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Issue 21

September 2002

CHIRPP Surveillance Evaluation

CHIRPP was first evaluated in 1991 after its initial year of operation. A second evaluation was conducted in August 2001 by a team of national and international injury surveillance experts. Michael Hayes, Yvette Holder and William Pickett made up the evaluation team. Dr. Hayes works with the Child Accident Prevention Trust in London, England. This is a national charity involved in public education, safety training, advocacy and consultancy. Dr. Hayes participated in the 1991 review of CHIRPP and contributed a valuable historical perspective. Ms. Holder has just retired from the Center for Injury Prevention and Control, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. She recently developed a Caribbean surveillance system, and her experiences have contributed to work in South Africa, Central America and for the World Health Organization. Dr. Pickett is a nationally recognized injury epidemiologist with Queen's University in Kingston. He plays a key role in managing the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program and has experience using CHIRPP data for injury research.

Our Evaluation Team: Michael Hayes, Yvette Holder and William Pickett.

The Evaluation Team performed a process evaluation within the context of the cycle of surveillance (i.e. data collection, expert analysis and interpretation, and dissemination for action). It examined how well CHIRPP was meeting its stated objectives, assessed the availability, distribution, use and sufficiency of resources, and made recommendations for improved operation. The system was not only evaluated against its own objectives but also against the updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Evaluation Team reviewed extensive background material before spending 5 days in Ottawa. While here, they met and interviewed Injury Section staff, CHIRPP hospital directors and coordinators, and a variety of stakeholders who use CHIRPP information.

“In general, [they] found CHIRPP to be a well-run program operated by a competent and committed team.” Their final report includes a list of insightful and practical recommendations addressing operational, organizational, dissemination and philosophical aspects of the surveillance system. The Injury Section was pleased to have these recommendations to guide future modifications to CHIRPP.

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