Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T23:35:52.372Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Information for Disasters, Information Disasters, and Disastrous Information

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Sharon M. McDonnell ,
Helen N. Perry ,
Brooke McLaughlin ,
Bronwen McCurdy  and
R. Gibson Parrish
Sharon M. McDonnell*
Affiliation:
Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences-Educational Programs, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
Helen N. Perry
Affiliation:
Division of Emerging Infections and Surveillance Services, National Center for Prevention, Detection and Control of Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Brooke McLaughlin
Affiliation:
Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences-Educational Programs, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
Bronwen McCurdy
Affiliation:
Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences-Educational Programs, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
R. Gibson Parrish
Affiliation:
Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences-Educational Programs, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
*
Sharon M. McDonnell, MD, MPH c/o Dartmouth Medical School, PO Box 197 Peacham, Vermont 05862, USA E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Information is needed to support humanitarian responses in every phase of a disaster. Participants of a multilateral working group convened to examine how best to meet these information needs. Although information systems based on routine reporting of diseases are desirable because they have the potential to identify trends, these systems usually do not deliver on their promise due to inadequate organization and management to support them.

To identify organizational and management characteristics likely to be associated with successful information systems in disaster settings, evaluations of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) programs in 12 participating countries were reviewed. Characteristics that were mentioned repeatedly in the evaluations as associated with success were grouped into nine categories: (1) human resources management and supervision; (2) political support; (3) strengthened laboratory capacity; (4) communication and feedback (through many mechanisms); (5) infrastructure and resources; (6) system design and capacity; (7) coordination and partnerships with stakeholders; (8) community input; and (9) evaluation. Selected characteristics and issues within each category are discussed.

Based on the review of the IDSR evaluations and selected articles in the published literature, recommendations are provided for improving the shortand long-term organization and management of information systems in humanitarian responses associated with disasters. It is suggested that information systems that follow these recommendations are more likely to yield quality information and be sustainable even in disaster settings.

Keywords

disasterhumanitarianinformationinformation systems
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , October 2007 , pp. 406 - 413
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Henderson, DA: Principles and lessons from the smallpox eradication pro-gram. Bull World Health Organ 1987;65(4):535–546.Google Scholar
2.Banatvala, N, Zwi, AB:Public health and humanitarian interventions:Developing the evidence base. BMJ 2000;321(7253):101–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Toole, MJ, Waldman, RJ: Refugees and displaced persons. JAMA 1993;270:600–605.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Roberts, L, Hofmann, CA: Assessing the impact of humanitarian assistance in the health sector. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 2004;1(1):3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.VanRooyen, MJ, Hansch, S, Curtis, D, et al. :Emerging issues and future needs in humanitarian assistance. Prehospital Disast Med 2001;16(4):216–222.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Burkle, FM, McGrady, KAW, Newett, SL, et al. :Complex humanitarian emer-gencies:III.Measures of effectiveness. Prehospital Disast Med 1995;10;48–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Griekspoor, A, Sondorp, E: Enhancing the quality of humanitarian assistance: Taking stock and future initiatives. Prehospital Disast Med 2001;16(4):209–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Salama, P, Spiegel, P, Talley, L, et al. :Lessons learned from complex emergencies over past decade. Lancet 2004;364:1801–1813.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Deitchman, S: What have we learned? Needs assessment. Prehospital Disast Med 2005;20(6)468–470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Hakewill, PA: Monitoring and evaluation of relief programs. Trop Doct 1991;21(suppl 1):24–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.VanRooyen, M, Leaning, J:After the tsunami—Facing the public health challenges. N Engl J Med 2005;352(5):435–438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Zwi, AB:How should the health community respond to violent political conflict? PLoS Med 2004;1(1):e14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Mills, EJ:Sharing evidence on humanitarian relief. BMJ 2005;331:1485–1486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Cosgrave, J:Tsunami evaluation.Summary of issues from secondary and tertiary data.Tsunami Evaluation Coalition,2005.Available at http://www.tsunami-eval-uation.org/NR/rdonlyres/59973B2E-E34F-46BF-BB86-17B1A10687EA/0/lit-erature_survey_nov05.pdf.Accessed 28 May 2007.Google Scholar
15.Thomas, A: Linking preparedness and performance: The tsunami experience. Humanitarian Exchange 2005;32.Google Scholar
16. Sphere Project:Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response: Common standard 6: Evaluation. Geneva, Switzerland: Sphere Project,2004.Available at http://www.sphereproject.org/content/view/34/ 84/lang, English.Accessed 05 June 2007.Google Scholar
17. Humanitarian Exchange No.32 Dec 2005 Humanitarian practice network. Humanitarian policy group. Overseas development institute. London UK http://www.odihpn.org/documents/humanitarianexchange032.pdf #page=38 Accessed 01 June 2007.Google Scholar
18.Sandiford, P, Cibulskis, R:What do information systems do for primary health care? An international perspective. Soc Sci Med 1992;34(10):1077–1087.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Timaeus, I, Harpham, T, Price, M, et al. : Health surveys in developing countries: The objectives and design of an international program. Soc Sci Med 1988;27(4):359–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Calain, P: From the field side of the binoculars: a different view on global public health surveillance. Health Policy Plan 2007;22:13–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Calain, P: Exploring the international arena of global public health surveillance. Health Policy Plan 2007;22:2–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Griekspoor, A:Raising standards in emergency relief:How useful are Sphere minimum standards for humanitarian assistance? BMJ 2001;323(7315):740–742.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Perry, HN, McDonnell, SM, Alemu, A, et al. : Planning an integrated disease surveillance and response system: A matrix of skills and activities. BMC Medicine 2007;in press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Nsubuga, P, White, M, Thacker, S, et al. : Public Health Surveillance: A Tool for Targeting and Monitoring Interventions. In: Jamison, DT, Breman, JG, Measham, JR, et al. , eds. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition. New York:Oxford University Press, 2006.Google Scholar
25.McNabb, SJN, Chungong, S, Ryan, M, et al. :Conceptual framework of public health surveillance and action and its application in health sector reform. BMC Public Health 2002;2(2):1–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26.World Health Organization/Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO): AFR/RC54/12 Rev. 118 June 2004. Fifty-fourth session.Brazzaville:WHO-AFRO, 2004.Google Scholar
27.WHO/AFRO, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Technical guidelines for integrated disease surveillance and response in the African region. Brazzaville: WHO-AFRO, 2002. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/idsr/focus/surv_sys_strengthening/tech_guidelines-integrated-diseaseENG.pdf.Accessed 08 June 2007.Google Scholar
28.World Health Organization–Regional Office for Africa: A Regional Strategy for Communicable Diseases 1999-2003. Brazzaville:WHO-AFRO,1999. 29. Partners for Health Reform Plus: April 2002 Tanzania Trip Report. Bethesda, MD: Partners for Health Reform Plus, 2002.Google Scholar
27.Partners for Health Reform Plus: April 2002 Tanzania Trip Report. Bethesda, MD: Partners for Health Reform Plus, 2002.Google Scholar
30.CDC: Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response:Four Countries'Experience, 1998–2005: An Evaluation of the Implementation of the IDSR Strategy in Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Atlanta:CDC, 2005.Google Scholar
31.WHO:Health Metrics Network:Issues in Health Information:Issue 6:Disease Surveillance. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/documents/hmnissue_diseasesurveillance. pdf.Accessed 15 July 2007.Google Scholar
32.CDC: Report of IDSR Malaria Data in the Mozambique Health System (unpublished trip report).Atlanta GA:CDC National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases,2006.Google Scholar
33.CDC:Documentation of the Laboratory Networking in Implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Rwanda (unpublished report).Atlanta GA:CDC National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases.Google Scholar
34.WHO: Strengthening Surveillance and Response for Epidemic-Prone and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Selected African and Eastern Mediterranean countries: Report of the UNFIP Final Project Evaluation in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Southern Sudan. Lyon: WHO Office for National Epidemic Preparedness and Response, 2005.Available at http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/surveillance/WHO_CDS_ CSR_LYO_2005_23w.pdf.Accessed 08 June 2007.Google Scholar
35.CDC: Report of the Technical Meeting on the Implementation of Core Indicators for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region. Atlanta: CDC, 2004.Google Scholar
36.WHO: WHO Liberia situation report No. 21, period 1–21 Apr 2006. Available at http://unjobs.org/archive/78108078624403173 32499740039859214512472560. Accessed 08 June 2007.Google Scholar
37.Gueye, D, Banke, K, Mmbuji, P: Follow-Up Monitoring and Evaluation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Tanzania. Bethesda, MD: Partners for Health Reformplus Project and Abt Associates Inc., 2006.Google Scholar
38. Support for Analysis and Research in Africa (SARA) Project: Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response.Policy Brief.Washington DC:Academy for Educational Development,2003.Available at http://pdf.dec.org/pdf_ docs/PNACU389.pdf.Accessed April 2007.Google Scholar
39.UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization: Capacity Building. In Guidebook for Planning Education in Emergencies and Reconstruction. Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning, 2006.Google Scholar
40.McDonnell, SM, Bolton, P, Sunderland, N, et al. : The role of the applied epidemiologist in conflict. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 2004;1:4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41.Barenstein, JD:Challenges and risks in post-tsunami housing reconstruction in Tamil Nadu. Humanitarian Exchange 2006;33.Google Scholar
42.Mock, N, Garfield, R: Health tracking for improved humanitarian performance. Prehospital Disast Med 2007;22(5):377–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
43.McDonnell, SM, Yassin, AS, Brown, WG, et al. : Measuring health program effectiveness in the field: An assessment tool. Prehospital Disast Med 2007;22(5):396–405.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
44.Soumerai, SB, Avorn, J: Principles of educational outreach (‘academic detailing’) to improve clinical decision making. JAMA 1990;263:549–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45.Curtale, F, Sirwakoti, B, Lagrosa, C, et al. : Improving skills and utilization of community health volunteers in Nepal. Soc Sci Med 1995;40(8):1117–1125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
46. WHO/AFRO: International Health Regulations (2005), AFR/RC56/INF.DOC/2. Addis Ababa: WHO-AFRO,2006.Available at http://www.afro.who.int/rc56/documents/afr_rc56_inf_doc_2_international_health_regulations_final.pdf.Accessed 08 June 2007.Google Scholar
47.WHO: Southern Sudan Health Update.Geneva:World Health Organization, 2002. Available at http://www.who.int/disasters/repo/9153.pdf. Accessed 08 June 2007.Google Scholar
48.WHO: Health Action in Crises.Highlights No 158 – 14 to 27 May 2007.Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007.Available at http://www.who.int/hac/donorin-fo/highlights/highlights_158_14_27May2007.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2007.Google Scholar