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Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research: Why
Pistolla Georgia,
Mihael Maniadhakis,
Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
1-3
Received:
27 March 2015
Accepted:
27 March 2015
Published:
10 April 2015
Abstract: The present report is a short introduction of the special issue entitled “Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research, during Times of Global Socio-Economic Instability”. It aims to discuss several issues regarding the methodologies and analytics in health research as well as to raise questions and give “food for thought” about the way researchers manage health data. Finally, it outlines the use of mathematics and spatio-temporal analysis in research in epidemiology, Public health, Primary health care and health care practice.
Abstract: The present report is a short introduction of the special issue entitled “Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research, during Times of Global Socio-Economic Instability”. It aims to discuss several issues regarding the methodologies and analytics in health research as well as to raise questions and give “food for thought” about the way rese...
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Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research: How
Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra,
Pistolla Georgia
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
4-9
Received:
27 March 2015
Accepted:
27 March 2015
Published:
10 April 2015
Abstract: Background: There is an open discussion on how the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or mathematical models could offer a new perspective on health research and positive health outcomes. The present study is a literature review that aims to explore and identify several GIS and IT applications (spatial or mathematical oriented) in health research, clinical practice, public health and police making. Methods: The review was conducted in two different literature database (PubMed, The Cochrane Library and in grey literature via internet (Google). Results: Several applications were identified and selected examples are presented in this article. Their positive (current or expected) impact on health outcomes, health research and public health strategies is discussed. Conclusions: Such applications could empower positive health outcomes and promote healthy ageing, quality of life and wellbeing, develop networks of active citizens and multi-sector professionals.
Abstract: Background: There is an open discussion on how the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or mathematical models could offer a new perspective on health research and positive health outcomes. The present study is a literature review that aims to explore and identify several GIS and IT applications (spatial or mathematical oriented) in health resear...
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Developing Integrated Mobile Applications to Provide Culturally Responsive Support for Minnesota African Diaspora and West African Families Impacted by Ebola Virus Disease
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
10-17
Received:
30 March 2015
Accepted:
31 March 2015
Published:
10 April 2015
Abstract: In recent years, Minnesota has witnessed a huge influx of immigrants from Africa. According to the 2008 Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy report, Minnesota has become the home of largest population of Somalian in the United States, and the home of the ninth largest population of African immigrants in America. It is estimated that between 70,000 and 80, 000 live in Minnesota. Somalia lead the way with about 37% of the African population followed by Ethiopia, 21%, Liberian, 12%, and Kenyan, 8% (Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy, 2008). Consequently, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has impacted the lives of the Minnesota African Diaspora and their relatives living in Africa. The Minnesota African Taskforce Against Ebola (MATFAE) was created as a result of the strong desire among Africans in the Diaspora to address stigma associated with Ebola in Minnesota and provide needed supports to their relatives in Ebola impacted countries. This paper examines the development of a series of integrated mobile applications designed to foster collaboration between the Minnesota African Diaspora and their counterpart in Africa. The Mobile Apps could allow members of the African Diaspora and international community to engage with the Minnesota African Taskforce Against Ebola (MATFAE) as partners to address emergency preparedness and response issues. Those Apps could also serve as a platform for local and global community dialogues to improve health outcomes in Ebola impacted regions.
Abstract: In recent years, Minnesota has witnessed a huge influx of immigrants from Africa. According to the 2008 Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy report, Minnesota has become the home of largest population of Somalian in the United States, and the home of the ninth largest population of African immigrants in America. It is estimated that between ...
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World Health Spatiotemporal Random Variables in Strong Correlation with Mathematical Deterministic Conditions
Persefoni Kritikou,
Mihael Maniadhakis
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
18-23
Received:
8 February 2015
Accepted:
8 February 2015
Published:
11 April 2015
Abstract: The present report describes sufficiently documented results of a research undertaken in an effort to detect possible effects of the 21st century’s socioeconomic transformation on Health Care Services. Before embarking on such research, presuppositions ought to be examined using the vastly developed methods and techniques in mathematical – statistical research. Results until now lead to a restatement of assumptions, principally on the combination of Set Theoretic and Probabilistic stereotypes.
Abstract: The present report describes sufficiently documented results of a research undertaken in an effort to detect possible effects of the 21st century’s socioeconomic transformation on Health Care Services. Before embarking on such research, presuppositions ought to be examined using the vastly developed methods and techniques in mathematical – statisti...
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Geo-Epidemiology of Tobacco Smoking in Europe and the impact of Twelve Tobacco Control Measures
Pistolla Georgia,
Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
24-29
Received:
28 March 2015
Accepted:
30 March 2015
Published:
11 April 2015
Abstract: Background: Tobacco use is one of the major causes of premature death worldwide. The purpose of the present study is to examine which of the known evidence-based control measures actually work, and indentify their preventive or risky effects, in order to determine the various risk areas for any daily tobacco use in Europe. This is a cross-sectional geo-epidemiological study using secondary database data from the World Health Organization. Methods: Data from 2009 were used for all European countries. Daily smoking of any tobacco product (DSTP) and 12 other factors referring to tobacco control, comprise the main under study parameters. The final sample consisted of subjects from 45 European countries. First, the data management was fulfilled. Then, spatial statistics were performed in Arcmap 10 (GIS). Moran’s I and OLS spatial regression model were applied for the detection of spatial correlations and the high risk areas. Results: High spatial heterogeneity was demonstrated through the DSTP distribution. Greece and Austria have the highest rates (38-49%), Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Russia follow with 30-37%. Three out of the twelve factors examined were found to be random. The rest of them were used in the regression model, highlighting the high risk areas. Greece presented the highest risk (Exp B= 2.9; 95% CI= 2.183-3.326), Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia and other countries followed (Exp B= 2.7; 95% CI= 1.937-3.013), whereas Finland, Norway and UK proved to be of no present risk (Exp B= 0.76; 95% CI= 0.258-0.936). Conclusions: Geo-epidemiology of tobacco usage monitors the phenomenon’s dynamics, effectively. It offers an insight in applying measures, co-examining for the first time, the effects of twelve measures of tobacco control as possible preventive or risk factors.
Abstract: Background: Tobacco use is one of the major causes of premature death worldwide. The purpose of the present study is to examine which of the known evidence-based control measures actually work, and indentify their preventive or risky effects, in order to determine the various risk areas for any daily tobacco use in Europe. This is a cross-sectional...
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Spatial Models Applied on Modern Epidemiological Research: An Example of Malignant Neoplasms of Larynx, Trachea, Bronchus and Lung
Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra,
Pistolla Georgia
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
30-34
Received:
26 March 2015
Accepted:
26 March 2015
Published:
11 April 2015
Abstract: Background: The effectiveness of the Greek Health policies is highly doubted, especially in times of economic crisis. We selected a disease associated with one of the highest causes of mortality in Greece to explore this phenomenon. Methods: The number of deaths due to malignant neoplasms of larynx, trachea, bronchus and lung in 2001 and 2006 was used. Mortality rates were analyzed in relation to socioeconomic factors, through Cluster Analysis k-means. Finally, prediction of their variance across the different area of Greece in 2001 and 2006 was fulfilled by the interpolation method of ordinary kriging. Results: Prefectures of the same administrative region are characterised by different behavior while they may match with Prefectures of other administrative regions. In the prediction map, mortality rates range from 0.53 to 1.31, in 2001 and from 0.66 to 1.27, in 2006. There is an increase of mortality from one year to another, especially in some Prefectures that move from low clusters in 2001 to very high ones in 2006. Conclusions: This study outlines the regional and spatial inequalities in health, which could be scientifically revealed through the study of health data and their trends. We suggest the promotion of health maps for communication among public health researchers and decision makers.
Abstract: Background: The effectiveness of the Greek Health policies is highly doubted, especially in times of economic crisis. We selected a disease associated with one of the highest causes of mortality in Greece to explore this phenomenon. Methods: The number of deaths due to malignant neoplasms of larynx, trachea, bronchus and lung in 2001 and 2006 was u...
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Monitoring Fatal Road Accidents, Using Spatio-Temporal Statistics and GIS Modeling
Melidoniotis Evangelos,
Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra,
Chatzea Vasiliki-Eirini,
Tzanakis Nikolaos
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
Pages:
35-41
Received:
26 March 2015
Accepted:
26 March 2015
Published:
11 April 2015
Abstract: Background: Purpose of this study is to monitor the fatal road accidents (FRA) in the Region of Crete, Greece and capture their dynamics in time and space using the Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. It aims to record the FRA spatially from 2001 to 2012, predict their spatio-temporal variance, estimate the number of FRA that should be expected the next years per region and identify the high risk areas. Methods: It is a spatio-temporal study using data from the National Emergency Center’s database. The SPSS 20 and the Arc map 10 were used for the analysis. Spatio-temporal models were applied; specifically, geographical descriptive, Geary’s C, co-kriging interpolation and the Geographical Weighted regression model. Results: According to the Geary’s C, FRA follow a clustered pattern in Crete, whilst they are not randomly occurred (Geary’s C= 0.42; 95%CI= 0.029-0.873; pvalue<0.001). There was a total of 1,039 FRA cases that presented heterogeneous distribution on the island, gathering within the standard distance and ellipse. Time related factors and age were found to be significant to the risk for FRA (pvalue<0.001), [summer months: ExpB=3.43, 95%CI=1.726-5.027 and the night hours: ExpB=2.43; 1.304-4.487]. High risk areas were identified and the expected number of unrecorded FRA was found to vary from 0.0001 to 5.5 cases per 50km2. Conclusions: The present study inserts, for the first time in the Greek bibliography, a new way of monitoring and capturing the FRA dynamics and highlights the use of the GIS technology and dynamic modeling.
Abstract: Background: Purpose of this study is to monitor the fatal road accidents (FRA) in the Region of Crete, Greece and capture their dynamics in time and space using the Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. It aims to record the FRA spatially from 2001 to 2012, predict their spatio-temporal variance, estimate the number of FRA that should b...
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