Developing an evaluation framework for public health environmental surveillance: Protocol for an international, multidisciplinary e-Delphi study

IntroductionPublic health environmental surveillance has evolved, especially during the coronavirus disease pandemic, with wastewater-based surveillance being a prominent example. As surveillance methods diversify and expand, it is essential to have a robust evaluation of surveillance systems. This electronic Delphi study will propose an evaluation framework for public health environmental surveillance, informed by the expanding practice of wastewater-based surveillance during the pandemic. MethodsThe Public Health Environmental Surveillance Evaluation Framework (PHES-EF) will be developed in five steps. In Step 1, a multinational and multidisciplinary executive group will be formed to guide the framework development process. In Step 2, candidate items for Round 1 of the electronic Delphi will be generated by conducting relevant scoping reviews and consultation with the study executive group. In Step 3, an international electronic Delphi will be conducted over two rounds to develop consensus on items for the framework. In Step 4, the executive group will reconvene to finalize the evaluation framework, discuss standout items, and determine the dissemination strategies. Lastly, Step 5 will focus on disseminating the evaluation framework to all parties involved with or affected by wastewater-based surveillance using traditional and public-oriented methods. DiscussionThe electronic Delphi study will provide multidisciplinary and multinational consensus for the evaluation framework for public health environmental surveillance by providing a set of minimum criteria required for their evaluation. The evaluation framework is intended to support the sustainability of environmental surveillance and improve its implementation, reliability, credibility, and value.