Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review
PURPOSEVulnerable populations face geographical barriers in accessing radiotherapy (RT) facilities, resulting in heterogeneity of care received and cancer burden faced. We aimed to explore the current use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in access to RT and use these findings to create sust...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.22.00106 |
| _version_ | 1798035795643203584 |
|---|---|
| author | Varsha Hande Jessica Chan Alfredo Polo |
| author_facet | Varsha Hande Jessica Chan Alfredo Polo |
| author_sort | Varsha Hande |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSEVulnerable populations face geographical barriers in accessing radiotherapy (RT) facilities, resulting in heterogeneity of care received and cancer burden faced. We aimed to explore the current use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in access to RT and use these findings to create sustainable solutions against barriers for access in low- and middle-income countries.MATERIALS AND METHODSA systematic review using the PRISMA search strategy was done for studies using GIS to explore outcomes among patients with cancer. Included studies were reviewed and classified into three umbrella categories of how GIS has been used in studying access to RT.RESULTSForty articles were included in the final review. Thirty-eight articles were set in high-income countries and two in upper-middle–income countries. Included studies were published from 2000 to 2020, and were comprised of patients with all-cancers combined, breast, colon, skin, lung, prostate, ovarian, and rectal carcinoma patients. Studies were categorized under three groups on the basis of how they used GIS in their analyses: to describe geographic access to RT, to associate geographic access to RT with outcomes, and for RT planning. Most studies fell under multiple categories.CONCLUSIONAlthough this field is relative nascent, there is a wide array of functions possible through GIS for RT planning, including identifying high-risk populations, improving access in high-need areas, and providing valuable information for future resource allocation. GIS should be incorporated in future studies, especially set in low- and middle-income countries, which evaluate access to RT. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:03:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0709c122765483b91e30a8832245276 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2687-8941 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:03:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCO Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0709c122765483b91e30a88322452762022-12-22T04:03:25ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412022-09-01810.1200/GO.22.00106Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic ReviewVarsha Hande0Jessica Chan1Alfredo Polo2Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, CanadaApplied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, AustriaPURPOSEVulnerable populations face geographical barriers in accessing radiotherapy (RT) facilities, resulting in heterogeneity of care received and cancer burden faced. We aimed to explore the current use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in access to RT and use these findings to create sustainable solutions against barriers for access in low- and middle-income countries.MATERIALS AND METHODSA systematic review using the PRISMA search strategy was done for studies using GIS to explore outcomes among patients with cancer. Included studies were reviewed and classified into three umbrella categories of how GIS has been used in studying access to RT.RESULTSForty articles were included in the final review. Thirty-eight articles were set in high-income countries and two in upper-middle–income countries. Included studies were published from 2000 to 2020, and were comprised of patients with all-cancers combined, breast, colon, skin, lung, prostate, ovarian, and rectal carcinoma patients. Studies were categorized under three groups on the basis of how they used GIS in their analyses: to describe geographic access to RT, to associate geographic access to RT with outcomes, and for RT planning. Most studies fell under multiple categories.CONCLUSIONAlthough this field is relative nascent, there is a wide array of functions possible through GIS for RT planning, including identifying high-risk populations, improving access in high-need areas, and providing valuable information for future resource allocation. GIS should be incorporated in future studies, especially set in low- and middle-income countries, which evaluate access to RT.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.22.00106 |
| spellingShingle | Varsha Hande Jessica Chan Alfredo Polo Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review JCO Global Oncology |
| title | Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | value of geographical information systems in analyzing geographic accessibility to inform radiotherapy planning a systematic review |
| url | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.22.00106 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT varshahande valueofgeographicalinformationsystemsinanalyzinggeographicaccessibilitytoinformradiotherapyplanningasystematicreview AT jessicachan valueofgeographicalinformationsystemsinanalyzinggeographicaccessibilitytoinformradiotherapyplanningasystematicreview AT alfredopolo valueofgeographicalinformationsystemsinanalyzinggeographicaccessibilitytoinformradiotherapyplanningasystematicreview |