Article Text
Abstract
Process mapping is a systems thinking approach used to understand, analyse and optimise processes within complex systems. We aim to demonstrate how this methodology can be applied during disease outbreaks to strengthen response and health systems. Process mapping exercises were conducted during three unique emerging disease outbreak contexts with different: mode of transmission, size, and health system infrastructure. System functioning improved considerably in each country. In Sierra Leone, laboratory testing was accelerated from 6 days to within 24 hours. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, time to suspected case notification reduced from 7 to 3 days. In Nigeria, key data reached the national level in 48 hours instead of 5 days. Our research shows that despite the chaos and complexities associated with emerging pathogen outbreaks, the implementation of a process mapping exercise can address immediate response priorities while simultaneously strengthening components of a health system.
- epidemiology
- health systems
- public health
- infections
- diseases
- disorders
- injuries
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
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Footnotes
Handling editor Seye Abimbola
Twitter @KaraDurski
Contributors KND, MHD, CI, BK, ISF, MAV, DEW, SB, DJ, AK, AJ, BW and MO ideated the project. KND, DN, SS, AS, MHD, PF, CI, JB, BK, AYO, ISF, WE, MAV, CK, AA, AM, DEW, ML, SB, JCCC, EM, DN, DL, AK, IB, AT, AMK, AJ, BA and MO contributed to writing the initial draft of the manuscript. KD, DN, SS, AS, MHD, JB, AUO, WE, CK, AA, AM, DEW, ML, JCCC, EM, DJ, DL, IM, AL and AMK worked on the methodology and mapping. All authors reviewed and contributed to the final manuscript.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer-reviewed.
Data availability statement There are no data in this work.