A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases
Abstract Background The availability of big data in healthcare and the intensive development of data reuse and georeferencing have opened up perspectives for health spatial analysis. However, fine-scale spatial studies of ecological and medical databases are limited by the change of support problem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12942-017-0109-5 |
| _version_ | 1818951347756597248 |
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| author | A. Ghenassia J. B. Beuscart G. Ficheur F. Occelli E. Babykina E. Chazard M. Genin |
| author_facet | A. Ghenassia J. B. Beuscart G. Ficheur F. Occelli E. Babykina E. Chazard M. Genin |
| author_sort | A. Ghenassia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The availability of big data in healthcare and the intensive development of data reuse and georeferencing have opened up perspectives for health spatial analysis. However, fine-scale spatial studies of ecological and medical databases are limited by the change of support problem and thus a lack of spatial unit interoperability. The use of spatial disaggregation methods to solve this problem introduces errors into the spatial estimations. Here, we present a generic, two-step method for merging medical and ecological databases that avoids the use of spatial disaggregation methods, while maximizing the spatial resolution. Methods Firstly, a mapping table is created after one or more transition matrices have been defined. The latter link the spatial units of the original databases to the spatial units of the final database. Secondly, the mapping table is validated by (1) comparing the covariates contained in the two original databases, and (2) checking the spatial validity with a spatial continuity criterion and a spatial resolution index. Results We used our novel method to merge a medical database (the French national diagnosis-related group database, containing 5644 spatial units) with an ecological database (produced by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, and containing with 36,594 spatial units). The mapping table yielded 5632 final spatial units. The mapping table’s validity was evaluated by comparing the number of births in the medical database and the ecological databases in each final spatial unit. The median [interquartile range] relative difference was 2.3% [0; 5.7]. The spatial continuity criterion was low (2.4%), and the spatial resolution index was greater than for most French administrative areas. Conclusions Our innovative approach improves interoperability between medical and ecological databases and facilitates fine-scale spatial analyses. We have shown that disaggregation models and large aggregation techniques are not necessarily the best ways to tackle the change of support problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:33:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-302f13ea3ae14c60aeb97569c0428f5f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-072X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:33:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| spelling | doaj.art-302f13ea3ae14c60aeb97569c0428f5f2022-12-21T19:45:03ZengBMCInternational Journal of Health Geographics1476-072X2017-10-0116111110.1186/s12942-017-0109-5A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databasesA. Ghenassia0J. B. Beuscart1G. Ficheur2F. Occelli3E. Babykina4E. Chazard5M. Genin6EA 2694 - Santé publique : épidémiologie et qualité des soins, University of LilleEA 2694 - Santé publique : épidémiologie et qualité des soins, University of LilleEA 2694 - Santé publique : épidémiologie et qualité des soins, University of LilleEA 4483 - Impact de l’environnement chimique sur la santé humaine, University of LilleEA 2694 - Santé publique : épidémiologie et qualité des soins, University of LilleEA 2694 - Santé publique : épidémiologie et qualité des soins, University of LilleEA 2694 - Santé publique : épidémiologie et qualité des soins, University of LilleAbstract Background The availability of big data in healthcare and the intensive development of data reuse and georeferencing have opened up perspectives for health spatial analysis. However, fine-scale spatial studies of ecological and medical databases are limited by the change of support problem and thus a lack of spatial unit interoperability. The use of spatial disaggregation methods to solve this problem introduces errors into the spatial estimations. Here, we present a generic, two-step method for merging medical and ecological databases that avoids the use of spatial disaggregation methods, while maximizing the spatial resolution. Methods Firstly, a mapping table is created after one or more transition matrices have been defined. The latter link the spatial units of the original databases to the spatial units of the final database. Secondly, the mapping table is validated by (1) comparing the covariates contained in the two original databases, and (2) checking the spatial validity with a spatial continuity criterion and a spatial resolution index. Results We used our novel method to merge a medical database (the French national diagnosis-related group database, containing 5644 spatial units) with an ecological database (produced by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, and containing with 36,594 spatial units). The mapping table yielded 5632 final spatial units. The mapping table’s validity was evaluated by comparing the number of births in the medical database and the ecological databases in each final spatial unit. The median [interquartile range] relative difference was 2.3% [0; 5.7]. The spatial continuity criterion was low (2.4%), and the spatial resolution index was greater than for most French administrative areas. Conclusions Our innovative approach improves interoperability between medical and ecological databases and facilitates fine-scale spatial analyses. We have shown that disaggregation models and large aggregation techniques are not necessarily the best ways to tackle the change of support problem.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12942-017-0109-5Spatial analysisData reuseChange-of-support problemInteroperability |
| spellingShingle | A. Ghenassia J. B. Beuscart G. Ficheur F. Occelli E. Babykina E. Chazard M. Genin A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases International Journal of Health Geographics Spatial analysis Data reuse Change-of-support problem Interoperability |
| title | A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases |
| title_full | A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases |
| title_fullStr | A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases |
| title_full_unstemmed | A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases |
| title_short | A generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases |
| title_sort | generic method for improving the spatial interoperability of medical and ecological databases |
| topic | Spatial analysis Data reuse Change-of-support problem Interoperability |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12942-017-0109-5 |
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