The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on December 2, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health 2007 17(4):375-380; doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl256
Infectious Diseases |
Benchmarking national surveillance systems: a new tool for the comparison of communicable disease surveillance and control in Europe
Ralf Reintjes1,2, Martina Thelen1, Ralf Reiche3 and Ágnes Csohán4
1 Department Public Health, Faculty Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Germany
2 Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere Finland
3 Scientific Institute of the German physicians (WIAD), Bonn Germany
4 Béla Johan National Centre for Epidemiology, Budapest Hungary
Correspondence: Prof. Dr. (med.) Ralf Reintjes, MSc (P.H.), MSc (Epi.), Department Public Health, Faculty Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Lohbrügger Kirchstrasse 65, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany, tel: +49 40 428 75 6106, fax: +49 40 428 75 6129, e-mail: ralf.reintjes{at}rzbd.haw-hamburg.de
Received July 28, 2006 , accepted October 24, 2006
Background: Communicable diseases do not respect national boundaries and are important challenges to health internationally. Considerable variation exists in the structure and performance of surveillance systems for communicable disease prevention and control. European Union (EU) countries should share ideas to improve the quality of surveillance systems. The study aims to support the improvement and integration of surveillance systems of communicable diseases in Europe while using benchmarking for the comparison of national surveillance systems. Methods: Surveillance systems from England and Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, and The Netherlands were described and analysed. After comprehensive data collection and validation by several European public health (PH) experts, a descriptive data analysis was carried out. Benchmarking processes were performed with selected criteria (e.g. case definitions, early warning applications, and outbreak investigations). After the description of benchmarks, best practices were identified and described. Results: Benchmarking of national surveillance systems is applicable as a new tool for the comparison of communicable disease control in Europe. The countries included in the study have in general well-functioning communicable disease control and prevention systems. Nevertheless, there are different strengths and weaknesses in various countries. Practical examples from the various surveillance systems were demonstrated and recommendations were given to policy makers. Conclusion: A gold standard of surveillance systems in various European countries is very difficult to achieve because of heterogeneity (e.g. in disease burden, personal, and financial resources). However, to improve the quality of surveillance systems across Europe, it will be useful to benchmark the surveillance systems of all EU member states.
Keywords: benchmarking, communicable disease surveillance systems, European Union
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