Word Definition
RECOMMENDATION A recommendation is one of the outputs of the evaluation. It consists of a proposal for action to be taken by those in charge of the surveillance system to improve the organization or operation of the system on a point identified as being weak. An evaluation leads to several recommendations.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT UNIT This unit brings together scientists and technicians capable of designing, developing and reviewing the surveillance protocols to be implemented based on the objectives set. It is the scientific and technical support tool of the central coordination body. Depending on the size of the surveillance system, the scientific and technical support unit may be part of the central coordination body if the latter has all of the necessary skills and expertise, or it may sometimes be combined with the steering committee for small systems.
SCORING DAY The scoring day brings together a panel of representative actors from the surveillance system selected by the evaluation team to provide input into the scores and rationale given to each evaluation criterion. As all 78 evaluation criteria must be reviewed, a full day of meetings is usually required.
SCORING GUIDE Guidance for selecting a score for an evaluation criterion. The scoring guide presents the situation that is encountered for each score in order to facilitate the choice of the evaluators.
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW The semi-structured interview is a qualitative survey technique that allows the interviewees' responses to the various themes addressed in the OASIS questionnaire to be partially guided (semi-structured). The interview begins with a very open-ended question. The interviewer then summarizes the response and focuses the question on a topic that was not spontaneously addressed by the interviewee. This technique makes it possible to gather the interviewee's own thoughts and feelings by orienting responses as little as possible.
STEERING COMMITTEE The body that sets the broad directions and objectives of the system and makes strategic decisions. It is composed of the key decision makers of the organizations involved in surveillance.
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM A group of people or organizations that is formed to monitor one or more disease entities in a given territory. Sometimes called a "network" or "mechanism”.