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Using global positioning systems in health research: a practical approach to data collection and processing.

Jacqueline Kerr¹, Scott Duncan, Jasper Schipperijn

¹Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, 92093-0811, USA. jkerr@ucsd.edu

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

|October 21, 2011

Summary

This paper provides guidelines for using Global Positioning System (GPS) devices in health research. Standardizing GPS data collection and processing improves data quality and comparability across studies.

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Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are increasingly utilized in health research.
A lack of standardized best-practice guidelines currently exists for collecting, processing, and analyzing GPS data.
Standardization is crucial for enhancing data quality, enabling cross-study comparisons, and accelerating research advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide researchers with comprehensive guidance on using GPS devices in health research.
To outline device selection, settings, data collection, cleaning, processing, and GIS integration.
To inform researchers about the benefits and challenges of incorporating GPS technology.

Main Methods:

The paper details criteria for selecting GPS devices and optimal device settings.
It covers participant data collection, data cleaning, and processing methodologies.
Integration of GPS data into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is also addressed.

Main Results:

Recommendations are provided for each stage of GPS data collection and analysis.
Potential challenges associated with GPS data in health research are highlighted.
The benefits of GPS data over traditional self-report or estimated exposure measures are emphasized.

Conclusions:

Implementing standardized procedures for GPS data collection and processing will significantly improve research outcomes.
This paper equips researchers with the necessary information to make informed decisions about using GPS technology.
The presented information reflects the state-of-the-art in GPS data application for health research as of 2011.