This query was created as a collaboration between the ISDS Syndrome Definition Committee (SDC) members with input from the CDC, Division of Violence Prevention. The query includes keywords and discharge diagnosis codes (ICD 10, ICD 9, and SNOMED) for self-harm, suicide ideation and suicide attempt. The query has been evaluated using national and local data from several states and counties.
Behavioral Health Surveillance
The following syndrome was developed to explore emergency department visit records involving people experiencing homelessness. Trends over time, patient demographics, geographic distribution, and primary reasons for seeking care were explored. Additionally, we have been using this definition, in combination with other illness/injury specific definitions to assess the trends in among people experiencing homelessness (e.g., cold-related illness among people experiencing homelessness during record low temperatures).
Description
The impetus for the development of many first syndromic surveillance systems was the hope of detecting infectious disease outbreaks earlier than with traditional surveillance. Various data sources have been suggested as potential disease indicators. Researchers have analyzed many of these, including those resulting from behaviors that change due to illness, such as purchasing medications, missing school or work, and using health care call centers or the internet to obtain health information. To define the prodromal behavior of patients presenting for care of acute illnesses, we initiated a pilot survey in the emergency room and acute care clinics at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Objective
This study describes the results of a survey given to patients to determine if any changes occurred in their behavior secondary to the illness that could potentially be tracked and used to detect a disease outbreak.
Referenced File
Description
Today, surveyors in both the private and public sectors are facing considerable challenges with random digit dialed (RDD) landline telephone samples. The population coverage rates for landline telephone surveys are being eroded by wireless-only households, portable telephone numbers, telecommunication barriers (e.g., call forwarding, call blocking and pager connections), technological barriers (call-blocking, busy circuits) and increased refusal rates and privacy concerns. Addressing these issues increasingly drives up the costs associated with dual-frame telephone surveys designed to be representative of the target population as well as hinders their ability to be fully representative of the adult population of each state and territory in the United States. In an effort to continue to meet these challenges head on and assist state and territorial public health professionals in the continued collection of data that are representative of their respective populations, novel approaches to behavioral health surveillance need continued examination. Both private and public sector researchers are evaluating the use of Internet opt-in panels to augment dual-frame RDD survey methods. Compared to dual-frame RDD, opt-in Internet panels offer lower costs, quick data collection and dissemination, and the ability to gather additional data on panelists over time. However, as with dual-frame RDD, this mode has similar challenges with coverage error and non-response. Nevertheless, survey methodologists are moving forward and exploring ways to reduce or eliminate biases between the sample and the target population.
Objective
To present the design and preliminary results of a pilot study to investigate the use of opt-in Internet panel surveys for behavioral health surveillance.