Mukhi Shamir, Dhiravani Karna, Micholson Brad, Yan Lin, Hatchard Jenna, Mubareka Samira, Bergeron Christopher, Beattie Tim
Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB.
Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Online J Public Health Inform. 2018 Sep 21;10(2):e202. doi: 10.5210/ojphi.v10i2.9114. eCollection 2018.
The Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (CNPHI) is a secure, web-based scientific informatics and biosurveillance platform that leverages disparate public health information resources and expertise for the direct benefit of local, regional and national decision makers. CNPHI fosters collaboration and consultation through innovation in disease surveillance, intelligence exchange, research and response to protect, promote and support public health. The objective of this article is to present the CNPHI 'on the go' mobile application, and to discuss preliminary evaluation of the technology. The mobile application is intended to enable rapid mobile data collection using both online and offline modes supporting various stages of surveillance and response through the extension of data collection and analysis to the mobile environment.
Two needs assessment meetings were held with stakeholders representing individuals from government, academia and research institutions, to inform the development of the CNPHI "on the go" mobile application. An initial version of the mobile technology (an "app") was developed and piloted by end-users with expertise in the field. Two focused pilots were conducted to test the technology: Pilot 1: 17-7-2017 to 21-11-2017 (6 participants); Pilot 2: 25-7-2017 to 15-9-2017 (2 participants). An initial consultation was held with the project leads to identify data elements for mobile data collection. A custom data collection form was designed using CNPHI's Web Data technology for each pilot, which was then made available through the mobile app. The technology was assessed using feedback received during each pilot as well as through a survey that was conducted at the conclusion of pilots.
Pilot participants reported that the mobile technology allowed seamless data collection, data management and rapid information sharing. Participants also reported that the entire process was seamless, simple, efficient, and that fewer steps were required for data collection and management. Further, significant efficiencies were gained by directly entering information using the mobile app without having to transfer handwritten information into an electronic database. An overall positive experience was reported by participants from both pilots.
Literature suggests that traditional methods of surveillance and data collection using a paper based methodology pose many challenges such as data loss and duplication, difficulty in managing the database, and lack of timely access to the data. Accurate and rapid access is critical for public health professionals in order to effectively make decisions and respond to public health emergencies. Results show that the CNPHI "on the go" app is well poised to address some of the suggested challenges. A limitation of this study was that sample size for pilot participation was small for capturing overall feedback on the readiness of the technology for integration into regular surveillance activities and response procedures.
CNPHI "on the go" is a customizable technology developed within an already thriving collaborative CNPHI platform used by public health professionals, and performs well as a tool for rapid data collection and secure information sharing.
加拿大公共卫生情报网络（CNPHI）是一个基于网络的安全科学信息学和生物监测平台，它利用不同的公共卫生信息资源和专业知识，直接造福于地方、区域和国家的决策者。CNPHI通过疾病监测、情报交流、研究和应对方面的创新促进合作与协商，以保护、促进和支持公共卫生。本文的目的是介绍CNPHI“随时可用”移动应用程序，并讨论对该技术的初步评估。该移动应用程序旨在通过将数据收集和分析扩展到移动环境，支持监测和应对的各个阶段，使用在线和离线模式实现快速移动数据收集。
与代表政府、学术界和研究机构人员的利益相关者举行了两次需求评估会议，为CNPHI“随时可用”移动应用程序的开发提供信息。移动技术的初始版本（一个“应用程序”）由该领域的专业终端用户开发并进行了试点。进行了两次重点试点以测试该技术：试点1：2017年7月17日至2017年11月21日（6名参与者）；试点2：2017年7月25日至2017年9月15日（2名参与者）。与项目负责人进行了初步协商，以确定移动数据收集的数据元素。使用CNPHI的网络数据技术为每个试点设计了定制的数据收集表，然后通过移动应用程序提供。通过每次试点期间收到的反馈以及试点结束时进行的一项调查对该技术进行了评估。
试点参与者报告说，移动技术实现了无缝数据收集、数据管理和快速信息共享。参与者还报告说，整个过程无缝、简单、高效，数据收集和管理所需的步骤更少。此外，通过使用移动应用程序直接输入信息，无需将手写信息转移到电子数据库中，效率得到了显著提高。两个试点的参与者都报告了总体积极的体验。
文献表明，使用纸质方法进行传统监测和数据收集存在许多挑战，如数据丢失和重复、数据库管理困难以及无法及时获取数据。准确和快速获取数据对于公共卫生专业人员有效做出决策和应对公共卫生紧急情况至关重要。结果表明，CNPHI“随时可用”应用程序很适合应对一些上述挑战。本研究的一个局限性是，试点参与的样本量较小，无法获取关于该技术准备好集成到常规监测活动和应对程序方面的总体反馈。
CNPHI“随时可用”是在已经蓬勃发展的协作性CNPHI平台内开发的可定制技术，被公共卫生专业人员使用，作为快速数据收集和安全信息共享的工具表现良好。
