title: Statistical Validation of a Web-Based GIS Application and Its Applicability to Cardiovascular-Related Studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is abundant evidence that neighborhood characteristics are significantly linked to the health of the inhabitants of a given space within a given time frame. This study is to statistically validate a web-based GIS application designed to support cardiovascular-related research developed by the NIH funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Translational Research Network (RTRN) Data Coordinating Center (DCC) and discuss its applicability to cardiovascular studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Geo-referencing, geocoding and geospatial analyses were conducted for 500 randomly selected home addresses in a U.S. southeastern Metropolitan area. The correlation coefficient, factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha (α) were estimated to quantify measures of the internal consistency, reliability and construct/criterion/discriminant validity of the cardiovascular-related geospatial variables (walk score, number of hospitals, fast food restaurants, parks and sidewalks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's α for CVD GEOSPATIAL variables was 95.5%, implying successful internal consistency. Walk scores were significantly correlated with number of hospitals (r = 0.715; p < 0.0001), fast food restaurants (r = 0.729; p < 0.0001), parks (r = 0.773; p < 0.0001) and sidewalks (r = 0.648; p < 0.0001) within a mile from homes. It was also significantly associated with diversity index (r = 0.138, p = 0.0023), median household incomes (r = -0.181; p < 0.0001), and owner occupied rates (r = -0.440; p < 0.0001). However, its non-significant correlation was found with median age, vulnerability, unemployment rate, labor force, and population growth rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrates that geospatial data generated by the web-based application were internally consistent and demonstrated satisfactory validity. Therefore, the GIS application may be useful to apply to cardiovascular-related studies aimed to investigate potential impact of geospatial factors on diseases and/or the long-term effect of clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Research Centers in Minority Institutions Translational Research Network Data Coordinating Center, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS 39204, USA. jae.e.lee@jsums.edu.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive Jackson Medical Mall, Suite 301, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. jae.e.lee@jsums.edu.
authors.forename: Jae Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Research Centers in Minority Institutions Translational Research Network Data Coordinating Center, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS 39204, USA. Jung.h.lee@jsums.edu.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive Jackson Medical Mall, Suite 301, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. Jung.h.lee@jsums.edu.
authors.forename: Jung Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Research Centers in Minority Institutions Translational Research Network Data Coordinating Center, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS 39204, USA. mohamad.malouhi@rtrn.net.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malouhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004779:Environment Design; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068316:Parks, Recreational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D015144:Southeastern United States; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Statistical validation; accessibility to healthcare facilities; density of fast-food restaurant; social determinants of cardiovascular disease; walkability; web-based GIS application