[Evaluation of visiting nursing care using geographical information system (GIS) technology].
OBJECTIVE
Previous evaluation studies of the visiting nursing program explained an average change of the participants' health status, without considering socio-ecological characteristics and their impacts. However, these factors must affect individual health problems and lifestyles. For effective and appropriate community based programs, the Geographical Information System (GIS) can be utilized. GIS is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that happen on earth, and integrates statistical analysis with unique visualization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate visiting nursing care and to advocate the usefulness of planning and evaluating visiting nursing programs using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) with GIS technology.


METHODS
One hundred eighty-four elderly participants with cerebrovascular risk factors who lived in 13 areas of one community received visiting nursing care. The data analyzed characteristics of pre-post change and autocorrelation by ESDA using GIS technology.


RESULTS
Visiting nursing care showed an improvement in the participants' lifestyle habits, and family management ability and stress level, while the improvements were different depending on the regions. The change of family management ability and stress level correlated with neighborhoods (Morgan's I= 0.1841, 0.1675).


CONCLUSIONS
Community health providers need to consider the individual participant's health status as well as socio-ecological factors. Analysis using GIS technology will contribute to the effective monitoring, evaluation and design of a visiting nursing program.
Lee
Suk Jeong
SJ
College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. lsj1109@yahoo.co.kr
Park
Jeong Mo
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018672:Community Health Planning; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis