Investigator(s)
| WHO Technical Officer |
Saugat Shrestha World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office Nepal Saugat Shrestha 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Hem Raj Pandey Epidemiology and Disease Control Division Hem Raj Pandey
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Utilization and implementation challenges of Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) for surveillance and response from Sudurpashchim and Gandaki provinces during 2024–2025: A mixed-methods study |
| Public title | Utilization and implementation challenges of SORMAS |
| Background | Timely detection and response to public health threats depend on strong surveillance systems. The Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS), developed in 2015, enables real-time, multi-directional reporting from signal detection to event control. Nepal adopted SORMAS in 2022 and implemented it across all municipalities of two provinces in 2023 to strengthen surveillance beyond the existing hospital-based system. Evaluating its use and reporting quality can inform the planned nationwide scale-up. |
| Objectives | 1. In Sudurpashchim and Gandaki provinces (2024–2025): a. Determine the proportion of municipalities reporting at least one event or case. b. Among reported events: describe characteristics, time from event to reporting, and the proportion with recorded participant details and response actions. c. Among reported cases: describe characteristics and assess the average completeness of reporting. 2. Explore challenges in using SORMAS for surveillance and response from key stakeholders, including municipal health authorities, surveillance focal points at district, provincial and federal levels, public health laboratory staff, and influenza surveillance focal points in hospitals. |
| Study Methods | An explanatory mixed-methods study will be conducted. Quantitative analysis will include all events and cases reported in SORMAS from Sudurpashchim and Gandaki provinces (2024–2025). In-depth interviews with selected stakeholders will explore implementation challenges. Descriptive and inferential statistics will analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data will undergo manual content analysis. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | This study will identify gaps in the completeness and timeliness of reporting on SORMAS and generate evidence on the technical and operational challenges faced in implementing the system, as perceived by its users. Additionally, it will provide insights on management, coordination, and sustainability aspects, including staffing, training, supervision, and resource needs, which are critical for effective scale-up. The evidence generated will inform strategies to optimise, sustain, and expand SORMAS implementation across all provinces in Nepal, supporting both system performance and long-term public health preparedness. |
| Keywords | SORMAS, surveillance, Nepal, alert, signal, disease outbreak, reporting |
Research Details
| Student research | No |
| Start Date | 12-Feb-2026 |
| End Date | 31-Dec-2026 |
| Key Implementing Institution | Epidemiology and Disease Control Division |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | Yes |
| Research Domain(s) | Communicable Disease Research |
| Research field(s) | |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Operational Research | |
| Data Collection | Primary and secondary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | Final decision available |