Abstract
GIS Toolkit for Defining Access to Kidney Transplantation in California Track: Health and Human Services Author(s): Seth Wiafe, Kelly Leong, Godwin Aja, Sam Soret, Jim Banta We describe a geographic information system framework to examine patient access to kidney transplantation in California from 1999-2003. We developed an adaptive kernel estimation method to create smoothed maps from ZIP Code level hospital discharge data that reveals the spatial variation of organ recipient distributions. Smoothed maps were compared with patient clusters (i.e., areas exhibiting increased or decreased access to treatment) detected through statistical tests for spatial randomness. We implemented a multilevel analysis of these clusters using demographics and medical comorbidity to more accurately identify the unique contribution of race and other sociodemographic factors associated with kidney transplant disparities. Defining geographic variability and factors related to kidney transplantation access is an important first step in addressing health disparities. Seth Wiafe Loma Linda University School of Public Health 24951 North Circle Dr Loma Linda , CA 92350 US Phone: 909 558 7596 Fax: 909 558 0493 E-mail: swiafe@llu.edu Kelly Leong Loma Linda University 24951 North Circle Drive Loma Linda , CA 92350 US Phone: 909 558 7762 E-mail: kleong@llu.edu Godwin Aja Loma Linda University 24951 North Circle Drive Loma Linda , CA 92350 US Phone: 909 558 7596 E-mail: gaja@llu.edu Sam Soret Loma Linda University Environmental and Occupational Health 24951 North Circle Drive NH 1202 Loma Linda , CA 92350 US Phone: 909 558 8750 E-mail: ssoret@llu.edu Jim Banta Loma Linda University 24951 North Circle Drive Loma Linda , CA 92350 US Phone: 909 558 7753 E-mail: jbanta@llu.edu |
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