title: Assessing the impact of a pertussis active surveillance program on provider testing behavior, Minnesota 2005-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Minnesota Department of Health, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, implemented the Pertussis Active Surveillance Project to better understand pertussis epidemiology. We evaluated the program's impact.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinics in 2 counties were offered free diagnostic testing and an educational presentation covering pertussis epidemiology. Clinics were identified as either active or intermittent, with active clinics testing 33% or more of the total number of months enrolled. We used generalized estimating equations to assess changes in provider testing behavior over the project period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven clinics enrolled, with 38% classified as active. Active clinics were more likely to use the state lab for diagnostic testing and had a larger staff. During the project period, a decline in days coughing at the time of visit occurred in both jurisdictions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing clinics with free diagnostic testing influenced their participation levels. Among active clinics, results suggest changes in provider testing behavior over the course of the project. However, given the lack of robust participation, this resource-intensive strategy may not be a cost-effective approach to evaluating trends in pertussis epidemiology.
authors: Cynthia Kenyon, Emily Banerjee, Kristin Sweet, Claudia Miller, and Kristen Ehresmann are with the Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Kenyon
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Banerjee
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Sweet
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Miller
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: Ehresmann
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000379:methods; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000078329:Workforce