Utilizing Geographic Information Systems in community assessment and nursing research

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application in health sciences is rapidly expanding.
• User-friendly GIS tools have accelerated GIS adoption in community health research.
• Spatial data on disease incidence, environment, and healthcare facilities are crucial for epidemiological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the effective use of GIS in a community health assessment project.
• To survey households in Hinds County, Mississippi, assessing community health status and healthcare service under-utilization.
• To utilize assessment findings to improve health outcomes within specific geographic communities.

Main Methods:

• Employed face-to-face household surveys for community assessment.
• Integrated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to optimize the survey process.
• Utilized GIS for evaluating assessment results and understanding spatial health patterns.

Main Results:

• The study successfully integrated GIS with traditional survey methods.
• GIS technology aided in optimizing the community assessment process and data evaluation.
• The combined approach provided a comprehensive understanding of community health and service utilization.

Conclusions:

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are effective tools for community health assessment.
• Integrating GIS with surveys enhances the efficiency and evaluation of health studies.
• This methodology can significantly contribute to improving health outcomes in defined communities.