Assessment of communicable disease notification in Dokuz Eylül University Research and Practice Hospital, 2005-2008

To obtain data on communicable diseases in a country or a region has an important place in the planning of activities for the prevention and control of the diseases. The aim of this descriptive study is to determine the characteristics of diseases notified between 2005 and 2008, to evaluate the lack of information in the notification forms, and to assess the completeness of notification in 2008. The characteristics of diseases notified in the last four years were evaluated using notification forms. Also in 2008, the completeness of notification was assessed by comparing the diseases notified with the diseases required notification, identified by ICD-10 codes.Between 2005-2008, 1199 communicable diseases were notified; 56.6% of the cases were male, 42.3% were in the age group of 15-49. Group A diseases and, in general, rabies and rabies risky contact, tuberculosis and salmonellosis were the most frequently notified. Most of the notifications were made by the department of emergency medicine. It was observed that there was great lack of information about the occupation of the patients in the notification forms. In 2008, the diseases required notification were identified by ICD-10 codes; coding errors and also incompleteness of notification were observed. It was determined that 25.0% of tuberculosis cases were not notified and 24 of notified tuberculosis cases were not accurately coded.In conclusion, there are some errors in the notification and coding of the communicable diseases. There is a need for the appropriate and continuing training of health workers on these subjects.