scholarly journals Challenges in identifying the methodology to estimate the prevalence of infectious intestinal disease in Malta

2005 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. GAUCI ◽  
H. GILLES ◽  
S. O'BRIEN ◽  
J. MAMO ◽  
I. STABILE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Intestinal Disease ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infectious Intestinal Disease ◽  
Participation Bias ◽  
Routine Surveillance ◽  
Sample Size Calculations ◽  
Stratified Sample

Routine surveillance systems capture only a fraction of infectious intestinal disease (IID) that is actually occurring in the community. Different methodologies utilized among various international studies in the field were reviewed in order to devise an appropriate survey to obtain current estimates of prevalence of IID in Malta. An age-stratified retrospective cross-sectional telephone study was selected for the study due to its feasibility in terms of limited resources necessary (funds, time and human). The disadvantages of this type of study include the inherent biases such as selection bias (sampling, ascertainment and participation bias) and information bias (recall and observer bias). A pilot study was carried out using a random age-stratified sample of 100 persons over a 3-month period. A total of 5·0% (95% CI ±4·27) of the population was estimated to have suffered from IID during that period. This estimate was used in order to assist in sample size calculations for a large-scale community study. It also served to test the survey instrument and methodology and to identify operational problems.

Feasibility Study of Surveying the Adverse Drug Reaction Surveillance Systems in a Large Community of Hospitals

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham G. Hartzema ◽  
Miquel S. Porta ◽  
Hugh H. Tilson ◽  
Carlos R. Herrera ◽  
Jeffrey T. Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Drug Reaction ◽  
Drug Reaction ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Harris County ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Uniform Definition ◽  
Definition Of

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of accurately assessing the types of hospital adverse drug reaction (ADR) surveillance systems. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey by mailed, self-administered questionnaire followed by selected verification interviews. SETTING: Harris County, Texas. PARTICIPANTS: All hospitals in the county with different pharmacy directors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self description of surveillance system and number of ADRs reported. RESULTS: Forty-nine of 61 hospitals (80 percent) responded to a questionnaire. Forty-seven (96 percent) of the responding hospitals collected information on ADRs with 11 (22 percent) describing their surveillance system as active. Those individuals most often cited as responsible for ADR surveillance included pharmacists, quality assurance personnel, and nurses. Data were verified by personal interviews for 10 hospitals. The number of ADRs reported during the interviews was significantly lower than that reported in the questionnaires. Overall, the reporting of fatal and severe ADRs were more reliable than the reporting of moderate ADRs. These differences were the result of inadequate documentation and the lack of a uniform definition of ADRs. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a large-scale ongoing survey of surveillance systems and reported adverse event rates has limitations and the reliability of data derived from a questionnaire should be verified. To improve the accuracy of surveys used to monitor hospital ADR surveillance systems, it is essential to develop reliable definitions for classifying ADRs and surveillance methods, as well as accurate measures of ADR documentation procedures.

scholarly journals The U.S. COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey, 2020-2021: Continuous real-time measurement of COVID-19 symptoms, risks, protective behaviors, testing and vaccination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A Salomon ◽  
Alex Reinhart ◽  
Alyssa Bilinski ◽  
Eu Jing Chua ◽  
Wichida La Motte-Kerr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Public Health Reporting ◽  
The U.S

The U.S. COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey (CTIS) is a large, cross-sectional, Internet-based survey that has operated continuously since April 6, 2020. By inviting a random sample of Facebook active users each day, CTIS collects information about COVID-19 symptoms, risks, mitigating behaviors, mental health, testing, vaccination, and other key priorities. The large scale of the survey -- over 20 million responses in its first year of operation -- allows tracking of trends over short timescales and allows comparisons at fine demographic and geographic detail. The survey has been repeatedly revised to respond to emerging public health priorities. In this paper, we describe the survey methods and content and give examples of CTIS results that illuminate key patterns and trends and help answer high-priority policy questions relevant to the COVID-19 epidemic and response. These results demonstrate how large online surveys can provide continuous, real-time indicators of important outcomes that are not subject to public health reporting delays and backlogs. The CTIS offers high value as a supplement to official reporting data by supplying essential information about behaviors, attitudes toward policy and preventive measures, economic impacts, and other topics not reported in public health surveillance systems.

scholarly journals The US COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey: Continuous real-time measurement of COVID-19 symptoms, risks, protective behaviors, testing, and vaccination

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (51) ◽  
pp. e2111454118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A. Salomon ◽  
Alex Reinhart ◽  
Alyssa Bilinski ◽  
Eu Jing Chua ◽  
Wichada La Motte-Kerr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Public Health Reporting ◽  
The Us

The US COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey (CTIS) is a large, cross-sectional, internet-based survey that has operated continuously since April 6, 2020. By inviting a random sample of Facebook active users each day, CTIS collects information about COVID-19 symptoms, risks, mitigating behaviors, mental health, testing, vaccination, and other key priorities. The large scale of the survey—over 20 million responses in its first year of operation—allows tracking of trends over short timescales and allows comparisons at fine demographic and geographic detail. The survey has been repeatedly revised to respond to emerging public health priorities. In this paper, we describe the survey methods and content and give examples of CTIS results that illuminate key patterns and trends and help answer high-priority policy questions relevant to the COVID-19 epidemic and response. These results demonstrate how large online surveys can provide continuous, real-time indicators of important outcomes that are not subject to public health reporting delays and backlogs. The CTIS offers high value as a supplement to official reporting data by supplying essential information about behaviors, attitudes toward policy and preventive measures, economic impacts, and other topics not reported in public health surveillance systems.

scholarly journals Estimating the burden and cost of infectious intestinal disease in the Maltese community

2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (8) ◽  
pp. 1290-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. GAUCI ◽  
H. GILLES ◽  
S. O'BRIEN ◽  
J. MAMO ◽  
I. STABILE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cost Of Illness ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Stool Culture ◽  
Intestinal Disease ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infectious Intestinal Disease ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Personal Costs

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to estimate the burden of infectious intestinal disease (IID) and cost of illness at the community level from a societal aspect. A retrospective, age-stratified cross-sectional telephone study was carried out in Malta in 2004–2005. The number of cases, resources used and cost of resources were computed. The resources involved direct costs (health-care services, stool culture tests, medicines and personal costs) and indirect costs (costs from lost employment by cases and caregivers). This study estimated 0·421 (95% CI 0·092–0·771) separate episodes of IID per person per year in Malta which corresponds to 164 471 (95% CI 35 941–301 205) episodes of IID per year or 450 (95% CI 98–825) episodes of IID each day. The largest proportion of cost is due to provision of health-care services with €10 454 901 [Maltese liri (Lm) 4 558 970] per year; followed by €963 295 (Lm 2 209 393) in lost productivity; €1 286 286 (Lm 561 078) in medicines; €152 335 (Lm 66 452) in stool culture testing and €71 487 (Lm 31 183) in personal costs, giving a total cost of illness of over €16 million (7 million Lm) per year. The burden and cost of IID are high enough to justify efforts to control the illness. Such estimates are important to assess the cost-effectiveness of proposed specific interventions.

scholarly journals The magnitude and distribution of infectious intestinal disease in Malta: a population-based study

2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (8) ◽  
pp. 1282-1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. GAUCI ◽  
H. GILLES ◽  
S. O'BRIEN ◽  
J. MAMO ◽  
I. STABILE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burden Of Illness ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Intestinal Disease ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Infectious Intestinal Disease ◽  
Duration Of Illness ◽  
June July

SUMMARYRoutine sources of information on infectious intestinal disease (IID) capture a fraction of the actual disease burden. Population studies are required to measure the burden of illness. A retrospective age-stratified cross-sectional telephone study was carried out in Malta in order to estimate the magnitude and distribution of IID at population level. A random sample of 3504 persons was interviewed by a structured questionnaire between April 2004 and December 2005. The response rate was 99·7%. From the study, the observed standardized monthly prevalence was 3·18% (95% CI 0·7–5·74) with 0·421 (95% CI 0·092–0·771) episodes of IID per person per year. The monthly prevalence was higher in the <5 years age group and in females aged 31–44 years. The mean duration of illness was 6·8 days and a median duration of 3 days. A bimodal seasonal distribution was observed with peaks in June–July and October–November.

scholarly journals Public acceptability of a technology-mediated stool sample collection platform to inform community-based surveillance of infectious intestinal disease: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan Davies ◽  
Miren Iturriza-Gomara ◽  
Rebecca Glennon-Alty ◽  
Alex J Elliot ◽  
Roberto Vivancos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Stool Sample ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Intestinal Disease ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
City Region ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infectious Intestinal Disease ◽  
Public Acceptability ◽  
Stool Samples

Abstract Background In the UK approximately a quarter of the population experience infectious intestinal disease (IID) each year. However, only 2% present to primary care, preventing a true determination of community burden and pathogen aetiology. The aim of this pilot study was to gauge public acceptability of a technology-mediated platform for reporting episodes of IID and for providing stool samples. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional online survey design, targeting individuals 16+ years old within Liverpool City Region, UK. Information sought included demographics, comfortability of reporting illness and IID symptoms, willingness to provide stool, and favoured stool-provision method. Univariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between demographic variables and providing a stool sample. Odds ratios (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were produced. Results A total of 174 eligible participants completed the survey, with 69% female. The sample was skewed towards younger populations, with 2.9% aged 65+ years. Nearly a third (29%) had a household income of less than £30,000 per annum and 70% had attained a degree or higher. The majority identified as White British (81%) and 11% identified as ethnicities typically grouped Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME). Three quarters of participants were either ‘Comfortable’ or ‘Very Comfortable’ with reporting illness (75%) and with answering symptom-related questions (79%); 78% reported that they would provide a stool sample. Upon univariable analysis, increasing age – being 55+ (OR 6.28, 95% CI 1.15-117.48), and lower income (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.02-6.60), was associated with providing a stool sample. Additionally, respondents identifying as BAME ethnicities and men may be less inclined to provide a stool sample. Conclusions This study assessed the acceptability of technology-mediated platforms for reporting IID and provision of stool samples in the community. Respondents were biased towards younger, technologically inclined, more affluent and educated populations. Acceptability for reporting illness and providing a stool sample through technology-mediated platforms was high. While older populations were under-represented, they were more likely to provide a stool sample. Qualitative research is required to better reach older and more deprived populations, and to understand potential age, gender and ethnic differences in compliance with stool sampling.

scholarly journals Viral loads observed under competing strain dynamics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A Hay ◽  
Lee Kennedy-Shaffer ◽  
Michael J Mina
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Viral Kinetics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Epidemic Dynamics ◽  
Routine Surveillance ◽  
Plausible Mechanism

A plausible mechanism for the increased transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) results from VOC infections causing higher viral loads in infected hosts. However, investigating this hypothesis using routine RT-qPCR testing data is challenging because the population-distribution of viral loads changes depending on the epidemic growth rate; lower cycle threshold (Ct) values for a VOC lineage may simply reflect increasing incidence relative to preexisting lineages. To understand the extent to which viral loads observed under routine surveillance systems reflect viral kinetics or population dynamics, we used a mathematical model of competing strain dynamics and simulated Ct values for variants with different viral kinetics. We found that comparisons of Ct values obtained under random cross-sectional surveillance were highly biased unless samples were obtained at times when the variants had comparable growth rates. Conversely, comparing Ct values from symptom-based testing was largely unaffected by epidemic dynamics, and accounting for the time between symptom onset and sample collection date further reduced the risk of statistical errors. Finally, we show how a single cross-sectional sample of Ct values can be used to jointly estimate differences in viral kinetics and epidemic growth rates between variants. Epidemic dynamics should be accounted for when investigating strain-specific viral kinetics using virologic surveillance data, and findings should be corroborated with longitudinal viral kinetics studies.

Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey among Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2393-PUB
Author(s):  
KENICHIRO TAKAHASHI ◽  
MINORI SHINODA ◽  
RIKA SAKAMOTO ◽  
JUN SUZUKI ◽  
TADASHI YAMAKAWA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Japanese Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Diabetes Survey

Awareness of symptomatic differences Covid-19, SARS, Swine Flu, Common cold among dental students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1026-1033
Author(s):  
Nivedha Valliammai Mahalingam ◽  
Abilasha R ◽  
Kavitha S
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Common Cold ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Enormous successes have been obtained against the control of major epidemic diseases, such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, Swine Flu in the past. Dynamic interplay of biological, socio-cultural and ecological factors, together with novel aspects of human-animal interphase, pose additional challenges with respect to the emergence of infectious diseases. The important challenges faced in the control and prevention of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases range from understanding the impact of factors that are necessary for the emergence, to development of strengthened surveillance systems that can mitigate human suffering and death. The aim of the current study is to assess the awareness of symptomatic differences between viral diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Swine flu and common cold among dental students that support the prevention of emergence or re-emergence. Cross-sectional type of study conducted among the undergraduate students comprising 100 Subjects. A questionnaire comprising 15 questions in total were framed, and responses were collected in Google forms in SPSS Software statistical analysis. The study has concluded that dental students have an awareness of the symptomatic differences between infectious viral disease. The study concluded that the awareness of symptomatic differences between viral diseases like COVID-19, SARS, Swine flu, Common cold is good among the dental students who would pave the way for early diagnosis and avoid spreading of such diseases. A further awareness can be created by regular webinars, seminars and brainstorming sessions among these healthcare professionals.

Knowledge and awareness about MERS-CoV among the dental students in Chennai

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 847-851
Author(s):  
Nithyanandham Masilamani ◽  
Dhanraj Ganapathy
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mode Of Transmission

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) induced by new ß coronavirus MERS-(CoV) had first been described in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. MERS-CoV communication inside the population is often identified with clustered households and cramped communal spaces. The purpose of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of MERS-CoV among dental students in India. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of 100 dental college students in Chennai. The self-designed questionnaires contained ten questions focused on the knowledge and awareness of MERS-CoV amongst dental college students. Questionnaires were circulated through an online website survey planet. After the responses were received from 100 participants, data were collected and analyzed, .87% are aware of MERS-CoV through media 13% from professional channels. 84%are aware of the clinical manifestation of MERS-CoV. 81%Are aware of the mode of transmission of MERS-CoV. 76%are aware of the preventive measures against MERS -CoV.68%. Are aware of the incubation period of MERS-CoV. 74%aware of PCR as a diagnostic test for MERS-CoV. This study concluded that dental students had strong awareness and knowledge of MERS. Also, there are a few differences in information and behaviours that require change. Large-scale health educational programs on MERS also should be facilitated by professional organizations to expand their reach and to strengthen knowledge to have a positive impact on their behaviour.

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