title: Toward Standardizing a Lexicon of Infectious Disease Modeling Terms.
abstract: Disease modeling is increasingly being used to evaluate the effect of health intervention strategies, particularly for infectious diseases. However, the utility and application of such models are hampered by the inconsistent use of infectious disease modeling terms between and within disciplines. We sought to standardize the lexicon of infectious disease modeling terms and develop a glossary of terms commonly used in describing models' assumptions, parameters, variables, and outcomes. We combined a comprehensive literature review of relevant terms with an online forum discussion in a virtual community of practice, mod4PH (Modeling for Public Health). Using a convergent discussion process and consensus amongst the members of mod4PH, a glossary of terms was developed as an online resource. We anticipate that the glossary will improve inter- and intradisciplinary communication and will result in a greater uptake and understanding of disease modeling outcomes in heath policy decision-making. We highlight the role of the mod4PH community of practice and the methodologies used in this endeavor to link theory, policy, and practice in the public health domain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph , Guelph, ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milwid
authors.affiliation: International Programmes, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steriu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Centre for Disease Modelling, The University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB , Canada.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arino
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Centre for Disease Modelling, York University , Toronto, ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH , USA.
authors.forename: Ayaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada , Ottawa, ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schanzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph , Guelph, ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB , Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haworth-Brockman
authors.affiliation: National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB , Canada.
authors.forename: Harpa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isfeld-Kiely
authors.affiliation: Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health Authority , Halifax, NS , Canada.
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Langley
authors.affiliation: Agent-Based Modelling Laboratory, York University , Toronto, ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Seyed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moghadas
keywords: community of practice; infectious disease modeling; lexicon of terms; public health; reproduction number