Investigating variations in the use of GIS within the NHS

Gary Higgs (University of Glamorgan) Myles Gould & Darren Smith (University of Leeds)

ESRC funded research projectWith support for dissemination from the Association of Geographical

Information, Health Special Interest Group

Structure

Background & Rationale Aims & Objectives Dissemination: Outcomes Research Design Postal Questionnaire

your initial feedback

Background ESRC funded: March 2001- Feb. 2002 Investigate relevance of GIS to the

health care sector GIS as integrated systems for

managing, querying, analysing & displaying geographically referenced health data

Discrepancy between use ‘within’ NHS and ‘outside’ in academia

Health based GIS applications

Background 3 overarching research questions:

1. What are the current (potential) uses of GIS within UK primary & secondary health care sectors?

2. What are the barriers / opportunities towards greater implementation of GIS within NHS?

3. What contribution can GIS make to ‘new’ NHS policy agendas?

Rationale (1) Research is timely

No specific mention of GIS in recent policy documents (e.g. The New NHS, Our Healthier Nation, Information for Health) despite significant investment during 1990s

There is an urgent need to: Examine the contention that the potential of

GIS in the NHS has not been fully realised Undertake a comprehensive & vigorous

examination of GIS use Update findings of earlier studies of GIS

utilisation

Rationale (2) There is an urgent need to:

Understand whether GIS implementation varies in different NHS contexts / organisations

Enhance insights into C&IT / management practices

Understand barriers & encourage wider implementation

Consider new technological developments (e.g. NHSnet / WWW)

Aims (1) To investigate the implications of recent NHS

changes on the use of geographically referenced data & GIS technology

To survey levels & variations in the use of GIS within the primary & secondary health care sectors

To build & extend on a previous cross sectional survey of GIS use by health authorities (and beyond)

To review / survey types of GIS applications being used in the light of recent changes in the nature & structure of UK primary & secondary health care

Studies that have used GIS

Aims (2) To understand reasons for variations in the use

& wider implementation of GIS To examine the nature & extent of intra- / inter-

data exchange within the NHS To consider the potential of GIS in addressing

a number of key policy tasks To assess the potential uses of other NHS

C&IT developments & initiatives for sharing health information

Objectives

The provision of greater knowledge & understanding of the reasons for variations in the use of GIS within the NHS

Make preliminary recommendations for increasing GIS awareness within the NHS

Dissemination Association of Geographical Information,

Health Special Interest Group is supporting dissemination

Wide & diverse dissemination plan Workshop: Project results & best practice

examples AGI report & web-based briefing papers Conference papers & journal articles

Audience twofold NHS personnel Academics: help them target their interests

Research Design (1) Multi-method approach Systematic & extensive bibliographic search Extensive cross-sectional survey

Postal questionnaire using Binley’s as ‘sample’ frame Health Authorities (England, Wales) and Primary Care

Groups (England)/Trusts, Acute/Community Trusts (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and others

Attempt full enumeration Follow-up non-responses Scheduled for June No ethical issues

Research Design (2) Intensive semi-structured interviews

With key informants Sampling will be purposive, informed by earlier research activities Follow up key issues emerging from questionnaire Thick description Scheduled for September/December

Case studies Systematic review of HA, Trust & PCG reports, policy documents,

community atlases & occasional papers

Workshop with survey/interview respondents Project results ‘Best practice’ case studies Views of participants

Plan of investigation Now

The Questionnaire

Draft for comment only at this stage! 7 key sections

Current GIS use Current GIS applications & future plansHow and why is GIS usedData issues: barriers/opportunities GIS support/training needsPost-survey research activities & dissemination

Intensive interviews: anticipated themes