Expert Consensus Study on the Redesign of the Sexually Transmitted Infection Surveillance System in Korea
- Author:
Jin Bong CHOI
1
;
Dong-Sook KIM
;
Chae Eun SHIN
;
Su-Yeon YU
;
Kyu Won LEE
;
Seung-Ju LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science 2026;41(1):e18-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the national level is necessary for the health and well-being of individuals in society. The purpose of this study was to propose a redesign of the STI surveillance system by collecting opinions from experts.
Methods:After the major STIs were reviewed, 1) gonorrhea, 2) chancroid, 3) Mycoplasma genitalium infection, and 4) trichomoniasis were selected as diseases requiring a redesign of the surveillance system through the Delphi method, a technique for solving problems by collecting opinions from experts. The expert panel was selected from experts on STIs (n = 17) and included members of the Korean Association of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, and the 3rd advisory committee on STIs.
Results:The experts agreed upon the exclusion of surveillance for chancroid on the basis of the low incidence, with an agreement rate of 83%. The experts agreed upon the inclusion of M. genitalium in the surveillance system, with a high agreement rate of 88%. However, there was disagreement among the experts on whether to include trichomoniasis in the surveillance system and whether to switch to a mandatory surveillance system for gonorrhea.
Conclusion:Although a consensus was not reached in some of the surveys in this study, it involved the collection of various expert opinions. Therefore, policies should be promoted with a prioritized focus on items with high agreement, but items for which no consensus was reached need to be reviewed in greater depth through additional research and investigation.
