidemological Surveillance Services webpages as an information dissemination tool in 2006]. / Las páginas web de los servicios de vigilancia epidemiológica como instrumento de difusión de la información en 2006.

BACKGROUND: Taking into account that one of the Spanish National Epidemological Surveillance Network's missions is that of providing information for taking action, it is then absolutely essential that its information be disseminated in a timely manner. This study is aimed at ascertaining what information is being published on the National Epidemology Center webpages and on those of the Municipal and Autonomous Community Epidemiological Surveillance Services and assessing the timeliness of the information published. METHODS: A review was conducted of the contents of the Surveillance Services webpages of April 3 - May 5, 2006. The information was considered to be "timely" if the information read on the webpage during Week 17 provided the epidemological week 15 bulletin. RESULTS: A total of ninety percent (90%) of the Services have a webpage, fifty percent (50%) of which provide the listing of the compulsorily reportable disease and the case definition, a total of 44% having protocols for taking action and 11% having dynamic tables. The epidemological bulletins can be accessed via eight-three percent (83%) of the pages, six percent of which are updated in a timely manner. A total of seventy-seven (77%) of the pages provide weekly influenza information, seventy-eight percent (78%) in week 15. A total seventy-two percent (72%) have a search system as well as links to other Surveillance Services. CONCLUSIONS: The information provided by the Epidemological Surveillance Services has been found to vary to a certain degree. Influenza information is being disseminated in a timely manner, this however not being the case for the Epidemiological Bulletin.

Las páginas web de los servicios de vigilancia epidemiológica como instrumento de difusión de la información en 2006 / The spanish epidemological surveillance services webpages as an information dissemination tool in 2006

Fundamento: Teniendo en cuenta que una de las misiones de laRed Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica es aportar informaciónpara la acción, se hace imprescindible su difusión en tiempo oportuno.El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el contenido de las páginasweb del Centro Nacional de Epidemiología y de los Servicios deVigilancia Epidemiológica de las Ciudades y Comunidades Autónomasy evaluar su oportunidad en el tiempo.Métodos: Se realizó una revisión del contenido de las páginasweb de los Servicios de Vigilancia durante el período del 3 de abril al5 de mayo de 2006. La difusión de la información se consideró «entiempo oportuno» si la consulta durante la semana 17 ofrecía el boletínde la semana epidemiológica 15.Resultados: El 90% de los Servicios de Vigilancia epidemiológicatiene página web. El 50% ofrece el listado de las enfermedadesde declaración obligatoria y la definición de caso. Protocolos deactuación el 44% y tablas dinámicas el 11%. En el 83% de las páginasse tiene acceso a los boletines epidemiológicos, el 6% está actualizadoen tiempo oportuno. El 77% de las páginas ofrece la informaciónsemanal de la gripe y de ellas el 78% en la semana 15. El 72%tiene un sistema de búsqueda, así como enlaces con otros Serviciosde Vigilancia.Conclusiones: La información difundida por los Servicios deVigilancia Epidemiológica a través de las páginas web es variable.Es oportuna la difusión de la información de la gripe, no así para elBoletín Epidemiológico(AU)

Background: Taking into account that one of the SpanishNational Epidemological Surveillance Network's missions is thatof providing information for taking action, it is then absolutelyessential that its information be disseminated in a timely manner.This study is aimed at ascertaining what information is beingpublished on the National Epidemology Center webpages and onthose of the Municipal and Autonomous Community EpidemiologicalSurveillance Services and assessing the timeliness of theinformation published.Methods: A review was conducted of the contents of the SurveillanceServices webpages of April 3 - May 5, 2006. The informationwas considered to be "timely" if the information read on the webpageduring Week 17 provided the epidemological week 15 bulletin.Results: A total of ninety percent (90%) of the Services have awebpage, fifty percent (50%) of which provide the listing of thecompulsorily reportable disease and the case definition, a total of44% having protocols for taking action and 11% having dynamictables. The epidemological bulletins can be accessed via eight-threepercent (83%) of the pages, six percent of which are updated in atimely manner. A total of seventy-seven (77%) of the pages provideweekly influenza information, seventy-eight percent (78%) in week15. A total seventy-two percent (72%) have a search system as wellas links to other Surveillance Services.Conclusions: The information provided by the EpidemologicalSurveillance Services has been found to vary to a certain degree.Influenza information is being disseminated in a timely manner, thishowever not being the case for the Epidemiological Bulletin(AU)