Previous Story
Since NCD statistics are inaccurate, DPH plans to conduct a new survey
|
Posted on Aug 31 2011
Citing the accuracy of and limited statistics on non-communicable diseases in the Commonwealth, Dr. Dan Lamar said the Department of Public Health is working on getting their data accurate and validated.
“Our data is incomplete and it’s old and it’s maybe of questionable accuracy,” Lamar said in an interview Tuesday at the CNMI-NCD Training held at the Charley’s Cabaret at Pacific Islands Club.
Lamar, who serves as DPH medical director, disclosed that plans are underway to conduct this fall a survey that will be funded largely by the World Health Organization.
The WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance or STEPS Survey is a simple, standardized method for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data for chronic disease risk factors in member countries. The approach encourages the collection of small amounts of useful information on a regular and continuing basis, adopting a standard methodology to detect trends over time by age and sex.
The survey involves three different steps to gather information on key risk factors: using a questionnaire, then moving to simple physical measurements, and only then recommending the collection of blood samples for biochemical assessment.
“What’s different about this [survey] is that it’s a study that is well validated and will help us to be able to compare to all these other countries around the world that have already done this survey,” Lamar told Saipan Tribune.
According to Lamar, some 140 countries “including mini-regions in the Pacific” have already conducted the STEPS Survey; this will be the first time it will be conducted in the CNMI.
Lamar said another survey called the Behavioral Risk Factors Survey had been conducted on the islands. The results are still being compiled and analyzed.
For the new survey, nursing students at the Northern Marianas College will help in gathering the datas, Lamar said. In fact, these students have already attended a training session in July and will soon undergo another training to be conducted by Dr. Li Dan of WHO.
