ABSTRACT
Both surveillance and research are motivated by prevention, however they are not synonymous (Halperin et al. 1992). Surveillance is the systematic ongoing collection, analysis and dissemination of information for the purpose of prevention interventions (Halperin 1993; Klaucke et al. 1988; Halperin et al. 1992). Research is an activity that focuses for a limited time period on a search for etiology, association or an evaluation of intervention. Research projects are sustained only long enough to collect sufficient information to test specific hypotheses in contrast to surveillance, which is an
ongoing activity as long as there is interest in fulfilling one or more goals of surveillance. Surveillance systems collect limited information about cases, while research usually collects detailed information. Surveillance and research in the past have focused on disease and injury, and are only recently turning toward disability and exposure or hazard.
