Geographic information systems and public health: mapping the future.

This information technology review provides thoughts about current trends and future directions for geographic information systems (GIS) technology in public health and the challenges to institutionalizing this technology as a standard part of public health planning and practice by the Year 2010. Topics include: current trends; epidemiology and GIS technology; definition; advantages of GIS technology; current limitations of GIS technology; anticipated developments in the near future; and anticipated developments in 5-10 years. Two reports of GIS mapping applications also are included: "Mapping Rodent Complaints" by Neil M. Casey, Jack Smith, and C. William Keck, Akron Health Department, Ohio; and "Women with Localized Breast Cancer Selecting Mastectomy Treatment, Iowa, 1991-1996" by Gerard Rushton and Michele West, Department of Geography, University of Iowa. The review concludes that public health applications of GIS technology in 1999 are still in the early stages. Many challenges remain that will need to be addressed before the full potential of GIS technology can be realized for public health practice, planning, and research. One of the greatest challenges will be to incorporate epidemiologic principles and methods into the analysis to be mapped. Another major challenge will be to develop methods and procedures to assure the confidentiality of individuals and individual households. Geographic Information Systems and Public Health:

[1]  M. Monmonier.  How to Lie with Maps , 1991 .

[2]  J. Koplan,et al.  Health reform and the health of the public. Forging community health partnerships. , 1994, JAMA.

[3]  J. Pickles.  Ground truth : the social implications of geographic information systems , 1995 .

[4]  K. Jones,et al.  People and places: the multilevel model as a general framework for the quantitative analysis of geographical data , 1996 .

[5]  Karen M. Trifonoff.  How to Lie With Maps, 2nd ed. , 1996 .

[6]  K. Clarke.  Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems , 1996 .

[7]  Claire Beesley,et al.  Ground truth: The social implications of geographic information systems , 1996 .

[8]  G. Rushton,et al.  Geographically masking health data to preserve confidentiality. , 1999, Statistics in medicine.

[9]  J. Wennberg,et al.  Maps and health: the challenges of interpretation. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[10]  T. Richards,et al.  Atlas of state and local geographic information systems (GIS) maps to improve community health. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[11]  S. E. Thrall,et al.  Geographic information system (GIS) hardware and software. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[12]  E J Sondik,et al.  Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in public health practice in the new millennium. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[13]  A Melnick,et al.  Clackamas County Department of Human Services community health mapping engine (CHiME) geographic information systems project. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[14]  D W Fleming,et al.  Modern geographic information systems--promise and pitfalls. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[15]  R. M. Davis.  Measuring the performance of public health agencies , 1999, BMJ.

[16]  T. Foresman,et al.  Spatial analysis and mapping on the Internet. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[17]  M. Rogers.  Using marketing information to focus smoking cessation programs in specific census block groups along the Buford Highway corridor, DeKalb County, Georgia, 1996. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[18]  M. Rogers,et al.  Getting started with Geographic Information Systems (GIS): a local health department perspective. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[19]  A. Dean.  Epi Info and Epi Map: current status and plans for Epi Info 2000. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[20]  G. Thrall,et al.  The future of GIS in public health management and practice. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[21]  M. Fraser,et al.  Local health departments and GIS: the perspective of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[22]  M F MacDorman,et al.  State initiatives in geocoding vital statistics data. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[23]  L Dean.  Revitalizing communities with Geographic Information Systems (GIS): HUD's Community 2020 software. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.

[24]  M Kulldorff,et al.  Geographic information systems (GIS) and community health: some statistical issues. , 1999, Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP.