Yvonne M. Socha|Sandra Oelschlegel|Cynthia J. Vaughn|Martha Earl
Improving an outreach service by analyzing the relationship of health information disparities to socioeconomic indicators using geographic information systems
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
introductionthe use geographic information systems gis withus census data provides libraries power tocombine analyze present information newways gis valuable tool capable capturingstoring analyzing displaying geographicallyreferenced information 1 gis software combinesmaps layers associated data provide avisual picture allows greater understanding andanalysis static figures tables although thesoftware expensive past gis becomeincreasingly affordable libraries since hasbecome available webbased applications including open source options 2libraries began incorporating us census data withgis 1990 census materials given tothe us federal depository libraries topologically integrated geographic encoding referencetiger files 3 tiger files set geographicbase files contain features united statesdown street level census boundaries forcensus statistical areas tiger files designed foruse gis software include geographic codesthat linked demographic socioeconomic data american fact finder aff theamerican community survey acs 4 5 tigeraff acs files data free publiccombined us census data gis particularlyuseful libraries area service planning forexample public library geographic databasehas compiled us census demographics 16000public libraries order assist decision makers inlibrary planning 6 examples use gisand us census data include analyzing service mapsfor proposed branches 7 mapping service areas 8analyzing demographics populations surroundingthe library 9 10 analyzing market segmentation11 establishing public library consumer healthcollection 12in 2011 preston medical library knoxvilletennessee conducted research using gis uscensus data goal analyze demographicand socioeconomic patterns order improvehealth literacy information outreach freetelephonebased consumer patient health information service caphis librarys free telephonebased caphis place overtwo decades call data maintained sqldatabase library staff responds calls thecaphis mailing packets health information atthe appropriate literacy level caller preston medical library provides useful alternative forthose individuals internet access ormay need additional assistance limitedhealth literacy socioeconomic disparitiesseveral studies examined relationship ofsocioeconomic factors limited health literacy toincreased health costs chronic disease morbidity1316 health information libraries valuable affect consumer health care decisionsconsumers use libraries health informationreport positive health actions lifestyle changesand compliance physician instructions 17 18however consumers low health literacy andcompounding socioeconomic factors often notaware services provided libraries outreachis conducted libraries address disparitiesand provide information services surrounding communities needresearch backgroundin 2003 sql database created containsinformation regarding consumer calls caphisdata calls 1998 present include thecallers name address health information request although names addresses kept inseparate tables privacy zip codes theaddresses used establish geographic localitythat plotted state map calculated toestablish rate area calls zip code therequested health topics keyword forminitially subsequently indexed library staffusing national library medicines nlmsmedical subject headings mesh order becrossreferenced existing information regardingprevalence diseases state madeavailable tennessee department health 19