Mapping Cancer for Community Engagement
2009

Mapping Cancer for Community Engagement

Sample size: 5760 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kirsten M. M. Beyer, Gerard Rushton

Primary Institution: University of Iowa

Hypothesis

Can community participation and geographic information systems reduce health disparities in cancer rates?

Conclusion

Maps that accurately represent and contextualize cancer rates can engage communities in addressing cancer disparities.

Supporting Evidence

  • The maps are available to the public and have been used in community engagement events.
  • Community partners have positively received the maps and are using them for targeted cancer screening efforts.
  • The study highlights the importance of local context in understanding cancer rates.

Takeaway

This study created maps to show cancer rates in Iowa, helping local communities understand and address cancer issues better.

Methodology

The study used adaptive spatial filtering to create maps of colorectal cancer incidence and late-stage diagnosis based on cancer registry data.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to varying sizes of areas used for rate calculations.

Limitations

The maps may mask variation within areas and the spatial resolution is inconsistent across the map.

Participant Demographics

The study included cancer cases from various demographics in Iowa, with a focus on areas with high minority populations.

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