Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System Results of a Survey of Owning Members 2017

Consolidated results of a survey conducted for the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS), collaboration on animal health surveillance in Canada

CAHSS Survey of Owning Members Background: Prior to a Directors face to face meeting in Nov 2017, an electronic survey was distributed to all CAHSS owning members. A subset of owning members was asked to also complete a telephone survey. Purpose of Survey: Provide background information for the CAHSS Directors Workshop. Directors wished to assess CAHSS progress to date and to discuss where CAHSS needs to go in the future.

Response to Electronic and Telephone Surveys Electronic Survey Over 30% of CAHSS members responded to electronic survey (46 respondents) 89% have been members for a least 6 months. 65% belong to one group only 86% try to attend meetings 70% contribute to work 55% satisfied with progress Telephone Survey: 21 respondents total

Themes: Percentages of respondents rating network and CAHSS contribution as very high or high (1 or 2 out of 5) Highest contribution rating 66%   Trust and communication (help exchanging information) 66%   Sharing information and reports Higher contribution rating 50%   Setting priorities Lower contribution rating 44%   Sharing data 42%   Understanding needs (help exchanging information) Lowest contribution rating 37%   Removing barriers 34%   Data gathering Although there were individual variations, overall responses for network group contribution and CAHSS contribution were fairly similar.

Themes: Relevancy and Satisfaction with Progress Themes are still relevant Suggestions to use more action works Concerns about ability of CAHSS to help overcome jurisdictional barriers to surveillance Add more focus on One Health, international surveillance needs Satisfaction with Progress Half of respondents are satisfied with progress, remainder not sure and a couple expressed dissatisfaction Suggestions for improvement: Platform to exchange data; exchange more information Build on CSHIN model for national collaboration More clarity on priorities More communication among network groups Ensure sustainability and funding Comment on Themes (electronic) CAHSS is in progress: large, long term goal; it is the way to go Barriers to Progress Sharing information and data, limitations, concerns about confidentiality – slow to resolve Each group needs a leader and funding Concerns about interactions among groups, worries that some activities are interfering

Integrating Data Systems Suggestions to advance: Reconfirm CAHSS commitment to data integration Promote minimum data sets and data standardization People are the challenge, technology available, time to move on! Know what’s out there, build on/leverage existing networks Start with information sharing, then move to small pilots Show me the money

Level of Satisfaction Electronic - Do you intend to continue your participation? Initiative is important, be patient Sustainability/funding More tangibles, vision now and long-term Linkages, clear role for public health Telephone - What is members’ level of satisfaction? Huge potential, off to a good start, long term process Wide variations in satisfaction Uncertainty in leadership/funding Need more tangibles, small projects More focus/clarity, want action Electronic 74% - yes 9% -maybe 0% - no 17% - blank Telephone 32% Happy 37% Mixed 16% Frustrated 15% Don’t know

Networks: Lessons from the Past All but one respondent on the telephone interview had been engaged in animal health surveillance collaborations in the past. All of those collaborations are still functional and all but a couple are linked in with CAHSS. What we liked about those collaborations: Relationships Feedback and reporting Efficiencies What we would do differently: Be realistic Have the right representation Focus on Value Proposition / Sustainability Look Before you Leap

Networking, Diversity, Sharing Networks: What we like about CAHSS/group and what we would do differently Networking, Diversity, Sharing We like the cross-Canada representation, shared expertise Enthusiasm, great vision, benefits for all, we’re on the right track Slow but fast, blundering along is ok, keep the politics out Ensure all members are engaged and motivated, some groups are too big Leadership/Objectives/ Actions Someone has to step up and lead Need clarity on objectives, linked to actions and outcomes Map the way forward with small practical steps Communications/Information/Data Sharing Focus on communications, including informing others of what we mean by surveillance Share disease information, standardized surveillance needed Build the linkages among network groups Funding and Sustainability Firm support from decision-making bodies, senior managers is critical Funding and resources, reliable and ongoing, needed to maintain networks, project funding and administrative support Avoid dependencies on a few, need many to lead

Networks: The Future In 3 years: CAHSS is the National Organization for Animal Health Surveillance Effective platform to share information/data; pilot data integration All available data shared, mapped, analysed Stable funding, value proposition, clear objectives More products, more producers In 5 years: Independent organization with secure funding Pilot projects linking networks, good information provided and shared In 10 years: Functional integrated social and data networks, all relevant data shared Stable funding Surviving and relevant

Lessons Learned Most participants support CAHSS and are optimistic about the future, a few are quite unhappy Leadership – how do we help leaders to step up? We need to confirm our commitment to data integration We’re approaching a limit on what we can do without ongoing funding support. There seem to be different perspectives on what we mean by a collaboration - does a collaboration mean we all have to go the same direction, or can we explore new approaches so long as we keep each other informed?

Thank you