Lessons from ecological and spatial studies in relation to occupational lung disease.
OBJECTIVE
The majority of epidemiological research into occupational lung disease has been advanced by the study of individuals, typically in a workplace setting. This review examines how recent advances in ecological and spatial study methodology and in the information held in routine databases could be used to enhance occupational health studies.


RESULTS
Ecological studies often use routinely collected data, and this is becoming much more extensive and better validated with potential for increasing use in occupational health research. Improvements in computing power and statistical and geographical information systems methodology have led to more sophisticated mapping techniques and greater use of spatial information when investigating lung diseases usually related to occupational exposures. Ecological study methodology is experiencing a radical overhaul with supplementation of group-level data with information from small-scale individual-level studies. This hybrid design can be used to reduce bias and increase power and is directly applicable to the enhancement of aggregate information from job exposure matrices.


CONCLUSIONS
Studies of occupational lung disease can be enhanced by incorporating methodological innovations from ecological and spatial studies.
Hansell
Anna L
AL
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK. a.hansell@imperial.ac.uk
Best
Nicky G
NG
Rushton
Lesley
L
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004463:Ecology; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012106:Research
D000393:Air Pollutants