SENTINEL SURVEILLANCE Meaning and
Definition
-
Sentinel surveillance refers to a strategic approach used in public health and epidemiology to monitor and track the occurrence of specific diseases or conditions in a population. It involves the selective and systematic collection of data from pre-established and representative sources or individuals, known as sentinels, who are particularly susceptible or highly likely to encounter the targeted disease or condition.
The primary objective of sentinel surveillance is to provide early detection, prompt notification, and timely response to health threats. By focusing on specific sentinel sites or groups, such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories, or specific high-risk populations, sentinel surveillance allows health authorities to detect changes and trends that may indicate outbreaks or the spread of particular diseases. The collected data serves as an early warning system, providing public health officials with crucial information for developing and implementing appropriate control measures, preventive strategies, and responding effectively to emerging health issues.
Sentinel surveillance is particularly valuable in situations where resources for nationwide or population-wide surveillance are limited or not feasible. It provides a cost-effective and efficient means of monitoring the health status of a population by focusing on a representative subset that is most likely to capture important information.
In summary, sentinel surveillance is a targeted and focused surveillance approach that relies on specific sentinel sources or individuals to systematically collect and analyze data, aiming to detect changes or trends in disease occurrence, inform public health actions, and aid in the prevention, control, and early response to health threats.
Common Misspellings for SENTINEL SURVEILLANCE
- aentinel surveillance
- zentinel surveillance
- xentinel surveillance
- dentinel surveillance
- eentinel surveillance
- wentinel surveillance
- swntinel surveillance
- ssntinel surveillance
- sdntinel surveillance
- srntinel surveillance
- s4ntinel surveillance
- s3ntinel surveillance
- sebtinel surveillance
- semtinel surveillance
- sejtinel surveillance
- sehtinel surveillance
- senrinel surveillance
- senfinel surveillance
- senginel surveillance
- senyinel surveillance
Etymology of SENTINEL SURVEILLANCE
The word "sentinel" originates from the Latin word "sentinella", which means "a guard" or "one who keeps watch". It is derived from the base word "sentire", meaning "to notice" or "to perceive".
The term "surveillance" comes from the French word "surveiller", which means "to watch over" or "to supervise". It is composed of the prefix "sur", which means "over" or "above", and the verb "veiller", meaning "to watch" or "to be awake".
When combined, "sentinel surveillance" describes a method of disease surveillance where a selected group of individuals, known as sentinels, actively monitor and report specific diseases or conditions. The terminology highlights the role of these individuals as vigilant and dedicated observers.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
