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
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
   1. Introduction
   2. Objectives
   3. Justification for survey
   4. General procedures
   5. Outcomes and risk factors
   6. Sample size
   7. Sampling method
   8. Data analysis
   9. Data analysis
   10. Discussion
   11. Conclusions
   12. Recommendations
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

Discussion

(go to Outline)

Does the discussion point out the most important findings? The discussion should prioritize the findings to assist the reader in understanding the significance of the survey results.

Does the discussion expand on the findings? Surveys by themselves often produce findings which are difficult to interpret in isolation. The discussion can present additional data which may help explain why the survey found the results it did. The discussion may also introduce data from other sources which provides contextual information which may help plan program implementation or revision.

Does the discussion present limitations of the survey data? All surveys have limitations. Survey managers should be honest with themselves and with the readers of their report in assessing how these limitations may have influenced the survey results.