2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Online Program

325856
An Ohio Model for examining breast cancer mortality rates, using GIS mapping and secondary data sources


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Jeannine Everhart, M.S., MBA, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Health and Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Jacqueline Luke, MA, PhD Student, Health and Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Brandon Luke, MA, PhD Student, Spatially Integrated Social Science, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Debra Boardley, PhD, RD, LD, FAND, Department of Health and Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Amy Thompson, Ph.D., CHES, Department of Health and Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Background: According to the most r­­­ecent CDC data, Ohio ranked 37th for incidence of breast cancer, but 4thin the nation for breast cancer mortality. Thus, women in Ohio are disproportionately dying from breast cancer even when incidence rates are lower than in many other states. A common finding is that the high mortality rate is due to demographic risk factors. However, there may be other factors that contribute.

Objective/purpose: This research explores the combination of Ohio’s demographic and environmental breast cancer risk factors. Using this “Ohio Model”, health agencies in Ohio may be able to identify high breast cancer risk areas and proactively inject resources to provide targeted health programming.

Methods: This research uses secondary data resources to map breast cancer rates and demographic risk factors by census tract, and overlay these areas with environmental factors the may influence breast cancer rates. These overlays utilize geographic, EPA, and census data sources to examine factors such as carcinogen drop points, pollution scores, and proximity to manufacturing sites and medical facilities.

Results: The Ohio Model is helpful in identifying geographic areas that do not have conventional demographic risk profiles, but, due to environmental factors, may be at risk for high breast cancer mortality rates.

Discussion/conclusions: Although secondary data sources vary in timeliness and quality, they are available at a relatively low cost. Utilizing these resources to identify at-risk geographical areas is a cost efficient means for assisting vulnerable populations.

Learning Areas:

Communication and informatics
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the impact of environmental risk factors, such as pollution levels, carcinogen points and access to healthcare facilities breast cancer mortality rates. Discuss how utilizing various secondary data resources in concert can allow researchers to gain new perspectives on health issues Describe the methods and costs for obtaining and analyzing secondary data sources.

Keyword(s): Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Cancer Prevention and Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a student in Health Education with cognates in Statistics and Geographic Information Systems. My education and experience prior to my doctoral work was in IT and data analysis. My graduate assistantship is with the Center for Health and Successful Living. At the Center I work with vulnerable populations (minority groups and low SES). Primarily, our work is with women from Lucas County Ohio who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
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.

Back to: 4094.0: Fight like a girl: Health promotion, GIS mapping and cancer screenings (a collaborative session between the Women's Caucus and Cancer Forum)