Building Capacity to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in a Chronic Disease Setting: Texas, 2012

BACKGROUND:  Geographical Information Systems (GIS) describe a group of software tools and methods used to manage, analyze, and display geographically referenced data. It is an increasingly used technology in chronic disease surveillance to identify geographic concentrations of high-risk groups, disparities and to inform policy/decision makers. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section (HPCDP) at Texas Department of State Health Services recognized the need to train program professionals with GIS technology. The abstract describes the GIS training received by HPCDP.

METHODS:  National Association of Chronic Disease Directors announced the GIS training opportunity for state health departments in collaboration with University of Michigan (UM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPCDP applied and was selected for this training. The training was from February-October 2012.

RESULTS:  HPCDP identified 4 core team members from chronic disease programs and an extended team from program partners to provide support and guidance. HPCDP identified four priorities to accomplish during the training: highlight disparities and document the burden of chronic diseases, demonstrate geographic overlap in modifiable risk factors and co-morbidities, illustrate state funded community based programs and location of partners and interventions. The core team received training in Ann Arbor, Michigan at UM over a three-part series of multi-day workshops (April 2012, June 2012 and August 2012).  Each training event built on skills learned from the prior set of workshops. The first training was basic introduction of ArcGIS. Core team members created the maps assigned and incorporated input from the extended team and UM’s GIS analysts. The second training was focused on making maps on the priorities stated earlier with some intermediate skills. The third training concluded the series with an overview of more advanced analyses using ArcGIS. The UM GIS analysts provided technical support via ongoing conference calls and web-based office hours.

CONCLUSIONS:  HPCDP developed the capacity of creating GIS maps for the first time through this training and has produced more than 40 maps since April 2012. Many of these maps have been used in disease burden reports, factsheets, presentations and exhibits. The maps have improved documentation of geographic disparities related to chronic diseases; helped make informed program decision and enhanced partnerships and collaboration with internal and external agencies. HPCDP plans to initiate an internal GIS user group and train more staff members. Other state chronic disease programs may use similar training programs to meet the needs for geospatial displays.