Assessing the use of new technologies for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control
Background
RAND Europe is providing research and support for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for the assessment of new technologies for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control over the next two years.
The findings from these studies will enable ECDC to support its objectives to:
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Maintain and further improve access to relevant and reliable epidemiological and scientific data and information in a sustainable and resource-efficient way, in order to fulfil their mandate and public health key functions.
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Make best use of technological advances to further improve public health key functions and ultimately to achieve the prevention and control of infectious diseases in Europe.
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Make necessary changes in infrastructure and ensure the right combination of competencies, now and for the future.
Goals
RAND Europe's goals are to identify and collate evidence on new technologies of potential relevance to public health and ECDC’s mandate, and present it in a form that allows it to be used as a source of information for ECDC and its key stakeholders to support strategic decision making in the field.
The project team also intends to assess the proven and possible future impact (within the next 5 to 10 years) of recent advances in ICT and microbiology testing and microbiological diagnostics on public health, specifically for infectious disease surveillance, prevention, and control.
Methodology
The methods involved in this project include:
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Scoping reviews to obtain an estimate of the size and nature of scientific literature available on digital technologies or microbiological testing and diagnostics which have potential effects on public health key functions;
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Systematic reviews to synthesise the best available evidence on the effects of the application of digital technologies or microbiological technologies in ECDC’s areas of work; and
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Mapping exercises to assess the situation in EU/EEA countries and non-EU/EEA countries regarding the use of digital technologies or microbiological technologies for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control.
Additionally, the study team will provide support to expert meetings to discuss the findings from the scoping reviews and the literature reviews and mapping exercises.
Related Projects
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Researchers examined the availability of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices to diagnose 56 communicable diseases and related health issues under EU surveillance — not including COVID-19 — and mapped trends in the use of POCT in Europe.
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Electronic health records (EHR) data could greatly help infectious disease surveillance, but their use varies across Europe. Researchers mapped EHR use to assess the feasibility of using EHR data for infectious disease surveillance.
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Research into up-and-coming technologies is intended help to improve situational awareness and inform the coordination of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)’s infection control in response to outbreak events.
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Because the review of published evidence is a vital but time-consuming aspect of public health decision making, researchers suggest several ways to support the greater use of automation for evidence reviews within public health.
