What Do Users Want from Disease Surveillance?

You're a doctor or a health official, and you need vital information to make important decisions about diseases like diabetes. What kind of data do you want? What format makes it easiest for you to use? The National Diabetes Surveillance team at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) decided to find out. They studied how people currently get information and what they think could be improved. This isn't just about collecting data – it's about giving decision-makers the tools they need to stay ahead of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Picture it like an early warning system, letting you know what's coming so you can act fast. But to be effective, this system needs to give users what they really need. First, let's talk about who these users are. They're not just doctors – they could be researchers, policymakers, or even the public. Each group has different needs and wants different things from the data. Some might want raw numbers, while others need clear visuals or easy-to-read reports. The key is to make the data accessible and understandable for everyone who might use it. But why does this matter? Well, think about it. If the data is hard to understand or not easily accessible, it might as well not exist. It's like having a map but not being able to read it. That's why it's crucial to tailor the information to the users' needs. It's not just about collecting and storing data – it's about making it useful. Now, let's dive into what users actually want. Some common themes emerged from the interviews. For instance, many users want data that's up-to-date and relevant. They don't want to be working with outdated information – that's like driving a car using a map from 20 years ago. They also want the data to be easy to find and navigate. No one has time to sift through piles of data just to find one piece of information. Another important aspect is the format of the data. Some users might prefer tables, while others like graphs or charts. It's all about making the data as clear and easy to understand as possible. After all, the goal is to help decision-makers make informed choices, not to confuse them with complex data presentations. Lastly, users want to be able to trust the data. They need to know that the information is accurate and reliable. This builds confidence in the surveillance system and encourages people to use the data in their decision-making processes. In conclusion, surveilling non-communicable diseases isn't just about gathering data. It's about giving users what they need to make informed decisions. By understanding and meeting the users' requirements, we can make disease surveillance systems more effective and more useful.