The use of epidemiological tools in conflict-affected populations: open-access educational resources for policy-makers

Table of Contents

1. Welcome
2. Introduction: Epidemiology in crises
3. Ethical issues in data collection
4. Need for epidemiologic competence
5. Surveys - Introduction
   1. What is a survey?
   2. Types of outcomes and indicators measured in a survey
   3. Reasons to do a survey
   4. Questions to ask before beginning or commissioning a survey
   5. Alternatives to conducting new surveys
   6. Limitations of surveys
   7. Valid questions to answer
   8. Formulation of goals and objectives
6. Surveys - Description of sampling methods
7. Surveys - Sampling error, bias, accuracy, precision, & sample size
8. Surveys - Resources required for surveys
9. Surveys - Critiquing survey reports
10. Surveillance - When to do surveillance
11. Surveillance - Methods
12. Surveillance - Common problems
13. Programme data
14. Rapid assessment
15. Mortality - Indicators and their measurement
16. Mortality - Data sources
17. Mortality - Interpretation and action
18. Nutrition - Introduction and background
19. Nutrition - Indicators and their measurement
20. Nutrition - Data sources
21. Nutrition - Interpretation and action
22. Health services
23. Vaccination programmes
24. Water supply, sanitation, and shelter
25. Violence
26. Presentation of results
27. Formulating conclusions and recommendations
28. Dissemination and action

Questions to ask before beginning or commissioning a survey

(go to Outline)

Therefore, before embarking on survey planning, ask the following questions:

• Are the results likely to be used for decision making?

• Are the results likely to be used to take action?

• Is the affected population accessible?

• Is there no easier or better way to gather the information necessary?

If the answer to all 4 questions is not YES, you may not need to do a survey.

In addition to these questions, ask yourself if your agency has the necessary technical know-how and resources to carry out a quality survey or the ability to hire someone who does? If not, perhaps your organization should not be considering carrying out a survey.