Perspectives of Australian policy-makers on the potential benefits and risks of technologically enhanced communicable disease surveillance - a modified Delphi survey.

摘要: Event-based social media monitoring and pathogen whole genome sequencing (WGS) will enhance communicable disease surveillance research systems. If linked electronically scanned systematically, the information provided by these technologies could be mined to uncover new epidemiological patterns associations much faster than traditional public health approaches. The benefits of earlier outbreak detection are significant, but implementation opposed in absence a licence or if ethical legal concerns not addressed. A three-phase mixed-method Delphi survey with Australian policy-makers, practitioners lawyers (n = 44) was conducted explore areas consensus disagreement over (1) key policy practical issues raised introduction novel programmes; (2) most significant likely risks from using content WGS investigations. Panellists agreed that integration into systems issues, including impacts on personal privacy, medicolegal potential for unintended consequences. Notably, their focused how should used, rather data collected. held users expect posts monitored interests health, those platforms contact identified individuals controversial. conditions appropriate use investigations also contentious. Key differences amongst participants included necessity consent before testing data-linkage, thresholds action, importance harms commercial entities. erosion trust seen as risk systematic technologies. Enhancing social-media may cause controversy. challenge is determine then codify used such balance between individual community benefit widely accepted. Participants clear guidelines address need developed consultation relevant experts broader public.