A multi-stage approach to maximizing geocoding success in a large population-based cohort study through automated and interactive processes

Geospatial Health

卷:6

Lisa B. Signorello¹  Sarah S. Cohen²  William J. Blot²  Elizabeth L. Cope²  Michael T. Mumma²  Jennifer S. Sonderman² 

[1] Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University, and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN;

[2] International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD;

关键词: epidemiologic methods, geographical information systems, prospective studies, residence characteristics, United States of America.;   

DOI  :  10.4081/gh.2012.145

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

To enable spatial analyses within a large, prospective cohort study of nearly 86,000 adults enrolled in a 12-state area in the southeastern United States of America from 2002-2009, a multi-stage geocoding protocol was developed to efficiently maximize the proportion of participants assigned an address level geographic coordinate. Addresses were parsed, cleaned and standardized before applying a combination of automated and interactive geocoding tools. Our full protocol increased the non-Post Office (PO) Box match rate from 74.5% to 97.6%. Overall, we geocoded 99.96% of participant addresses, with only 5.2% at the ZIP code centroid level (2.8% PO Box and 2.3% non-PO Box addresses). One key to reducing the need for interactive geocoding was the use of multiple base maps. Still, addresses in areas with population density 920 persons/km2 (odds ratio (OR) = 5.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.23, 6.49), as were addresses collected from participants during in-person interviews compared with mailed questionnaires (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.59, 2.11). This study demonstrates that population density and address ascertainment method can influence automated geocoding results and that high success in address level geocoding is achievable for large-scale studies covering wide geographical areas.

【 授权许可】

Unknown