Online Program

287443
Using geographic information systems to evaluate and target diabetes education


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Amy B. Curtis, PhD, MPH, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program/Health Data Research Analysis and Mapping (HDReAM) Center, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Catherine L. Kothari, MA, PhD Program in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Rajib Paul, PhD, Department of Statistics/Health Data Research Analysis and Mapping (HDReAM) Center, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Background: In order to manage diabetes, diabetes self-management education (DSME) is recommended for all those with this chronic condition. Given limited resources, it is essential to ensure diabetes education resources are targeted efficiently and effectively. To aid with this process, we analyzed county level geographical distributions of diabetes, DSME programs, and report of attending diabetes education among those with diabetes. Methods: We collected, mapped and analyzed U.S county- and individual-level data from secondary sources using ArcGIS 10 and SPSS v. 20. Web sources included age-adjusted U.S. diabetes county prevalence rates and number of adults with diabetes (County Health Rankings, 2009), rate of existing 2012 certified DSME programs per 1,000 residents with diabetes (American Diabetes Association), and percent of those with diabetes reported ever attending a diabetes education class (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2010). Low resource-high rate counties were defined as having below median DSME rates per 1,000 residents with diabetes and above average diabetes rates. Results: Attendance at an education class varied from 33% to 78% (p<.001). Clusters of low resource-high rate counties were found particularly in the South, while a cluster of counties in the midwest had high resources and low diabetes rates as well as the highest education attendance rates. In contrast, despite high prevalence of DSMEs, self-reported attendance was lower in many Northeast counties. Conclusions: Counties with high rates-low resources should be targeted for diabetes education programming (e.g., south) and counties with an apparent disconnect between program availability and attendance (e.g., northeast) should be further examined.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess relationship between counties’ diabetes education programming, attendance and diabetes rates using using geographic information system (GIS) maps and secondary data. Describe how GIS was used to illustrate and identify low resource-high diabetes rate U.S. counties. Discuss the utility of GIS data for targeting health-related interventions.

Keyword(s): Geographic Information Systems, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have led as well as assisted several research projects which combine geographic information system analysis with data collected from publicly available resources to address health-related issues such as diabetes, racial disparities, maternal health and infant mortality. I assisted in the data collection, analysis and interpretation of the current project.
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.