title: State health department perceived utility of and satisfaction with ArboNET, the U.S. National Arboviral Surveillance System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the perceived utility of data collected through ArboNET, the national arboviral surveillance system, and evaluated state health department user satisfaction with system function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an online assessment tool to collect information about types of arboviral surveillance conducted, user satisfaction with ArboNET's performance, and use of data collected by the system. Representatives of all 53 reporting jurisdictions were asked to complete the assessment during spring 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Representatives of 48 (91%) jurisdictions completed the assessment. Two-thirds of respondents were satisfied with ArboNET's overall performance. Most concerns were related to data transmission, particularly the lack of compatibility with the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS). Users found mosquito (85%), human disease (80%), viremic blood donor (79%), and veterinary disease (75%) surveillance data to be useful. While there was disagreement about the usefulness of avian mortality and sentinel animal surveillance, only 15% of users supported eliminating these categories. Respondents found weekly maps and tables posted on the U.S. Geological Survey (92%) and CDC (88%) websites to be the most useful reports generated from ArboNET data. Although many jurisdictions were willing to report additional clinical or laboratory data, time and resource constraints were considerations. Most respondents (71%) supported review and possible revision of the national case definition for human arboviral disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of this assessment, CDC and partner organizations have made ArboNET NEDSS-compatible and revised national case definitions for arboviral disease. Alternative data-sharing and reporting options are also being considered. Continued evaluation of ArboNET will help ensure that it continues to be a useful tool for national arboviral disease surveillance.
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. rd3@cdc.gov
authors: Nicole P
authors: NP
authors: Lindsey
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Brown
authors: Lon
authors: L
authors: Kightlinger
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Fischer
mesh_terms: D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology