218626 Use of Community-Level Health Statistics to Address Health Disparities

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Wenjun Li, PhD , Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
Accurate, timely and locally relevant health statistics are critical for community-based research and prevention programs, policy development, and evaluation. This presentation illustrates application examples of small area estimation methods in processing statewide community-level health statistics, and the use of community-level data to assist prevention program planning and evaluation. We will discuss critical issues in this area of research, including a) defining community that is relevant to community-based research and policy making, and understanding the needs of community-based research and public health practice at both the local and state levels, b) identifying and integrating multiple-level data available from multiple disciplines and multiple sources, c) constructing small area estimation models for community-level prevalence estimates, d) identifying geographic and socioeconomic disparities using the derived data, and f) creating novel methods for effective communication of these data and for prioritizing localities or topics for community-based research and public health prevention. Practical examples include evaluation of prevalence of adult obesity, cigarette smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical exercise in Massachusetts. We conclude the presentation by general discussions on the advantages and pitfalls of the methods, and future research directions.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe small area estimation methods useful in processing statewide community-level health statistics data Describe how community-level data may be used to assist prevention program planning and evaluation. Discuss critical issues in small area estimation research.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am Associate Professor in the field of Public Health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.