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Improved disease reporting: a randomized trial of physicians
S G Squires1, K J Aronson, R S Remis
1Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
Summary
A new surveillance system significantly boosted physician reporting of notifiable diseases. This intervention improved communication, leading to a 5.9 times higher likelihood of physicians reporting cases.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Communication
Background:
- Physician reporting of notifiable diseases is crucial for public health surveillance.
- Traditional passive surveillance systems may have limitations in capturing disease incidence.
- Effective communication between healthcare providers and health units is essential for timely reporting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a heightened, passive surveillance system on physician reporting of notifiable diseases.
- To determine if an intervention aimed at improving physician-health unit communication increases disease reporting rates.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 145 primary care physicians in Eastern Ontario was conducted.
- The intervention group received a communication enhancement program, while the control group followed the usual reporting system.
- The primary outcome was the relative risk of physicians reporting at least one case of notifiable disease.
Main Results:
- The intervention group (70 physicians) showed a significantly higher reporting rate compared to the control group (75 physicians).
- The relative risk for physicians reporting at least one case was 5.9 (95% CI 2.6-13.2).
Conclusions:
- The implemented intervention effectively increased the number of physicians reporting notifiable diseases.
- Enhanced communication strategies within a passive surveillance system can improve public health monitoring.