1. 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 project With support for dissemination from the Association of Geographical Information, Health Special Interest Group

2. Structure n Background & Rationale n Aims & Objectives n Dissemination: Outcomes n Research Design n Postal Questionnaire  your initial feedback

3. Background n ESRC funded: March 2001- Feb. 2002 n Investigate relevance of GIS to the health care sector n GIS as integrated systems for managing, querying, analysing & displaying geographically referenced health data n Discrepancy between use ‘within’ NHS and ‘outside’ in academia

4. Health based GIS applications

5. Background n 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?

6. Rationale (1) n 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

7. Rationale (2) n 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)

8. Aims (1) n To investigate the implications of recent NHS changes on the use of geographically referenced data & GIS technology n To survey levels & variations in the use of GIS within the primary & secondary health care sectors n To build & extend on a previous cross sectional survey of GIS use by health authorities (and beyond) n 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

9. Studies that have used GIS

10. Aims (2) n To understand reasons for variations in the use & wider implementation of GIS n To examine the nature & extent of intra- / inter- data exchange within the NHS n To consider the potential of GIS in addressing a number of key policy tasks n To assess the potential uses of other NHS C&IT developments & initiatives for sharing health information

11. Objectives n The provision of greater knowledge & understanding of the reasons for variations in the use of GIS within the NHS n Make preliminary recommendations for increasing GIS awareness within the NHS

12. Dissemination n Association of Geographical Information, Health Special Interest Group is supporting dissemination n Wide & diverse dissemination plan  Workshop: Project results & best practice examples  AGI report & web-based briefing papers  Conference papers & journal articles n Audience twofold  NHS personnel  Academics: help them target their interests

13. Research Design (1) n Multi-method approach n Systematic & extensive bibliographic search n 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

14. Research Design (2) n 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

15. Plan of investigation Now

16. The Questionnaire n Draft for comment only at this stage! n 7 key sections  Current GIS use  Current GIS applications & future plans  How and why is GIS used  Data issues: barriers/opportunities  GIS support/training needs  Post-survey research activities & dissemination

17. Intensive interviews: anticipated themes