Table 2. Performance and characteristics of MESSID by compared with traditional approach of disease reports based on paper and SMS.

Features	Traditional approach based on paper and SMS	MESSID
Abbreviations: MESSID=mobile electronic surveillance system for infectious diseases; SMS=short message service.
Convenience	1. The reporting process is complicated and tedious. 2. Not able to report immediately.	1. The reporting process is clear and simple. 2. Able to report immediately.
Flexibility	1. Due to the tedious reporting process, it takes a long time for health workers to fully grasp the reporting process. 2. Traditional approach based on paper and SMS cannot adapt to changing information needs. 3. Traditional approach based on paper and SMS cannot flexibly change the content of the questionnaire.	1. Due to the simple reporting process, it only takes a few hours for health workers to fully grasp the reporting process. 2. MESSID can adapt to changing information needs if necessary. 3. MESSID can flexibly change the content of the questionnaire if necessary.
Highly efficient	1. Limited information was analyzed and reported. 2. Difficulty for real-time surveillance and risk assessment of outbreaks of infectious diseases.	1. Real-time integration and analysis of demographical, spatiotemporal, clinical, epidemiological, therapeutic, and laboratory testing information. 2. Easy for real-time surveillance and risk assessment of outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Acceptability	1. More additional work in the data input, collection, and analysis. 2. More additional work on the draft of disease report.	1. Almost no additional work in the data collection, analysis. 2. Automatically generate reports on demand.