Evaluation of data quality and influencing factors of integrated syndromic surveillance in rural Jiangxi Province, China

Objective To assess the data reporting quality, and to explore potential influencing factors. Methods Multistage sampling and purposive sampling were used to select 162 health facilities, 62 primary schools and 30 pharmacies as study sites in two counties of Jiangxi Province. Chief complaints, over-the-count (OTC) drug sales and absenteeism were recorded and quality supervision was conducted. Self-developed questionnaires were used to investigate the data reporting quality and influencing factors. Results During the two years' implementation, the Integrated Surveillance System in Rural China (ISSC) collected 504 082 records of outpatients with specific syndromes, 916 669 records of OTC-drug sales and 18 402 records of school absenteeism. The timely report rates of the three data sources raised from 78.38%, 71.27% and 81.52% in the first month to 99.50%, 94.94% and 99.00% in the last month. Data reporters with a higher timely report improvement were those from village areas (OR=2.90, 95% CI:1.28-6.57), less educated (OR=2.36, 95% CI:1.07-5.21) and having been educated with computer operation skills during the research program (OR=2.72, 95% CI:1.41-5.24). Conclusions Syndromic surveillance data is proved to be collectable in resource limited settings. Quality of data improved greatly with the help of a set of supervision measures. The timely report rate stabled above 90% across all three data sources after one years' implementation suggests that it is feasible to establish an integrated syndromic surveillance system in the long run.