Structuring information systems for more effective disease control programs.

The design of effective health programs involves a complex set of information flows needed to support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of alternative intervention strategies. While several information system models are available, few have actually been applied to specific disease cycles. The objective of this paper is to consider the design of information systems in terms of organizational contextual factors and user/decision-maker preferences relevant to the structure and operation of such information systems. A heuristic procedure is developed and applied to the design of information systems responsible for supporting effective parasitic disease control efforts. Recent research based on this application indicates substantial technical advantages to an intersectoral, multidimensional approach to parasitic disease control. In particular, analysis reveals that information system designs can significantly enhance the effectiveness of disease intervention through a higher level of sensitivity to such factors as disease etiology, socioeconomic conditions, and population health beliefs and perceptions.