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Epidemiology: Monitoring and Evaluation

Epidemiology

Definition of ‘Monitoring’:
Monitoring is the performance and analysis of routine measurements aimed at detecting changes in the environment or health status of the population.
Monitoring can be of variety of activities like:

  • Health program
  • Air quality
  • Water quality
  • Intrauterine growth
  • Nutritional status
  • Functioning of a health facility etc.

Definition of ‘Surveillance’:

Surveillance is the continuous scrutiny of the factors that determine the occurrence and distribution of disease and other condition of ill health.
It is keeping a watchful eye on select diseases and health related events in the population, so as to timely detect any increase or decrease of the health problem or quickly identity a new emerging problem
Types of surveillance:

  • Active surveillance
  • Passive surveillance and
  • Sentinel surveillance

Differences between Monitoring and Surveillance:

Monitoring

  • It is a management tool
  • Periodic collection and analysis of indicators
  • To detect deviation from the established practice
  • Wider scope, as it can be done form many programs by trained staff, once the indices for monitoring are developed
  • Periodical routine reports and field visits
  • Usually concerns specific group or individuals who are the performers in the program
  • This can be done by trained technicians and automated gadgets
  • Monitoring is a part of surveillance

Surveillance

  • It is an epidemiological tool
  • Continuous collection and analysis of health events
  • To monitor trends, incidence, prevalence, geographical spread, outbreaks
  • Limited to a few diseases of national significance
  • Routine reports (monitoring data), surveys and special studies, case investigations, census are a part of surveillance
  • Usually concerns populations, like trend of disease in the population
  • Requires analysis and interpretation of data by professional epidemiologists
  • It is a broader concept

References:
Tiwari P. Epidemiology Made Easy. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers; 2003
Gordis, L. (2014). Epidemiology (Fifth edition.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders.
Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., Kjellström, T., & World Health Organization. (2006). Basic epidemiology. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Schneider, Dona, Lilienfeld, David E (Eds.), 4th ed. Lilienfeld’s Foundations of Epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press; 2015
K. Park. Principles of Epidemiology and Epidemiologic Methods. In Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 24th Ed. Jabalpur: Banarasidas Bhanot, 2017: pg 58 – 145

Steps in Investigation of an Epidemic: Epidemiology: Steps in Investigation of an Epidemic
Tests of Significance: Epidemiology: Tests of Significance
Monitoring and Evaluation: Epidemiology: Monitoring and Evaluation
Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Control Studies: Epidemiology: Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Control Studies
Advantages and disadvantages of cohort study: Epidemiology: Advantages and disadvantages of cohort study
Basic Concepts in Epidemiology: Epidemiology: Basic Concepts
Types of Epidemiological Studies: Epidemiology: Types of Epidemiological Studies
Differences between Case – control and cohort study: Epidemiology: Differences between Case – control and cohort study
Uses of epidemiology: Epidemiology: Uses of epidemiology
Blinding in Experimental Studies: Epidemiology: Blinding in Experimental Studies
Evaluation of a Screening Test: Epidemiology: Evaluation of a Screening Test