Moss Margaret P, Schell Matthew C, Goins R Turner
University of Minnesota, School of Nursing, 308 Harvard Street, 6-138 Weaver-Densford Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Int J Health Geogr. 2006 Sep 1;5:37. doi: 10.1186/1476-072X-5-37.
Geographical information systems (GIS) have been used mainly in understanding infectious diseases and environmental threats in health research. Here, GIS was used to examine patterns of functional disability as one impact of chronic disease in American Indians and Alaska Natives. The study purpose was to create the first national mapping of functional disability for AIANs using the 2000 U.S. Census.
American Indians and Alaska Natives over age 65 reported disability at a rate of 57.6% versus 41.9% for all people over 65 (P < or = 0.0001). Regional differences in levels and type of disability were evident.
Maps help visualize those who might otherwise be 'lost' from the data. The significance of this study is that gerontologic programs and policies are data-driven, yet there is a lack of reliable national level data from US health systems on functional disability among American Indians and Alaska Natives. One study limitation was that Census questions regarding disability differed from traditional measures of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. An immediate policy recommendation would be to incorporate standard activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living language into future Census for a comprehensive, linked database for the future.
地理信息系统（GIS）主要用于健康研究中理解传染病和环境威胁。在此，GIS被用于研究功能残疾模式，作为美国印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民慢性病的一种影响。研究目的是利用2000年美国人口普查创建首份美国印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民功能残疾的全国地图。
65岁以上的美国印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民报告残疾率为57.6%，而所有65岁以上人群的残疾率为41.9%（P≤0.0001）。残疾水平和类型的地区差异明显。
地图有助于直观呈现那些可能会从数据中“丢失”的人群。本研究的意义在于老年学项目和政策是数据驱动的，但美国卫生系统缺乏关于美国印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民功能残疾的可靠国家级数据。研究的一个局限性是人口普查中关于残疾的问题与日常生活活动和工具性日常生活活动的传统测量方法不同。一项直接的政策建议是在未来的人口普查中纳入日常生活活动和工具性日常生活活动的标准表述，以建立一个全面的、相互关联的未来数据库。
