Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Epidemiology

Question 1

compare data and information to cooking

Answer 1

data is ingredients, information is the recipe (interprets and describes data/ingredients)

Question 2

what is an information system?

Answer 2

a chain of operations incorporating data collection and digitization, data storage and analysis, and interpretation

Question 3

define GIS

Answer 3

GIS are tools that allow for the processing of spatial data into information, generally information tied explicitly to, and used to make decisions about, some portion of the earth

Question 4

list the 5 subsystems that GIS are composed of

Answer 4

1. data input subsystem
2. data storage and retrieval subsyste,
3. data manipulation and analysis subsystem
4. reporting subsystem (data output)
5. data sharing mechanism

Question 5

describe how geography is related to medicine

Answer 5

control of disease is very important (duh) but this control requires understanding; geography can provide intelligence and location can influence health

Question 6

give an example of how location can influence health

Answer 6

John Snow’s 1854 cholera map, basically environment, etiology

Question 7

what are two examples of spatial analysis in epidemiology?

Answer 7

risk factors, exposure

Question 8

what can spatial analysis do in epidemiology?

Answer 8

help solve medial problems

Question 9

what can GIS do?

Answer 9

integrate many different types of data (spatial and nonspatial)

Question 10

give 5 things we can easily do with GIS

Answer 10

1. draw maps and visualize spatial distributions
2. edit and alter existing data
3. accurately measure distances and area
4. overlay maps of different areas
5. put GIS on internet for public access

Question 11

what can GIS help with in public health? (3)

Answer 11

1. research tools and planning
2. spatial decision support systems
3. emergency response syste,s

Question 12

describe hpw GIS can help public health with research tools and planning (3)

Answer 12

1. contructing mathematical models
2. servive planning and optimization
3. making predictions

Question 13

give 3 examples of spatial decision support systems that GIS can help with public health

Answer 13

1. infrastructure: roads, towns, services
2. census: population stats
3. medical resource: hospitals, clinics, available beds

Question 14

give 3 examples of emergency response systems that GIS can help with public health

Answer 14

1. medicare records
2. 911 services
3. disease registry systems

Question 15

give 6 GIS applications in epidemiology

Answer 15

1. data visualization
2. data integration
3. monitoring
4. geostatistics and modeling
5. spatial interaction and diffusion
6. data sharing and web services

Question 16

what are 3 limitations of GIS?

Answer 16

1. communication gaps between epidemiologists and spatial professionals
2. require uniform data standards
3. privacy issues and spatial aggregation

Question 17

sum up GIS in 3 points

Answer 17

1. provides spatial dimension to epidemiological research
2. can be used for many public health applications and services
3. internet GIS can provide health information to the public in real-time