Expert Consensus Study on the Redesign of the Sexually Transmitted Infection Surveillance System in Korea

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Health Surveillance Systems

Background:

• Effective management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is crucial for societal health.
• Current STI surveillance systems require updates to accurately reflect disease burden and inform public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a redesigned national STI surveillance system based on expert consensus.
• To identify key STIs for inclusion or exclusion in the updated surveillance framework.

Main Methods:

• The Delphi method was employed to gather and synthesize expert opinions on STI surveillance.
• A panel of 17 STI experts was convened, representing key infectious disease and urogenital infection societies.
• Surveillance strategies for gonorrhea, chancroid, Mycoplasma genitalium infection, and trichomoniasis were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Experts reached an 83% consensus to exclude chancroid surveillance due to low incidence.
• An 88% agreement was achieved for including Mycoplasma genitalium in the surveillance system.
• Disagreement persisted regarding the inclusion of trichomoniasis and mandatory surveillance for gonorrhea.

Conclusions:

• Expert opinions highlight the need for a revised STI surveillance system, prioritizing consensus-driven changes.
• Further investigation is warranted for STIs where expert consensus was not reached, such as trichomoniasis and gonorrhea surveillance.
• The findings provide a foundation for evidence-based policy development in STI control and prevention.