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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on December 2, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl256
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
Received July 28, 2006
Accepted October 24, 2006

Article

Benchmarking national surveillance systems: a new tool for the comparison of communicable disease surveillance and control in Europe

Ralf Reintjes 1 *, Martina Thelen 2, Ralf Reiche 3, and Ágnes Csohán 4

1 Department Public Health, Faculty Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany; Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland
2 Department Public Health, Faculty Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany
3 Scientific Institute of the German physicians (WIAD), Bonn, Germany
4 Béla Johan National Centre for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Ralf Reintjes, E-mail: ralf.reintjes{at}rzbd.haw-hamburg.de


  Abstract

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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