Science Journal of Public Health

Special Issue

Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research, During Times of Global Socio-Economic Instability

  • Submission Deadline: 30 March 2015
  • Status: Submission Closed
  • Lead Guest Editor: Georgia Pistolla
About This Special Issue
Innovative methodologies and inter-sector collaboration are the key points of all discussion forums for health research, well-being and healthy ageing, globally. Such methodologies are fluent in the fields of mathematics and spatial analysis. They are already recognized as an integral ingredient in health research in order to develop effective policies for Public health and health care practice. Spatial analysis allows us to study all types of phenomena as closer as to their real environment based on their three dimensions (x;y coordinates and time). Its theoretical framework is based on the multi-criteria thinking of at least four factors: person, place, time, phenomenon/incidence (disease or other outcomes).

This special issue focuses on the use of mathematics and spatio-temporal analysis in research in epidemiology, Public health, Primary health care and health care practice. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or other mathematical models and algorithms are included in this theme, if managing the spatial and temporal dynamics of diseases or health-related outcomes. It aims to present a range of applications, while special focus would be given on epidemiological studies on positive health outcomes (well-being, “good” health, healthy ageing, prevention of chronic diseases), public health research for policy development and community-based interventions, innovative clinical research with an impact on personalized care.
Lead Guest Editor
  • Georgia Pistolla

    Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

Guest Editors
  • Dimitra Sifaki-Pistolla

    Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Iraklion, Greece

Published Articles
  • Monitoring Fatal Road Accidents, Using Spatio-Temporal Statistics and GIS Modeling

    Melidoniotis Evangelos , Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra , Chatzea Vasiliki-Eirini , Tzanakis Nikolaos

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 35-41
    Received: 26 March 2015
    Accepted: 26 March 2015
    Published: 11 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.17
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    Abstract: Background: Purpose of this study is to monitor the fatal road accidents (FRA) in the Region of Crete, Greece and capture their dynamics in time and space using the Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. It aims to record the FRA spatially from 2001 to 2012, predict their spatio-temporal variance, estimate the number of FRA that should b... Show More
  • Spatial Models Applied on Modern Epidemiological Research: An Example of Malignant Neoplasms of Larynx, Trachea, Bronchus and Lung

    Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra , Pistolla Georgia

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 30-34
    Received: 26 March 2015
    Accepted: 26 March 2015
    Published: 11 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.16
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    Abstract: Background: The effectiveness of the Greek Health policies is highly doubted, especially in times of economic crisis. We selected a disease associated with one of the highest causes of mortality in Greece to explore this phenomenon. Methods: The number of deaths due to malignant neoplasms of larynx, trachea, bronchus and lung in 2001 and 2006 was u... Show More
  • Geo-Epidemiology of Tobacco Smoking in Europe and the impact of Twelve Tobacco Control Measures

    Pistolla Georgia , Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 24-29
    Received: 28 March 2015
    Accepted: 30 March 2015
    Published: 11 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.15
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    Abstract: Background: Tobacco use is one of the major causes of premature death worldwide. The purpose of the present study is to examine which of the known evidence-based control measures actually work, and indentify their preventive or risky effects, in order to determine the various risk areas for any daily tobacco use in Europe. This is a cross-sectional... Show More
  • World Health Spatiotemporal Random Variables in Strong Correlation with Mathematical Deterministic Conditions

    Persefoni Kritikou , Mihael Maniadhakis

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 18-23
    Received: 8 February 2015
    Accepted: 8 February 2015
    Published: 11 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.14
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    Abstract: The present report describes sufficiently documented results of a research undertaken in an effort to detect possible effects of the 21st century’s socioeconomic transformation on Health Care Services. Before embarking on such research, presuppositions ought to be examined using the vastly developed methods and techniques in mathematical – statisti... Show More
  • Developing Integrated Mobile Applications to Provide Culturally Responsive Support for Minnesota African Diaspora and West African Families Impacted by Ebola Virus Disease

    Remi Douah , Anuj Kacker

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 10-17
    Received: 30 March 2015
    Accepted: 31 March 2015
    Published: 10 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.13
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    Abstract: In recent years, Minnesota has witnessed a huge influx of immigrants from Africa. According to the 2008 Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy report, Minnesota has become the home of largest population of Somalian in the United States, and the home of the ninth largest population of African immigrants in America. It is estimated that between ... Show More
  • Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research: How

    Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra , Pistolla Georgia

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 4-9
    Received: 27 March 2015
    Accepted: 27 March 2015
    Published: 10 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.12
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    Abstract: Background: There is an open discussion on how the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or mathematical models could offer a new perspective on health research and positive health outcomes. The present study is a literature review that aims to explore and identify several GIS and IT applications (spatial or mathematical oriented) in health resear... Show More
  • Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research: Why

    Pistolla Georgia , Mihael Maniadhakis , Sifaki-Pistolla Dimitra

    Issue: Volume 3, Issue 3-1, May 2015
    Pages: 1-3
    Received: 27 March 2015
    Accepted: 27 March 2015
    Published: 10 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030301.11
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    Abstract: The present report is a short introduction of the special issue entitled “Spatial Analysis and Mathematics in Health Research, during Times of Global Socio-Economic Instability”. It aims to discuss several issues regarding the methodologies and analytics in health research as well as to raise questions and give “food for thought” about the way rese... Show More