ArticleBMC public health2021
Data collection for outbreak investigations: process for defining a minimal data set using a Delphi approach.
Article in BMC public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Progress and challenges in development of minimum essential dataset for disease surveillance through a One Health lens: a scoping review.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2026Article
- Bridging policy and practice: implementation of emerging infectious disease risk assessment in China from a One Health perspective.Science in One Health · 2026Article
- One Health: enabler of effective prevention, control and elimination of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2025Review
- Unified framework for the ingestion of early epidemic data for downstream data analytics.Wellcome open research · 2025Article
- Optimising Clinical Epidemiology in Disease Outbreaks: Analysis of ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Case Report Form Utilisation.Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Investigating outbreaks of initially unknown aetiology in complex settings: findings and recommendations from 10 case studies.International health · 2023Review
- The World Health Organization COVID-19 surveillance database.International journal for equity in health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTimely but accurate data collection is needed during health emergencies to inform public health responses. Often, an abundance of data is collected but not used. When outbreaks and other health events occur in remote and complex settings, operatives on the ground are often required to cover multiple tasks whilst working with limited resources. Tools that facilitate the collection of essential data during the early investigations of a potential public health event can support effective public health decision-making. We proposed to define the minimum set of quantitative information to collect whilst using electronic device or not. Here we present the process used to select the minimum information required to describe an outbreak of any cause during its initial stages and occurring in remote settings.
methodsA working group of epidemiologists took part in two rounds of a Delphi process to categorise the variables to be included in an initial outbreak investigation form. This took place between January-June 2019 using an online survey.
resultsAt a threshold of 75 %, consensus was reached for nineteen (23.2%) variables which were all classified as 'essential'. This increased to twenty-six (31.7%) variables when the threshold was reduced to 60% with all but one variable classified as 'essential'. Twenty-five of these variables were included in the 'Time zero initial case investigation' '(T0)' form which was shared with the members of the Rapid Response Team Knowledge Network for field testing and feedback. The form has been readily available online by WHO since September 2019.
conclusionThis is the first known Delphi process used to determine the minimum variables needed for an outbreak investigation. The subsequent development of the T0 form should help to improve the efficiency and standardisation of data collection during emergencies and ultimately the quality of the data collected during field investigation.
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