Strengthening Public Health Surveillance: Why Türkiye’s Family Physicians Struggle with Disease Reporting—and How to Fix It

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Süleyman Utku UZUN

This entry is part 3 of 14 in the series May 2025

Effective infectious disease surveillance is a cornerstone of public health, particularly in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. In Türkiye, mandatory reporting plays a crucial role in preventing outbreaks. Family physicians, as frontline healthcare providers, play a vital role in this process. But what are their experiences with infectious disease notification, and how can systems be improved to support their efforts? Our new article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, “Unveiling the Gaps: Analyzing Family Physicians’ Perspectives on Infectious Disease Notification in Türkiye,” delves into how family physicians perceive and engage with the current notification system. Based on a comprehensive online survey of 397 family physicians from across the country, our study sheds light on key barriers and offers practical recommendations to improve the reporting process—a critical component of effective public health surveillance — and offers a roadmap for strengthening public health infrastructure.

Key Findings at a Glance

The survey revealed several noteworthy issues:

Knowledge Deficits: Almost 70% of family physicians reported feeling inadequately informed about the existing notification system. Furthermore, a similar percentage expressed a strong desire for post-graduate training to bolster their understanding and application of disease reporting protocols.

Time Constraints and Workload: Physicians identified the process as overly time-consuming. The system’s reliance on manual entry of patient data—compounded by outdated ICD-10 code triggers—often forces clinicians to bypass the proper reporting channels.

Lack of Feedback: More than 80% of respondents noted that they receive little to no feedback on the outcomes of their reports. This disconnect reduces the incentive to report accurately, ultimately hampering public health efforts.

Challenges and Opportunities

The study’s findings not only document the challenges but also point to actionable solutions:

Enhancing Training Programs:

The clear association between adequate training and improved reporting attitudes highlights the necessity for robust educational initiatives. Integrating comprehensive modules on communicable disease reporting into both undergraduate curricula and continuing professional education can empower physicians with the knowledge they need to report accurately and confidently.

Streamlining Digital Systems:

Upgrading the current electronic reporting infrastructure is critical. By automating the extraction of key patient data from electronic health records and updating ICD-10 codes, the reporting process can become significantly more efficient. Such improvements would alleviate the administrative burden and reduce the likelihood of underreporting.

Establishing Robust Feedback Mechanisms:

Physicians are more motivated to engage in disease reporting when they understand how their efforts translate into public health actions. Implementing timely and informative feedback channels can reinforce the importance of reporting and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Managing Physician Workload:

Policy reforms aimed at reducing patient loads per physician can provide clinicians with the necessary time to complete thorough and accurate reports. Aligning financial incentives with quality of care rather than quantity can also contribute to more sustainable reporting practices.

Broader Implications for Public Health

Although this study focuses on Türkiye, the challenges identified resonate with issues faced by healthcare systems worldwide. Effective infectious disease reporting is essential for early outbreak detection, resource allocation, and the implementation of timely interventions. By addressing training, technology, and system feedback, public health authorities can significantly enhance surveillance capabilities and improve overall health outcomes.

Investing in these improvements is not merely a matter of administrative efficiency—it is a critical step toward ensuring that our surveillance systems are robust enough to meet emerging public health challenges. Our study’s evidence-based recommendations provide a clear roadmap for policymakers and healthcare leaders seeking to fortify the nation’s disease reporting infrastructure.

Conclusion

Read Our Article in the May Issue of JPHMP

“Unveiling the Gaps: Analyzing Family Physicians’ Perspectives on Infectious Disease Notification in Türkiye” highlights the urgent need for reform in the disease notification process. By enhancing training programs, modernizing digital reporting systems, establishing robust feedback loops, and managing workload effectively, we can transform how infectious diseases are monitored and controlled. These changes are vital for building a more responsive and resilient public health system.

Co-author Acknowledgement

I would like to gratefully acknowledge my co-authors for their work on this article: Dr. Ayşe Nur Usturalı Mut is an epidemiologist and her expertise in public health and epidemiological research drives her commitment to advancing health initiatives and innovative solutions in disease prevention. Dr. Hakan Mut is a Family Medicine Specialist. With a wealth of experience in clinical practice, he focuses on integrating patient care with public health priorities to promote comprehensive, quality healthcare.

About the Author

Süleyman Utku UZUN: Dr. Süleyman Utku Uzun is an epidemiologist at the Department of Public Health, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty in Denizli, Türkiye. With extensive expertise in epidemiological research and data analysis, he is dedicated to improving healthcare practices through robust epidemiological studies and data-driven insights.