Evaluation on Surveillance and Indicator of Measles Elimination Program in Samutsakorn Province, Thailand

Abstract

Evaluation on Surveillance and indicator of a measles elimination program was done by assessing quantitative data (sensitivity, predictive value positive (PVP), data accuracy and timeliness), indicator of the program (collecting serum of cases and individual investigation within 48 hours) and qualitative aspect (satisfaction and problems). We compared medical records with surveillance data on measles elimination program. Studied population was patients who were treated at Samutsakorn, Banphaeo and Krathumban Hospitals, and were diagnosed with specific ICD10 codes between 1 January and 31 December 2012. Defined cases were people who had clinical measles manifestations or were diagnosed by a doctor. The results showed that only Samutsakorn Hospital, which had 180 defined cases, had reported data to the system. Sensitivity was 55.0% while PVP was 64.7% and timeliness was 82.8%. Data accuracy of age was 99.0% followed by gender with 91.9% and onset date with 76.8%. Only 97% of patients’ serum were collected and individual investigation was conducted only for 82.8%. Officers of Samutsakorn Hospital had satisfaction with the program. Both Banphaeo and Krathumban Hospital did not start implementing the program yet because there were no sufficient human resources, the newly assigned officer might not understand about the program and interns in the hospitals did not know about the program.
We recommended that importance of the measles elimination program should be explained to hospital officers. In addition, knowledge on importance and process of the program should be provided to the interns. Administrators of the hospitals should be interviewed to understand the policy relating to the program.