Application of GIS Spatial Analysis and Scanning Statistics in the Gynecological Cancer Clustering Pattern and Risk Screening: A Case Study in Northern Jiangxi Province, China

Scientometric Analysis of Articles on Spatial Epidemiology of Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review

Background

Geographic information system (GIS) plays an important role in identifying areas with a high incidence of cancer. In the present study, based on a systematic review of studies by Iranian researchers, we performed a scientometric analysis of the published articles on the spatial epidemiology of cancer. In addition, the geographical distribution of certain types of cancer in Iran is presented.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed and NLM Gateway, Institute for Scientific Information, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library for relevant articles published from 2000 to 2021. The search was performed using a combination of medical subject heading terms and keywords. A narrative synthesis was performed, and descriptive data were expressed as frequency and percentage.

Results

Of the 200 identified articles, 31 studies published in 15 different journals were included in this systematic review. Results showed a wide variation in high-risk breast cancer clusters. However, a similar incidence of gastrointestinal cancers has been reported, and high-risk clusters were identified in the north and the northwest of Iran. Skin cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia were more prevalent in the central provinces.

Conclusion

The current volume of studies on the spatial epidemiology of cancer in Iran, with a CiteScore quartile of Q1, is inadequate to guide health policymakers. The geographical distribution of many prevalent types of cancer has not been assessed by Iranian researchers. Furthermore, the classification of high- and low-risk geographical clusters of cancers was not completely homogeneous.

Spatiotemporal pattern of thyroid cancer incidence in South Kerala: A population-based study

Background

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine cancer and has been increasing over the past decades worldwide. A notable finding is that Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram ranks the first among men and the second highest among women in the incidence of TC in India. Reasons for this increase have not been established.

Objectives

Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal pattern of TC incidence in Thiruvananthapuram.

Materials and Methods

TC incidence data (n = 1937) of Population Based Cancer Registry Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, between 2012 and 2016, were analyzed for identifying geographical patterns by spatial methods, temporal methods for studying spatial variation in TC incidence, distribution of age, gender, and histology in lowland (coastal), midland, and highland.

Results

Spatial clustering of TC incidence was identified consistently near the coastal region based on all geospatial analyses. 56.9%, 23.9%, and 19.2% of TC cases were observed in the coastal, midland, and highland areas, respectively. A significant clustered pattern of TC incidence was revealed by Moran's index I (0.49), high-high clusters by local Moran's, hotspot by Getis-Ord-Gi* (P < 0.05), point pattern analysis by nearest neighbor ratio and kernel density estimation. The relative risk of the significant cluster was obtained as 1.60 (95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.84) by SaTScan analysis.

Conclusion

This study identified spatial variations in the pattern of TC cases with significant clusters near the coastal region of Thiruvananthapuram. This would help to pinpoint the high-risk geographical areas of TC and for more effective cancer control programs.

Exploring the relationship between spiritual well-being and death anxiety in patients with gynecological cancer: a cross-section study

Background

In recent years, spiritual well-being has gradually gained the attention of health care providers in China, especially those in oncology departments, who have recognized the importance of improving spiritual well-being in cancer patients. Since most of the current research on spiritual well-being has been carried out in areas with religious beliefs, this study was conducted in the context of no development of formal religion. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between death anxiety and spiritual well-being and the related factors of spiritual well-being among gynecological cancer patients.

Methods

This cross-section study was conducted among 586 gynecological cancer patients. The European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-spiritual well-being32 (EORTC QLQ-SWB32) and Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (T-DAS) were used to measure spiritual well-being and death anxiety. The Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being and death anxiety.

Results

For all participants, the highest QLQ-SWB32 centesimal score was 75.13 on the Relationship with Other scale, and the lowest was 60.33 on the Relationship with Someone or Something Greater Scale. The mean Death Anxiety score was 5.31 (SD 3.18). We found that Relationship with Someone or Something Greater was the only scale not associated with death anxiety. Overall, patients with lower death anxiety have a higher level of spiritual well-being. Besides, a high Relationship with Other score was associated with living with a partner (B = 2.471, P < 0.001) and married (B = -6.475, P = 0.001). Patients with higher Global-SWB were retired (B = 0.387, P = 0.019).

Conclusions

Our study found that the spiritual well-being of patients with gynecological cancer in China was no worse than in other countries with religious beliefs and patients with lower death anxiety have a higher level of spiritual well-being. Clinical staff should pay attention to the spiritual health of cancer patients, and spiritual care should be regarded as an essential element in cancer care.

The spatial distribution of colorectal cancer relative risk in Iran: a nationwide spatial study

AIM

The aim of this study was to estimate the standardized incidence rate (SIR) and also the relative risk (RR) of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iran and to determine the distribution of CRC risk in a map after adjusting socioeconomic risk factors.

BACKGROUND

The growth of CRC incidence rate in Iran is a major public health problem and identifying high-risk regions is essential for further intervention.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, all CRC cases that occurred in 30 Iranian provinces between 2005 and 2008 were collected according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). In addition, socioeconomic information was extracted from statistical center of Iran. Bayesian and Poison regression models were fitted to identify significant covariates. For RR estimating, the spatial analysis using GIS technique was carried out.

RESULTS

The Bayesian method with increasing precision of the parameter estimates had a better fit. According to spatial model, East Azerbaijan province had a high (11.14) and South Khorasan province had a low (0.22) risk of CRC in the period of study. SIR for the male population was 1.92 ± 3.25, and for the female population it was 1.85 ± 3.37.

CONCLUSION

There is a non-uniform spatial pattern of CRC risk in Iran. According to the results, North, Northwest and some parts of West and Central provinces of Iran are identified as high-risk areas; thus, it is recommended that health policymakers, especially in these areas, have more intervention measures. Further studies are needed to map the RR adjusted for nutrition factors.