Key Objectives:
- Identify existing approaches for evaluating public health surveillance systems
- Discuss different approaches for evaluating state-based occupational health surveillance activities
- Recognize differences between surveillance systems and surveillance programs
Brief Summary:
Evaluating public health surveillance systems is an essential step to improve their performance and ensure the system operates to meet its purpose and objectives. As of 2016, there are 26 states with state-based occupational health surveillance programs with NIOSH funding for fundamental surveillance programming. Fundamental surveillance programs focus on occupational health indicators, which function as a quasi-population-based surveillance system that is comprehensive but non-integrated. However, indicators are typically a product of a surveillance system and not the system itself. If states want to evaluate their fundamental and population-based surveillance activities using existing surveillance system evaluation guidelines, what is the “system” to be evaluated? Participants will discuss current guidelines and approaches for conducting surveillance system evaluations, and participants will also be asked to share lessons learned and past examples of surveillance system evaluations. This roundtable session will also provide participants an opportunity to discuss the differences between surveillance programs and surveillance systems, discuss how surveillance systems function in other surveillance areas (injury, environmental health, etc.), generate ideas for evaluating occupational health indicators, and provide solutions to enhance population-based occupational health surveillance systems rather than surveillance programs.