Using geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to build academic and community collaboration for conducting community health assessments

The Spatial Health Assessment and Research Program (SHARP) at the North Carolina Institute for Public Health assists local public health agencies with data collection and spatial analysis projects, including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technical assistance for surveys, pre-/post- disaster assessments, and community health assessments (CHAs). In 2013, SHARP partnered with Wake County Human Services, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Rex Healthcare, Wake Health Services and United Way of the Greater Triangle to conduct a collaborative CHA in Wake County, NC. A community survey was developed with input from stakeholders and included questions on community issues, health behaviors, healthcare access, disaster preparedness, and demographics. Using a two-stage cluster sampling methodology typically used for Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), SHARP staff used GIS to draw a population weighted sample of census blocks in Wake County and to identify 280 randomly selected households for interviews. SHARP staff trained community volunteers and public health graduate students to use handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units to navigate to survey areas and to record survey responses in a customized form coded for use in mobile GIS software. Results were analyzed and used by local health and service organizations to help develop priorities and community action plans. This presentation describes the opportunity to use GIS technology and CASPER methodology for community-based data collection and decision-making. It identifies best practices and lessons learned for engaging community stakeholders to use innovative GIS technology to conduct a CHA and the challenges, resources and training needed.