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Chien J, Henwood BF, St Clair P, Kwack S, Kuhn R. Predicting hotspots of unsheltered homelessness using geospatial administrative data and volunteered geographic information. Health Place 2024; 88:103267. [PMID: 38763049 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Unsheltered homelessness is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon in major cities that is associated with adverse health and mortality outcomes. This creates a need for spatial estimates of population denominators for resource allocation and epidemiological studies. Gaps in the timeliness, coverage, and spatial specificity of official Point-in-Time Counts of unsheltered homelessness suggest a role for geospatial data from alternative sources to provide interim, neighborhood-level estimates of counts and trends. We use citizen-generated data from homeless-related 311 requests, provider-based administrative data from homeless street outreach cases, and expert reports of unsheltered count to predict count and emerging hotspots of unsheltered homelessness in census tracts across the City of Los Angeles for 2019 and 2020. Our study shows that alternative data sources can contribute timely insights into the state of unsheltered homelessness throughout the year and inform the delivery of interventions to this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Chien
- Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Benjamin F Henwood
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California (USC), 669 W 34th St., Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Patricia St Clair
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California (USC), 669 W 34th St., Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Stephanie Kwack
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California (USC), 669 W 34th St., Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Randall Kuhn
- Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Berens AS, Palmer T, Dutton ND, Lavery A, Moore M. Using search-constrained inverse distance weight modeling for near real-time riverine flood modeling: Harris County, Texas, USA before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey. NATURAL HAZARDS (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 105:277-292. [PMID: 34092916 PMCID: PMC8173697 DOI: 10.1007/s11069-020-04309-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Flooding poses a serious public health hazard throughout the world. Flood modeling is an important tool for emergency preparedness and response, but some common methods require a high degree of expertise or may be unworkable due to poor data quality or data availability issues. The conceptually simple method of inverse distance weight modeling offers an alternative. Using stream gauges as inputs, this study interpolated stream elevation via inverse distance weight modeling under 15 different model input parameter scenarios for Harris County, Texas, USA, from August 25th to September 15th, 2017 (before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey inundated the county). A digital elevation model was used to identify areas where modeled stream elevation exceeded ground elevation, indicating flooding. Imagery and observed high water marks were used to validate the models' outputs. There was a high degree of agreement (between 79 and 88%) between imagery and model outputs of parameterizations visually validated. Quantitative validations based on high water marks were also positive, with a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of in excess of .6 for all parameterizations relative to a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of the benchmark of 0.56. Inverse distance weight modeling offers a simple, accurate method for first-order estimations of riverine flooding in near real-time using readily available data, and outputs are robust to some alterations to input parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Berens
- Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341, USA
| | - Tess Palmer
- Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341, USA
| | - Nina D. Dutton
- Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341, USA
| | - Amy Lavery
- Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341, USA
| | - Mark Moore
- Harris County Flood Control District, Houston, TX, USA
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Nakai H, Itatani T, Kaganoi S, Okamura A, Horiike R, Yamasaki M. Needs of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Geographic Location of Emergency Shelters Suitable for Vulnerable People during a Tsunami. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041845. [PMID: 33672833 PMCID: PMC7917631 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the current study, we sought to identify special needs and safe evacuation conditions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (CNDs) along Japan’s tsunami-prone Pacific coast. A survey and spatial analysis were used to collect data of CNDs (n = 47) and their caregivers. Areas predicted to be flooded in a tsunami, as well as evacuation routes to emergency shelters for vulnerable people (ESVPs), were mapped using geographic information systems (GIS). Our results showed that five professional staff were needed to support 33 CNDs requiring 135.9 m2 of ESVP space. Critical safety factors were altitude, vertical evacuation, accessibility to ESVPs, and nonexistence of estuaries in the direction of evacuation. GIS-based spatial analysis and evacuation modeling for disaster preparedness and training plans that involve nurses are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisao Nakai
- School of Nursing, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Uchinada, Kahoku, Ishikawa 920-0265, Japan;
| | - Tomoya Itatani
- School of Health Sciences, College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0942, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Seiji Kaganoi
- Department of Rehabilitation, Geisei Hospital, 4268 Wajiki, Geisei, Aki, Kochi 781-5701, Japan; (S.K.); (A.O.)
| | - Aya Okamura
- Department of Rehabilitation, Geisei Hospital, 4268 Wajiki, Geisei, Aki, Kochi 781-5701, Japan; (S.K.); (A.O.)
| | - Ryo Horiike
- Susaki Regional Welfare and Health Center, 6-26 Higashifuruichimachi, Susaki, Kochi 785-8585, Japan;
| | - Masao Yamasaki
- Kochi Mental Health and Welfare Center, 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Kochi 780-0850, Japan;
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Hu X, Ding G, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Jiang B, Ni W. Assessment on the burden of bacillary dysentery associated with floods during 2005-2009 in Zhengzhou City, China, using a time-series analysis. J Infect Public Health 2018; 11:500-506. [PMID: 29100875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to quantify the impact of few times floods on bacillary dysentery in Zhengzhou during 2005-2009. METHODS The Spearman correlation test was applied first to examine the lagged effects of floods on monthly morbidity of bacillary dysentery during 2005-2009 in Zhengzhou. We further quantified the effects of 7 flood events on the morbidity of bacillary dysentery using the time-series Poisson regression controlling for climatic factors, seasonality, gender and age groups. We estimated years lived with disability (YLDs) to estimate the burden of bacillary dysentery attributed to floods among different population groups. RESULTS A total of 15,841 cases of bacillary dysentery were reported in the study region over the study period. The relative risks of floods on the morbidity of bacillary dysentery and attributable YLDs among the whole study population, males, females, below 14 years old group, 15-64 years old group, and over 65 years old group were 2.80, 3.13, 2.53, 2.75, 3.03, 2.48, and 1.206, 1.513, 0.913, 3.593, 0.638, 0.880, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings contribute to developing local strategies to prevent and reduce health impact of floods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Hu
- Department of Acute Infectious Diseases, Municipal Centre of Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Guoyong Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Taishan Medical College, Taian City, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Puxblic Health, China Studies Centre, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing City, PR China
| | - Baofa Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China.
| | - Wei Ni
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China; Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, PR China.
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5
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Deng Q, Lv Y, Xue C, Kang P, Dong J, Zhang L. Pattern and spectrum of tornado injury and its geographical information system distribution in Yancheng, China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e021552. [PMID: 29934390 PMCID: PMC6020979 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Few studies of tornado injuries have considered differences related to damage levels and Enhanced-Fujita (EF) scale ratings. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern, spectrum and geographical distribution of injuries related to the Yancheng tornado and provide guidelines for effective emergency medical strategies. SETTING The study was conducted at three hospitals which treated patients with injuries related to the tornado in Yancheng, China. PARTICIPANTS We obtained the records of 451 patients with tornado-related injuries. Of these, 401 valid trauma medical records were included; 50 other records were excluded for insufficient information. Informed consent was obtained from all patients by telephone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We analysed patients' injury sites and types and used the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) to standardise injury severity. Geographical information system and non-parametric tests were used to analyse the effects of geographical factors on casualties. RESULTS Women, middle-aged/elderly individuals (age>45 years) and children/adolescents (<18 years) accounted for 51.62%, 77.30% and 12.47% of injured patients, respectively. This caused a dumbbell-shaped age distribution. Head (46.63%), body surface (39.90%) and lower-limb (29.43%) injuries were common, as were soft-tissue injuries (90.77%), fractures (38.90%) and organ damage (19.70%). Minor injuries (AIS=1) were common (60.85%), whereas critical/fatal injuries (AIS≥5) were very rare (2.50%). Although the densities of injury varied among damage levels and EF ratings for different areas, area-wise differences in injury severity (AIS scores) were not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION We recommend the use of helmets to prevent head injuries caused by tornadoes and suggest prioritising the treatment of high-risk head and multiple-organ injuries. Additionally, medical rescuers should follow the 'same quality and different quantity' principle: the injured in all affected areas should receive equal attention, but numbers of medical personnel should be allocated based on the level of effects from the tornado.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiangyu Deng
- Department of Military Health Service Management, College of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yipeng Lv
- Department of Military Health Service Management, College of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Xue
- Department of Military Health Service Management, College of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Kang
- Department of Military Health Service Management, College of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junqiang Dong
- Department of Military Health Service Management, College of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- Department of Military Health Service Management, College of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Nakai H, Itatani T, Horiike R, Kyota K, Tsukasaki K. Tsunami evacuation simulation using geographic information systems for homecare recipients depending on electric devices. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199252. [PMID: 29927985 PMCID: PMC6013199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsunamis cause direct damage to property and destroy infrastructure. In addition, power outages can lead to death, especially for patients who rely on medical equipment requiring a power supply. Recently, Nankai Trough Earthquakes have been predicted, and much effort has been put into developing countermeasures in Japan. Kochi City on Shikoku Island is expected to suffer in the event of a large tsunami. The present study identifies individuals living in Kochi who need evacuation assistance and depend on electrical medical devices, simulates evacuation behavior and inundation during a tsunami using a geographic information system (GIS), and considers the usefulness of such a GIS. We asked caregivers, including visiting nurses, to introduce us to homecare recipients who rely on a ventilator, an endotracheal suction device, or other medical devices requiring electric power. We received introductions to 52 homecare recipients. Using a GIS, we plotted the area of predicted inundation and the locations of homecare recipients, nursing stations, and welfare evacuation shelters. We predicted evacuation routes, and then analyzed the time difference between the time required for evacuation and tsunami arrival at a welfare evacuation shelter. To measure the effects of the main parameters, we conducted both one-way and multi-way sensitivity analysis. In the event of a tsunami, eight of the homecare recipients living in the forecasted inundation areas in Kochi may face delayed evacuation. Among homecare recipients facing a high possibility of escape delay, 95.2% lived more than 1,800 m from the nearest welfare evacuation shelter. We found that individual evacuation behavior can be simulated by specifying the residence of a homecare recipient and the evacuation route using a GIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisao Nakai
- Nursing Department, Kanazawa Medical University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
| | - Tomoya Itatani
- Division of Health Sciences, Doctoral Course of Graduate School of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
| | - Ryo Horiike
- Medical Policy Section, Health Policy Department, Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, Japan
| | - Kaoru Kyota
- Division of Health Sciences, Doctoral Course of Graduate School of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
| | - Keiko Tsukasaki
- Division of Health Sciences, Doctoral Course of Graduate School of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
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7
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Liu X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Jiang B. The Effects of Floods on the Incidence of Bacillary Dysentery in Baise (Guangxi Province, China) from 2004 to 2012. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14020179. [PMID: 28208681 PMCID: PMC5334733 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14020179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Research shows potential effects of floods on intestinal infections. Baise, a city in Guangxi Province (China) had experienced several floods between 2004 and 2012 due to heavy and constant precipitation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between floods and the incidence of bacillary dysentery in Baise. A mixed generalized additive model and Spearman correlation were applied to analyze the relationship between monthly incidence of bacillary dysentery and 14 flood events with two severity levels. Data collected from 2004 to 2010 were utilized to estimate the parameters, whereas data from 2011 to 2012 were used to validate the model. There were in total 9255 cases of bacillary dysentery included in our analyses. According to the mixed generalized additive model, the relative risks (RR) of moderate and severe floods on the incidence of bacillary dysentery were 1.40 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.69) and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.61–1.97), respectively. The regression analysis also indicated that the flood duration was negatively associated with the incidence of bacillary dysentery (with RR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40–0.86). Therfore, this research suggests that floods exert a significant part in enhancing the risk of bacillary dysentery in Baise. Moreover, severe floods have a higher proportional contribution to the incidence of bacillary dysentery than moderate floods. In addition, short-term floods may contribute more to the incidence of bacillary dysentery than a long-term flood. The findings from this research will provide more evidence to reduce health risks related to floods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuena Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
- Center for Climate Change and Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Zhidong Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
- Center for Climate Change and Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Public Health, China Studies Centre, the University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
| | - Baofa Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
- Center for Climate Change and Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
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Abstract
Initial stage of a disaster is managed with existing resources. The following stages of disaster response often involve assistance from outside of the disaster zone. This may consist of mutual aid from neighboring communities for small-scale incidents but in major disasters, the response is from federal or international agencies or often both. Rapid needs assessment after an incident is a collaborative effort between responding agencies and local emergency preparedness and health authorities. Ideally, a team from responding agencies with intimate knowledge and experience regarding the capabilities and assets of the responding entity along with local authorities, with decision making capacity, who have knowledge of the community, the limitations of the responding agencies and can obtain near real-time information about the incident and subject matter experts (engineering, medical, law enforcement, etc.) comprise the needs assessment team.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selim Suner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, USA
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9
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Levy K, Woster AP, Goldstein RS, Carlton EJ. Untangling the Impacts of Climate Change on Waterborne Diseases: a Systematic Review of Relationships between Diarrheal Diseases and Temperature, Rainfall, Flooding, and Drought. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:4905-22. [PMID: 27058059 PMCID: PMC5468171 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is expected to affect waterborne enteric diseases, yet to date there has been no comprehensive, systematic review of the epidemiological literature examining the relationship between meteorological conditions and diarrheal diseases. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Collection for studies describing the relationship between diarrheal diseases and four meteorological conditions that are expected to increase with climate change: ambient temperature, heavy rainfall, drought, and flooding. We synthesized key areas of agreement and evaluated the biological plausibility of these findings, drawing from a diverse, multidisciplinary evidence base. We identified 141 articles that met our inclusion criteria. Key areas of agreement include a positive association between ambient temperature and diarrheal diseases, with the exception of viral diarrhea and an increase in diarrheal disease following heavy rainfall and flooding events. Insufficient evidence was available to evaluate the effects of drought on diarrhea. There is evidence to support the biological plausibility of these associations, but publication bias is an ongoing concern. Future research evaluating whether interventions, such as improved water and sanitation access, modify risk would further our understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on diarrheal diseases and aid in the prioritization of adaptation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Levy
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Address correspondence to: Karen Levy, Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone: 404.727.4502. Fax: 404.727.8744.
| | - Andrew P. Woster
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rebecca S. Goldstein
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. Carlton
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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10
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Liu X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Jiang B. Quantitative analysis of burden of bacillary dysentery associated with floods in Hunan, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 547:190-196. [PMID: 26780145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Revised: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Jishou and Huaihua, two cities in the west of Hunan Province, had suffered from severe floods because of long-lasting and heavy rainfall during the end of June and July 2012. However, the Disability Adjusted of Life Years (DALYs) of bacillary dysentery caused by the floods have not been examined before. The study aimed to quantify the impact of the floods on the burden of bacillary dysentery in Hunan, China. METHODS A unidirectional case-crossover study was firstly conducted to determine the relationship between daily cases of bacillary dysentery and the floods in Jishou and Huaihua of Hunan Province in 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) estimated by conditional logistic regression were used to quantify the risk of the floods on the disease. The years lived with disability (YLDs) of bacillary dysentery attributable to floods were then estimated based on the WHO framework to calculate potential impact fraction in the Burden of Disease study. RESULTS Multivariable analysis showed that floods were significantly associated with an increased risk of the number of cases of bacillary dysentery (OR=3.270, 95% CI: 1.299-8.228 in Jishou; OR=2.212, 95% CI: 1.052-4.650 in Huaihua). The strongest effect was shown with a 1-day lag in Jishou and a 4-day lag in Huaihua. Attributable YLD per 1000 of bacillary dysentery due to the floods was 0.0296 in Jishou and 0.0157 in Huaihua. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that floods have significantly increased the risks of bacillary dysentery in the study areas. In addition, a sudden and severe flooding with a shorter duration may cause more burdens of bacillary dysentery than a persistent and moderate flooding. Public health preparation and intervention programs should be taken to reduce and prevent a potential risk of bacillary dysentery epidemics after floods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuena Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China;; Center for Climate Change and Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Zhidong Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China;; Center for Climate Change and Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Public Health, China Studies Centre, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Baofa Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China;; Center for Climate Change and Health, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, PR China;.
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11
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Curtis A, Curtis JW, Shook E, Smith S, Jefferis E, Porter L, Schuch L, Felix C, Kerndt PR. Spatial video geonarratives and health: case studies in post-disaster recovery, crime, mosquito control and tuberculosis in the homeless. Int J Health Geogr 2015; 14:22. [PMID: 26253100 PMCID: PMC4528811 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-015-0014-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A call has recently been made by the public health and medical communities to understand the neighborhood context of a patient’s life in order to improve education and treatment. To do this, methods are required that can collect “contextual” characteristics while complementing the spatial analysis of more traditional data. This also needs to happen within a standardized, transferable, easy-to-implement framework. Methods The Spatial Video Geonarrative (SVG) is an environmentally-cued narrative where place is used to stimulate discussion about fine-scale geographic characteristics of an area and the context of their occurrence. It is a simple yet powerful approach to enable collection and spatial analysis of expert and resident health-related perceptions and experiences of places. Participants comment about where they live or work while guiding a driver through the area. Four GPS-enabled cameras are attached to the vehicle to capture the places that are observed and discussed by the participant. Audio recording of this narrative is linked to the video via time stamp. A program (G-Code) is then used to geotag each word as a point in a geographic information system (GIS). Querying and density analysis can then be performed on the narrative text to identify spatial patterns within one narrative or across multiple narratives. This approach is illustrated using case studies on post-disaster psychopathology, crime, mosquito control, and TB in homeless populations. Results SVG can be used to map individual, group, or contested group context for an environment. The method can also gather data for cohorts where traditional spatial data are absent. In addition, SVG provides a means to spatially capture, map and archive institutional knowledge. Conclusions SVG GIS output can be used to advance theory by being used as input into qualitative and/or spatial analyses. SVG can also be used to gain near-real time insight therefore supporting applied interventions. Advances over existing geonarrative approaches include the simultaneous collection of video data to visually support any commentary, and the ease-of-application making it a transferable method across different environments and skillsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Curtis
- Department of Geography, GIS Health and Hazards Lab, Kent State University, #413 McGilvrey Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Jacqueline W Curtis
- Department of Geography, GIS Health and Hazards Lab, Kent State University, #413 McGilvrey Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Eric Shook
- Department of Geography, High-Performance Computing and GIS Lab, Kent State University, #407a McGilvrey Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Steve Smith
- Geography, Department of Social Sciences, Missouri Southern State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO, 64801, USA.
| | - Eric Jefferis
- Department of Social and Behavioral Science, College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
| | - Lauren Porter
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Laura Schuch
- Department of Geography, GIS Health and Hazards Lab, Kent State University, #413 McGilvrey Hall, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Chaz Felix
- Gould School of Law, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Peter R Kerndt
- Tuberculosis Control Program, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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12
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Using administrative health care system records to recruit a community-based sample for population research. Ann Epidemiol 2015; 25:526-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2015.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Ni W, Ding G, Li Y, Li H, Jiang B. Impacts of floods on dysentery in Xinxiang city, China, during 2004-2010: a time-series Poisson analysis. Glob Health Action 2014; 7:23904. [PMID: 25098726 PMCID: PMC4124174 DOI: 10.3402/gha.v7.23904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Xinxiang, a city in Henan Province, suffered from frequent floods due to persistent and heavy precipitation from 2004 to 2010. In the same period, dysentery was a common public health problem in Xinxiang, with the proportion of reported cases being the third highest among all the notified infectious diseases. Objectives We focused on dysentery disease consequences of different degrees of floods and examined the association between floods and the morbidity of dysentery on the basis of longitudinal data during the study period. Design A time-series Poisson regression model was conducted to examine the relationship between 10 times different degrees of floods and the monthly morbidity of dysentery from 2004 to 2010 in Xinxiang. Relative risks (RRs) of moderate and severe floods on the morbidity of dysentery were calculated in this paper. In addition, we estimated the attributable contributions of moderate and severe floods to the morbidity of dysentery. Results A total of 7591 cases of dysentery were notified in Xinxiang during the study period. The effect of floods on dysentery was shown with a 0-month lag. Regression analysis showed that the risk of moderate and severe floods on the morbidity of dysentery was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.42–1.670) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.56–1.94), respectively. The attributable risk proportions (ARPs) of moderate and severe floods to the morbidity of dysentery were 35.53 and 42.48%, respectively. Conclusions This study confirms that floods have significantly increased the risk of dysentery in the study area. In addition, severe floods have a higher proportional contribution to the morbidity of dysentery than moderate floods. Public health action should be taken to avoid and control a potential risk of dysentery epidemics after floods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ni
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; Shandong University Climate Change and Health Center, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyong Ding
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Taishan Medical College, Taian, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifei Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; Shandong University Climate Change and Health Center, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongkai Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; Shandong University Climate Change and Health Center, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Baofa Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; Shandong University Climate Change and Health Center, Jinan, People's Republic of China;
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Dudley T, Creppage K, Shanahan M, Proescholdbell S. Using GIS to evaluate a fire safety program in North Carolina. J Community Health 2014; 38:951-7. [PMID: 23800955 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-013-9705-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating program impact is a critical aspect of public health. Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a novel way to evaluate programs which try to reduce residential fire injuries and deaths. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the application of GIS within the evaluation of a smoke alarm installation program in North Carolina. This approach incorporates national fire incident data which, when linked with program data, provides a clear depiction of the 10 years impact of the Get Alarmed, NC! program and estimates the number of potential lives saved. We overlapped Get Alarmed, NC! program installation data with national information on fires using GIS to identify homes that experienced a fire after an alarm was installed and calculated potential lives saved based on program documentation and average housing occupancy. We found that using GIS was an efficient and quick way to match addresses from two distinct sources. From this approach we estimated that between 221 and 384 residents were potentially saved due to alarms installed in their homes by Get Alarmed, NC!. Compared with other program evaluations that require intensive and costly participant telephone surveys and/or in-person interviews, the GIS approach is inexpensive, quick, and can easily analyze large disparate datasets. In addition, it can be used to help target the areas most at risk from the onset. These benefits suggest that by incorporating previously unutilized data, the GIS approach has the potential for broader applications within public health program evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dudley
- Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, NC Department of Health and Human Services, 5505 Six Forks Road, Bldg. 1, A-2, Raleigh, NC 27609, USA.
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Ding G, Zhang Y, Gao L, Ma W, Li X, Liu J, Liu Q, Jiang B. Quantitative analysis of burden of infectious diarrhea associated with floods in northwest of anhui province, china: a mixed method evaluation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65112. [PMID: 23762291 PMCID: PMC3675108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Persistent and heavy rainfall in the upper and middle Huaihe River of China brought about severe floods during the end of June and July 2007. However, there has been no assessment on the association between the floods and infectious diarrhea. This study aimed to quantify the impact of the floods in 2007 on the burden of disease due to infectious diarrhea in northwest of Anhui Province. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was firstly conducted to examine the relationship between daily cases of infectious diarrhea and the 2007 floods in Fuyang and Bozhou of Anhui Province. Odds ratios (ORs) of the flood risk were quantified by conditional logistic regression. The years lived with disability (YLDs) of infectious diarrhea attributable to floods were then estimated based on the WHO framework of the calculating potential impact fraction in the Burden of Disease study. Results A total of 197 infectious diarrheas were notified during the exposure and control periods in the two study areas. The strongest effect was shown with a 2-day lag in Fuyang and a 5-day lag in Bozhou. Multivariable analysis showed that floods were significantly associated with an increased risk of the number cases of infectious diarrhea (OR = 3.175, 95%CI: 1.126–8.954 in Fuyang; OR = 6.754, 95%CI: 1.954–23.344 in Bozhou). Attributable YLD per 1000 of infectious diarrhea resulting from the floods was 0.0081 in Fuyang and 0.0209 in Bozhou. Conclusions Our findings confirm that floods have significantly increased the risks of infectious diarrhea in the study areas. In addition, prolonged moderate flood may cause more burdens of infectious diarrheas than severe flood with a shorter duration. More attention should be paid to particular vulnerable groups, including younger children and elderly, in developing public health preparation and intervention programs. Findings have significant implications for developing strategies to prevent and reduce health impact of floods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyong Ding
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Public Health, China Studies Centre, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lu Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Wei Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Xiujun Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Qiyong Liu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing City, P.R. China
| | - Baofa Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China
- * E-mail:
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Doocy S, Dick A, Daniels A, Kirsch TD. The human impact of tropical cyclones: a historical review of events 1980-2009 and systematic literature review. PLOS CURRENTS 2013; 5:ecurrents.dis.2664354a5571512063ed29d25ffbce74. [PMID: 23857074 PMCID: PMC3644287 DOI: 10.1371/currents.dis.2664354a5571512063ed29d25ffbce74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background. Cyclones have significantly affected populations in Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific, and the Americas over the past quarter of a century. Future vulnerability to cyclones will increase due to factors including population growth, urbanization, increasing coastal settlement, and global warming. The objectives of this review were to describe the impact of cyclones on human populations in terms of mortality, injury, and displacement and, to the extent possible, identify risk factors associated with these outcomes. This is one of five reviews on the human impact of natural disasters. Methods. Data on the impact of cyclones were compiled using two methods, a historical review from 1980 to 2009 of cyclone events from multiple databases and a systematic literature review of publications ending in October 2012. Analysis included descriptive statistics and bivariate tests for associations between cyclone characteristics and mortality using Stata 11.0. Findings. There were 412,644 deaths, 290,654 injured, and 466.1 million people affected by cyclones between 1980 and 2009, and the mortality and injury burden was concentrated in less developed nations of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Inconsistent reporting suggests this is an underestimate, particularly in terms of the injured and affected populations. The primary cause of cyclone-related mortality is drowning; in developed countries male gender was associated with increased mortality risk, whereas females experienced higher mortality in less developed countries. Conclusions. Additional attention to preparedness and early warning, particularly in Asia, can lessen the impact of future cyclones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Doocy
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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Quinlisk P, Jones MJ, Bostick NA, Walsh LE, Curtiss R, Walker R, Mercer S, Subbarao I. Results of rapid needs assessments in rural and urban Iowa following large-scale flooding events in 2008. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2012; 5:287-92. [PMID: 22146667 DOI: 10.1001/dmp.2011.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND On June 8 and 9, 2008, more than 4 inches of rain fell in the Iowa-Cedars River Basin causing widespread flooding along the Cedar River in Benton, Linn, Johnson, and Cedar Counties. As a result of the flooding, there were 18 deaths, 106 injuries, and over 38,000 people displaced from their homes; this made it necessary for the Iowa Department of Health to conduct a rapid needs assessment to quantify the scope and effect of the floods on human health. METHODS In response, the Iowa Department of Public Health mobilized interview teams to conduct rapid needs assessments using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based cluster sampling techniques. The information gathered was subsequently employed to estimate the public health impact and significant human needs that resulted from the flooding. RESULTS While these assessments did not reveal significant levels of acute injuries resulting from the flood, they did show that many households had been temporarily displaced and that future health risks may emerge as the result of inadequate access to prescription medications or the presence of environmental health hazards. CONCLUSIONS This exercise highlights the need for improved risk communication measures and ongoing surveillance and relief measures. It also demonstrates the utility of rapid needs assessment survey tools and suggests that increasing use of such surveys can have significant public health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Quinlisk
- Iowa Department of Public Health, 321 East 12th Street, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 20319-0075, USA.
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Remote Sensing and Modeling of Mosquito Abundance and Habitats in Coastal Virginia, USA. REMOTE SENSING 2011. [DOI: 10.3390/rs3122663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Nhu DD, Kido T, Naganuma R, Sawano N, Tawara K, Nishijo M, Nakagawa H, Hung NN, Thom LTH. A GIS study of dioxin contamination in a Vietnamese region sprayed with herbicide. Environ Health Prev Med 2009; 14:353-60. [PMID: 19728031 PMCID: PMC2767499 DOI: 10.1007/s12199-009-0107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2009] [Accepted: 08/05/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The American-Vietnam War ended over 35 years ago, but dioxins still remain in human tissue and Vietnam's environment. The main objective of this study was to assess the correlation between dioxin concentration in soil, sediment and breast milk in one of the areas sprayed with herbicide, namely Cam Chinh commune, Quang Tri province, using a geographic information system (GIS). METHODS The concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in soil, sediment and breast milk samples was determined and the data analyzed using the geostatistical log-normal Kriging algorithm. RESULTS The mean dioxin levels in soil and breast milk in the sprayed area were significantly higher than those in the non-sprayed area. The distribution pattern of PCDDs and PCDFs in soil was different, and there were no significant correlations between the estimated dioxin levels in soil obtained by the Kriging method and those in breast milk. CONCLUSIONS The possibility remains that another exposure route, such as exposure to herbicides used during the Vietnam War, might affect dioxin levels in breast milk, although more soil data are needed to make more reliable geographical estimations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dang Duc Nhu
- Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0942, Japan,
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Cook A, Watson J, Buynder PV, Robertson A, Weinstein P. 10th Anniversary Review: Natural disasters and their long-term impacts on the health of communities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1039/b713256p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Scotch M, Parmanto B, Gadd CS, Sharma RK. Exploring the role of GIS during community health assessment problem solving: experiences of public health professionals. Int J Health Geogr 2006; 5:39. [PMID: 16981996 PMCID: PMC1578566 DOI: 10.1186/1476-072x-5-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2006] [Accepted: 09/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A Community health assessment (CHA) involves the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in conjunction with other software to analyze health and population data and perform numerical-spatial problem solving. There has been little research on identifying how public health professionals integrate this software during typical problem solving scenarios. A better understanding of this is needed to answer the "What" and the "How". The "What" identifies the specific software being used and the "How" explains the way they are integrated together during problem solving steps. This level of understanding will highlight the role of GIS utilization during problem solving and suggest to developers how GIS can be enhanced to better support data analysis during community health assessment. RESULTS An online survey was developed to identify the information technology used during CHA analysis. The tasks were broken down into steps and for our analysis these steps were categorized by action: Data Management/Access, Data Navigation, Geographic Comparison, Detection of Spatial Boundaries, Spatial Modelling, and Ranking Analysis. 27 CHA professionals completed the survey, with the majority of participants (14) being from health departments. Statistical software (e.g. SPSS) was the most popular software for all but one of the types of steps. For this step (detection of spatial boundaries), GIS was identified as the most popular technology. CONCLUSION Most CHA professionals indicated they use statistical software in conjunction with GIS. The statistical software appears to drive the analysis, while GIS is used primarily for simple spatial display (and not complex spatial analysis). This purpose of this survey was to thoroughly examine into the process of problem solving during community health assessment data analysis and to gauge how GIS is integrated with other software for this purpose. These findings suggest that GIS is used more for spatial display while other software such as statistical packages (the "What") are used to drive data management, data navigation, and data calculation (the "How"). Focusing at the level of how public health problems are solved, can shed light on how GIS technology can be enhanced to encompass a stronger role during community health assessment problem solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Scotch
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bambang Parmanto
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Health Information Management, University of Pittsburgh, 6051 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cynthia S Gadd
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, 2209 Garland Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ravi K Sharma
- Department of Behavioural and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 228 Parran Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract
Unlike most natural and man-made disasters, preparation and planning for hurricanes is possible and effective. Medical needs can be disparate, given the large geographic area involved and the often-prolonged recovery phase. All aspects of medical response, from first responders to hospitals, can directly and negatively be affected by the storm. Planning and practice, however, can drastically improve the outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V Shatz
- Division of Trauma, Burns, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, PO Box 016960 (D-40), Miami, FL 33101, USA.
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Dantas A, Seville E. Organisational Issues in Implementing an Information Sharing Framework: Lessons from the Matata Flooding Events in New Zealand. JOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5973.2006.00479.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Au WW, Lybarger JA, Barrett DH, Falk H. Perspectives on the use of scientific knowledge for public health practice. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2005; 208:135-9. [PMID: 15881987 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2005.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Achieving the goal of increasing quality and years of healthy life is fundamentally based on success in the practice of public health. As our life style changes with time and as public health issues become more global, the practice of public health is enhanced to meet new challenges. In addition to addressing infectious diseases, environmental concerns are gaining attention. New challenges require the modification of the methods of investigations, use of new technologies and application of real-time management of public health emergencies. In many situations, collaborations at the local, regional, national and global levels are needed. This manuscript provides a summary of the approaches to address certain crucial environmental health concerns towards the goal of increasing quality and years of healthy life.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Au
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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