Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.

Forecasts of influenza activity in human populations could help guide key preparedness tasks. We conducted a scoping review to characterize these methodological approaches and identify research gaps. Adapting the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, Project Euclid,...

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Main Authors: Jean-Paul Chretien, Dylan George, Jeffrey Shaman, Rohit A Chitale, F Ellis McKenzie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0094130&type=printable
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author Jean-Paul Chretien
Dylan George
Jeffrey Shaman
Rohit A Chitale
F Ellis McKenzie
author_facet Jean-Paul Chretien
Dylan George
Jeffrey Shaman
Rohit A Chitale
F Ellis McKenzie
author_sort Jean-Paul Chretien
collection DOAJ
description Forecasts of influenza activity in human populations could help guide key preparedness tasks. We conducted a scoping review to characterize these methodological approaches and identify research gaps. Adapting the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, Project Euclid, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for publications in English since January 1, 2000 using the terms "influenza AND (forecast* OR predict*)", excluding studies that did not validate forecasts against independent data or incorporate influenza-related surveillance data from the season or pandemic for which the forecasts were applied. We included 35 publications describing population-based (N = 27), medical facility-based (N = 4), and regional or global pandemic spread (N = 4) forecasts. They included areas of North America (N = 15), Europe (N = 14), and/or Asia-Pacific region (N = 4), or had global scope (N = 3). Forecasting models were statistical (N = 18) or epidemiological (N = 17). Five studies used data assimilation methods to update forecasts with new surveillance data. Models used virological (N = 14), syndromic (N = 13), meteorological (N = 6), internet search query (N = 4), and/or other surveillance data as inputs. Forecasting outcomes and validation metrics varied widely. Two studies compared distinct modeling approaches using common data, 2 assessed model calibration, and 1 systematically incorporated expert input. Of the 17 studies using epidemiological models, 8 included sensitivity analysis. This review suggests need for use of good practices in influenza forecasting (e.g., sensitivity analysis); direct comparisons of diverse approaches; assessment of model calibration; integration of subjective expert input; operational research in pilot, real-world applications; and improved mutual understanding among modelers and public health officials.
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spelling doaj-art-c6fc94df87924071b0ef5e9c2a016cbf2025-02-05T05:33:12ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0194e9413010.1371/journal.pone.0094130Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.Jean-Paul ChretienDylan GeorgeJeffrey ShamanRohit A ChitaleF Ellis McKenzieForecasts of influenza activity in human populations could help guide key preparedness tasks. We conducted a scoping review to characterize these methodological approaches and identify research gaps. Adapting the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, Project Euclid, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for publications in English since January 1, 2000 using the terms "influenza AND (forecast* OR predict*)", excluding studies that did not validate forecasts against independent data or incorporate influenza-related surveillance data from the season or pandemic for which the forecasts were applied. We included 35 publications describing population-based (N = 27), medical facility-based (N = 4), and regional or global pandemic spread (N = 4) forecasts. They included areas of North America (N = 15), Europe (N = 14), and/or Asia-Pacific region (N = 4), or had global scope (N = 3). Forecasting models were statistical (N = 18) or epidemiological (N = 17). Five studies used data assimilation methods to update forecasts with new surveillance data. Models used virological (N = 14), syndromic (N = 13), meteorological (N = 6), internet search query (N = 4), and/or other surveillance data as inputs. Forecasting outcomes and validation metrics varied widely. Two studies compared distinct modeling approaches using common data, 2 assessed model calibration, and 1 systematically incorporated expert input. Of the 17 studies using epidemiological models, 8 included sensitivity analysis. This review suggests need for use of good practices in influenza forecasting (e.g., sensitivity analysis); direct comparisons of diverse approaches; assessment of model calibration; integration of subjective expert input; operational research in pilot, real-world applications; and improved mutual understanding among modelers and public health officials.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0094130&type=printable
spellingShingle Jean-Paul Chretien
Dylan George
Jeffrey Shaman
Rohit A Chitale
F Ellis McKenzie
Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.
PLoS ONE
title Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.
title_full Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.
title_fullStr Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.
title_full_unstemmed Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.
title_short Influenza forecasting in human populations: a scoping review.
title_sort influenza forecasting in human populations a scoping review
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0094130&type=printable
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