Internet Monitoring of Flu-like Illness in the Netherlands
Author Information
Author(s): Marquet Richard L, Bartelds Aad IM, van Noort Sander P, Koppeschaar Carl E, Paget John, Schellevis François G, van der Zee Jouke
Primary Institution: NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research)
Hypothesis
Can internet-based surveys accurately represent the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) compared to traditional methods?
Conclusion
The study shows that online health surveillance can successfully recruit participants and provide reliable data on influenza-like illness.
Supporting Evidence
- The ILI rates in GIS were about 10 times higher than those reported by GPs.
- The demographic characteristics of GIS participants were similar to the general Dutch population.
- The study successfully recruited 13,300 participants who reported ILI symptoms.
Takeaway
This study found that many people are willing to share their health information online, and the data collected is just as reliable as traditional methods.
Methodology
Participants were recruited through media campaigns and were asked to report ILI symptoms via weekly emails.
Potential Biases
Self-selection bias may have occurred as those who chose to participate might differ from those who did not.
Limitations
The study had an underrepresentation of very young and very old participants, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The sample had a slight overrepresentation of women and participants aged 21-70 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.005
Confidence Interval
95% CI for asthma prevalence: 6.4% vs. 6.9%; diabetes prevalence: 3.5% vs. 2.4%
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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