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Calculating distances in Alberta

Description

A number of health issues involve distance calculations. One example is in the determination of access standards for particular levels of health services. This report provides essential... More ≫

Description

A number of health issues involve distance calculations. One example is in the determination of access standards for particular levels of health services. This report provides essential information on alternative methods that can be used and highlights recommended methods relevant to health settings in Alberta. It concludes with a warning about the use of crow-flies distances for health access calculations. The report is part of a family of reports that illustrates and documents the geographic methods required to properly analyze health data in Alberta.

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Using the Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW) lookup file to aggregate data to different geographic boundaries

Description

Analysis of health data usually implies the use of a set of geographic boundaries. However, inconsistent sizes of mapping units create challenges for spatial research. Most studies use... More ≫

Description

Analysis of health data usually implies the use of a set of geographic boundaries. However, inconsistent sizes of mapping units create challenges for spatial research. Most studies use administrative boundaries, such as census divisions, census subdivisions, counties, and health regions. These boundaries may change over time and are may be inconsistent in size or shape. Alternative boundaries are numerous and their potential use is described in this document. This report documents the methodologies used to aggregate health, population, survey and other relevant data to different reporting boundaries. In Alberta, most of the health and population data is collected at the postal code level. Alberta Health and Wellness has created lookup files that allow data analysis to several geographic boundaries. The report is part of a family of reports that illustrates and documents the geographic methods required to properly analyze health data in Alberta.

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A rate mapping template for Alberta regional health authorities

Description

This report documents the mapping template created within Alberta Health and Wellness to properly map health information. The template described allows the user to create consistent maps without... More ≫

Description

This report documents the mapping template created within Alberta Health and Wellness to properly map health information. The template described allows the user to create consistent maps without the need to learn Geographic Information System (GIS) tools or other tools. The report is part of a family of reports that illustrates and documents the geographic methods required to properly analyze health data in Alberta.

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Calculating small area analysis : definition of sub-regional geographic units in Alberta

Description

This report describes a project undertaken as a step towards a better understanding of the geographic differences in health and health determinants in Alberta. It describes the development of... More ≫

Description

This report describes a project undertaken as a step towards a better understanding of the geographic differences in health and health determinants in Alberta. It describes the development of geographical regions smaller than the Health Region but larger than Enumeration Areas suitable for small area analysis in Alberta. The report is part of a family of reports that illustrates and documents the geographic methods required to properly analyze health data in Alberta.

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Calculating demographic and epidemiological quantities in Alberta by geo-political areas

Description

Most health statistics have a geospatial component. In order for health measures developed or used by different organizations to be valid and comparable, the measures should reference the same... More ≫

Description

Most health statistics have a geospatial component. In order for health measures developed or used by different organizations to be valid and comparable, the measures should reference the same geopolitical areas. This report outlines the methodologies employed by Alberta Health and Wellness in calculations of health measures within geopolitical boundaries, and compares these to methods used by Statistics Canada and other agencies. It includes an analysis of the differences in methodologies and the differences in health measures that these different agencies have created, and presents recommendations for changes to the manner in which health measures are calculated in the future. The report is part of a family of reports that illustrates and documents the geographic methods required to properly analyze health data in Alberta.

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Geographic and temporal variations of selected respiratory diseases in Strathcona County and Fort Saskatchewan

Description

This report provides the findings of a descriptive epidemiologic study of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema in Strathcona County. Comparisons of rates of these selected respiratory diseases are... More ≫

Description

This report provides the findings of a descriptive epidemiologic study of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema in Strathcona County. Comparisons of rates of these selected respiratory diseases are made for Ft. Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Ft. McMurray and the province. The study was undertaken at the request of Strathcona County Council, due to a concern that respiratory diseases, especially asthma, may be higher in their community. A committee comprised of the medical officers of health and health inspectors from Lakeland and Edmonton Regional Health Authorities, and the Provincial Health Officers and the Director of the Surveillance Branch, Alberta Health have participated in the review of the findings. This report represents the first in a series of population health assessment and monitoring activities conducted by the Surveillance Branch, Alberta Health, in collaboration with Regional Health Authorities.

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