Influenza sentinel surveillance network

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a collaborative action between Public Health services and Primary Care in the context of a case-control study on effectiveness of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures to prevent hospitalization in a pandemic situation. To carry out this research the collaborative action of the primary care physicians members of the Influenza surveillance network was needed, they had to recall clinical information from influenza A(H1N1)pmd09 confirmed outpatient cases and negative outpatient controls matching their corresponding hospitalized confirmed case.

A survey questionnaire to assess involvement of Influenza Sentinel Surveillance Primary care physicians’ Network of Catalonia (PIDIRAC) regarding the outpatient case and control outreach during the pandemic influenza season was performed. A total of 71,1% of completed surveys were received. Perception of pandemic activity was considered to be similar to seasonal influenza activity in 43.8% or higher but not unbearable in 37.5% of the replies. There was no nuisance reported from patients regarding neither the questions nor the surveyor.

Collaborative research between Public Health services and Primary Care physicians enhances Public Health actions and research.

Keywords: :

• public health
• influenza sentinel surveillance
• primary care
• pandemic influenza
• collaborative research

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

We thank the collaborating PIDIRAC Sentinel Surveillance Network physicians (Aizpurua P, Alonso J, Arigon P, Azemar J, Basas D, Besora R, Callado M, Casanovas JM, Cid A, Ciurana E, Cots JM, De la Rica D, Estabanell A, Fau E, Fernandez O, Forcada A, Fos E, Gadea G, Garcia J, Garrido P: Gatius C, Grivé M, Juscafresa D, Leon I, Macia E, Mainou A, Marco E, Martinez M, Martinez E, Molinero C, Lopez-Mompó C, Navarro D, Ortola ME, Perez MC, Perez MMar, Prat M, Pujol R, Pujol J, Ribatallada A, Sanchez R, Valen E, Valencia I, VanEsso D, Vila C, Zabala E, Zurilla E).

This work was partially supported by the Carlos III Institute of Health, (GR09/0030) and Agency for the Management of Grants for University Research [(AGAUR) 2009 SGR 42].