Abstract

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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