Integrating Spatial Analysis into Policy Formulation: A Case Study Examining Traffic Exposure and Asthma

• Author: Dennis Wollersheim,Bircan Erbas,Marsil Zook,Kathryn H. Jacobsen
• Date: 01 March 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.258
• Published date: 01 March 2018

Integrating Spatial Analysis into Policy Formulation: A

Case Study Examining Traff‌ic Exposure and Asthma

Marsil Zook, Dennis Wollersheim, Bircan Erbas, and Kathryn H. Jacobsen

Geographic information systems (GIS) are underused as a tool for health policy analysis. We present

a case study that (i) identif‌ies sociodemographic, environmental, and health variables for which

spatial data are available for Melbourne, Australia; (ii) reviews the literature about the traff‌ic-

related parameters that are risk factors for asthma emergencies; (iii) applies this information within

a GIS to identify populations living in proximity to harmful exposures; and then (iv) maps the most

at-risk neighborhoods. The case study identif‌ies the locations of residential districts with high

asthma incidence rates that are located near highways. These places would likely be priority

communities for public health asthma control interventions. Spatial analysis can be a valuable tool

for design, implementation, and evaluation of cost-effective policies. We recommend integrating

more spatial epidemiology into evidence-based policy, planning, and resource allocation decisions.

KEY WORDS:asthma, GIS, spatial analysis

Introduction

Geographic information systems (GIS) are a powerful tool for use in areas

such as health planning, policy development, monitoring, and disease surveil-

lance (Nykiforuk & Flaman, 2011), but GIS tends to be underused in health

policy analysis. GIS is primarily used for storing, retrieving, analyzing, and

displaying data (Clarke,McLafferty, & Tempalski, 1996; Delaney & Van Niel,

2007). GIS software programs can map changes in risk exposures and

population health status over time, and those visualizations can be very helpful

for enabling policy experts and the public to understand evolving threats to

health. GIS also allows analysts to examine the associations between health and

environmental variables by location. Spatial analysis may reveal patterns that

would not be apparent in a non-spatial statistical model (Castro et al., 2007).

However, some of the valuable spatial modeling functions of GIS are not being

used to their fullest extent by policy analysts.

WorldMedical&HealthPolicy,Vol.10,No.1,2018

99

doi: 10.1002/wmh3.258

#2018 Policy Studies Organization