Geographic Information Systems: Usability, Perception, and Preferences of Public Health Professionals

Authors

  • Awatef Ahmed Ben Ramadan University of Missouri-Columbia (MU): Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC), School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics (HMI), MU Informatics Institute (MUII) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7352-6172
  • Jeannette Jackson-Thompson University of Missouri-Columbia (MU): Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC), School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics (HMI), MU Informatics Institute (MUII) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8287-8719
  • Suzanne Austin Boren University of Missouri-Columbia (MU): School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics (HMI), MU Informatics Institute (MUII)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v9i2.7437

Abstract

Background: Analyzing and visualizing health-related databases using Geographic Information Systems (GISs) becomes essential in controlling many public health problems.

Objectives: To explore the perception and preferences of public health professionals (PHPs) about the usability of GISs in public health field

Methods: For this scoping review, the investigators searched Medline Ovid, PubMed, IEEE, Scopus, and GeoBase databases. A total of 105 articles were identified.  Nine articles met the inclusion criteria.

Results: Iterative evaluations, training, and involvement of GIS end users are productive in GIS usability. More methodologies are needed to support the validity of GIS usability studies. The exchange of GIS technology impacts public health policy and research positively.

Discussion: PHPs are aware of the use of GISs in the public health field, and the exchange of visualized health data in determining inequalities and inaccessibility issues.

Conclusion: GISs are essential to control public health problems, if the related health datasets are analyzed carefully and if the mapping reports are extensively evaluated and interpreted. 

Keywords:  Geographic Information systems, GIS, Public Health, Usability 

Author Biographies

Awatef Ahmed Ben Ramadan, University of Missouri-Columbia (MU): Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC), School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics (HMI), MU Informatics Institute (MUII)

Awatef Ahmed Ben Ramadan,MD, MPH, PhD

Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC) University of Missouri, Columbia

401 Clark Hall

Columbia, MO 65211-4380

Phone: (573) 882-7775

Fax: (573) 884-9655

aab365@mail.missouri.edu

Jeannette Jackson-Thompson, University of Missouri-Columbia (MU): Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC), School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics (HMI), MU Informatics Institute (MUII)

Jeannette Jackson-Thompson, MSPH, PhD

Director, Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center

Research Associate Professor, Health Management & Informatics

University of Missouri School of Medicine

Core faculty in University of Missouri Informatics Institute

401 Clark Hall

Columbia, MO 65211-4380

Phone: (573) 882-7775

Fax: (573) 884-9655

Email:jacksonthompsonj@health.missouri.edu 

Suzanne Austin Boren, University of Missouri-Columbia (MU): School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics (HMI), MU Informatics Institute (MUII)

Suzanne A. Boren, MHA, PhD

Associate Professor and Director of Academic Programs

Department of Health Management and Informatics

Investigator, Center for Health Care Quality

University of Missouri School of Medicine

(573) 882-1492

BorenS@health.missouri.edu

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Published

2017-09-08

How to Cite

Ben Ramadan, A. A., Jackson-Thompson, J., & Boren, S. A. (2017). Geographic Information Systems: Usability, Perception, and Preferences of Public Health Professionals. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v9i2.7437

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Review Articles

License

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