title: Chronic disease surveillance systems within the US Associated Pacific Island jurisdictions.
abstract: In recent years, illness and death due to chronic disease in the US Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI) jurisdictions have dramatically increased. Effective chronic disease surveillance can help monitor disease trends, evaluate public policy, prioritize resource allocation, and guide program planning, evaluation, and research. Although chronic disease surveillance is being conducted in the USAPI, no recently published capacity assessments for chronic disease surveillance are available. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of existing USAPI chronic disease data sources and identify jurisdictional capacity for chronic disease surveillance. The assessment included a chronic disease data source inventory, literature review, and review of surveillance documentation available from the web or through individual jurisdictions. We used the World Health Organization's Health Metric Network Framework to assess data source quality and to identify jurisdictional capacity. Results showed that USAPI data sources are generally aligned with widely accepted chronic disease surveillance indicators and use standardized data collection methodology to measure chronic disease behavioral risks, preventive practices, illness, and death. However, all jurisdictions need to strengthen chronic disease surveillance through continued assessment and expanded support for valid and reliable data collection, analysis and reporting, dissemination, and integration among population-based and institution-based data sources. For sustained improvement, we recommend investment and technical assistance in support of a chronic disease surveillance system that integrates population-based and institution-based data sources. An integrated strategy that bridges and links USAPI data sources can support evidence-based policy and population health interventions.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4150 Technology Way, Carson City, NV 89706, USA. ghh0@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hosey
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichiho
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Satterfield
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dankwa-Mullan
authors.forename: Stevenson
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuartei
authors.forename: Kyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Tayna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Belyeu-Camacho
authors.forename: Ione
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: deBrum
authors.forename: Yorah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Demei
authors.forename: Kipier
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lippwe
authors.forename: Patrick Solidum
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Luces
authors.forename: Faiese
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roby
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D015205:Northwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011640:Public Policy