Evaluating the utility of surveillance data to decision makers in Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Evaluating the utility of surveillance data to decision makers in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: A survey of all sexually transmitted infection program directors in Victoria, Australia, was undertaken to examine readership and use of annual and quarterly reports.

Results: One hundred and sixteen programs in 86 organisations were identified as undertaking sexually transmitted infection control activities in Victoria. Around 17% of the directors never read the reports and others reported not finding the information contained in them useful. While we found the information generated from the surveillance system has an important role in triggering action for epidemics and pervades more general decision making by improving the general knowledge of sexually transmitted infection trends, the indicators are not seen as useful by most key stakeholders.

Conclusions: Significant improvements in the utility of the system could be made by changes to the data output and key suggestions made by the stakeholders are outlined.