The screening is utilized to determine early signs and symptoms of illness or health conditions to provide early treatment or intervention to prevent health complications from the disease in an individual (Oleske, 2009). Surveillance is described as an organized process to collect data about disease or health problems, analyze these data, and conduct an evaluation to provide this information to those who are actively involved in the health problem (Oleske, 2009). Screening may be conducted through technology such as x-ray, questionnaires or surveys, clinical assessments such as breast examination, and laboratory testing to identify health issues while surveillance is a continuous process of monitoring health problems.
A good example of a screening procedure is a home test kit for COVID-19 to identify if the individual is positive for
COVID-19. Surveillance is conducted by providing information to local public health departments such as a number of positive cases in schools or communities to identify protocols or improve protocols that will promote the health of the communities. According to Friis and Sellers (2021), a good screening test must be acceptable, simple, rapid, safe, and inexpensive.
Friis, R.H. & Sellers, T.A. (2021). Epidemiology for public health practice (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Oleske, D. M. (2009). Screening and Surveillance for Promoting Population Health. Epidemiology and the Delivery of Health Care Services: Methods and Applications, 131–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0164-4_5
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