IDD Info: a software to manage surveillance data of Iodine Deficiency Disorders

Abstract

Objectives: IDD info, a new software for managing survey data of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), is presented in this paper. IDD Info aims to create IDD project databases, process, analyze various national or regional surveillance data and form final report. It has series measures of choosing database from existing ones, revising it, choosing indicators from pool to establish database and adding indicators to pool. It also provides simple tools to scan one database and compare two databases, to set IDD standard parameters, to analyze data by single indicator and multi-indicators, and finally to form typeset report with content customized.

Methods: IDD Info was developed using Chinese national IDD surveillance data of 2005. Its validity was evaluated by comparing with survey report given by China CDC.

Results: The IDD Info is a professional analysis tool, which succeeds in speeding IDD data analysis up to about 14.28% with respect to standard reference routines. It consequently enhances analysis performance and user compliance.

Conclusions: IDD Info is a practical and accurate means of managing the multifarious IDD surveillance data that can be widely used by non-statisticians in national and regional IDD surveillance.