An Internet-based surveillance system for tuberculosis in Korea

SETTING: The Korea Tuberculosis Surveillance (KTBS) network includes 248 health centres throughout the country, as well as other public and private health institutions. OBJECTIVE: To develop a web-based surveillance system for tuberculosis (TB) and to monitor implementation of the National TB Control Programme (NTP) on an ongoing basis. DESIGN: A TB notification form was developed with new case definitions, and standardised to obtain uniform essential information of the cases with ease and speed. Data collection, compilation, analysis and feedback were made available at every level of the health authority via the Internet without restrictions of time and space. RESULTS: The Internet-based surveillance system was successfully implemented across the country, providing real-time national figures of TB using different variables - patient, time, area, site and type of disease - and facilitating on-line evaluation of NTP implementation. CONCLUSION: The web-based surveillance system has been well established within the existing health infrastructure, providing real-time figures on the TB burden. However, it requires continued improvement of the quality of information and of case reporting activities.