Innovative Strategies to Health Promotion Program Planning: Using Geographic Information System (GIS) to Find Optimal Locations

Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used for years to plan for store locations, to support marketing and business development. However; it is a new concept for community/public health nursing. This presentation is a report on determining optimal locations of physical activity programs for seniors and older adults in a southwestern urban community using GIS. Review of the literature and evidence concludes that physical activity increases the health and quality of life of seniors. Literature on GIS in health promotion programs indicates that GIS mapping of community information, combined with census and health information will be a very helpful tool for local stakeholders and decision makers. Publicly accessible data were collected and analyzed. They included general census tract information, population demographics, locations of senior centers & gyms, and environmental and social features. The resulting GIS maps were generated for the community and presented to community planners and stakeholders for feedback and eventual implementation of new programs at optimal locations to reach the most seniors. Many C/PHN and local stakeholders involved in program planning have not been exposed to this new trend of location optimization. This approach can be used for all health promotion planning to provide the greatest exposure for the program and to reach the most future participants.