Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making
Research typically promotes two types of outcomes (inventions and discoveries), which induce a virtuous cycle: something suspected or desired (not previously demonstrated) may become known or feasible once a new tool or procedure is invented and, later, the use of this invention may discover new kno...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1492426/full |
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| author | S. D. Smith E. M. Geraghty A. L. Rivas F. O. Fasina F. O. Fasina M. Kosoy L. Malania A. L. Hoogesteijn J. M. Fair |
| author_facet | S. D. Smith E. M. Geraghty A. L. Rivas F. O. Fasina F. O. Fasina M. Kosoy L. Malania A. L. Hoogesteijn J. M. Fair |
| author_sort | S. D. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research typically promotes two types of outcomes (inventions and discoveries), which induce a virtuous cycle: something suspected or desired (not previously demonstrated) may become known or feasible once a new tool or procedure is invented and, later, the use of this invention may discover new knowledge. Research also promotes the opposite sequence—from new knowledge to new inventions. This bidirectional process is observed in geo-referenced epidemiology—a field that relates to but may also differ from spatial epidemiology. Geo-epidemiology encompasses several theories and technologies that promote inter/transdisciplinary knowledge integration, education, and research in population health. Based on visual examples derived from geo-referenced studies on epidemics and epizootics, this report demonstrates that this field may extract more (geographically related) information than simple spatial analyses, which then supports more effective and/or less costly interventions. Actual (not simulated) bio-geo-temporal interactions (never captured before the emergence of technologies that analyze geo-referenced data, such as geographical information systems) can now address research questions that relate to several fields, such as Network Theory. Thus, a new opportunity arises before us, which exceeds research: it also demands knowledge integration across disciplines as well as novel educational programs which, to be biomedically and socially justified, should demonstrate cost-effectiveness. Grounded on many bio-temporal-georeferenced examples, this report reviews the literature that supports this hypothesis: novel educational programs that focus on geo-referenced epidemic data may help generate cost-effective policies that prevent or control disease dissemination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-724ab87bbc104d779bbf6666e16853aa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-724ab87bbc104d779bbf6666e16853aa2025-08-20T02:58:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-12-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14924261492426Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-makingS. D. Smith0E. M. Geraghty1A. L. Rivas2F. O. Fasina3F. O. Fasina4M. Kosoy5L. Malania6A. L. Hoogesteijn7J. M. Fair8Geospatial Research Services, Ithaca, NY, United StatesEsri, Redlands, CA, United StatesCenter for Global Health, Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, ItalyKB One Health LLC, Fort Collins, CO, United StatesNational Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, GeorgiaDepartment of Human Ecology, CINVESTAV, Merida, Yucatan, MexicoBiosecurity, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United StatesResearch typically promotes two types of outcomes (inventions and discoveries), which induce a virtuous cycle: something suspected or desired (not previously demonstrated) may become known or feasible once a new tool or procedure is invented and, later, the use of this invention may discover new knowledge. Research also promotes the opposite sequence—from new knowledge to new inventions. This bidirectional process is observed in geo-referenced epidemiology—a field that relates to but may also differ from spatial epidemiology. Geo-epidemiology encompasses several theories and technologies that promote inter/transdisciplinary knowledge integration, education, and research in population health. Based on visual examples derived from geo-referenced studies on epidemics and epizootics, this report demonstrates that this field may extract more (geographically related) information than simple spatial analyses, which then supports more effective and/or less costly interventions. Actual (not simulated) bio-geo-temporal interactions (never captured before the emergence of technologies that analyze geo-referenced data, such as geographical information systems) can now address research questions that relate to several fields, such as Network Theory. Thus, a new opportunity arises before us, which exceeds research: it also demands knowledge integration across disciplines as well as novel educational programs which, to be biomedically and socially justified, should demonstrate cost-effectiveness. Grounded on many bio-temporal-georeferenced examples, this report reviews the literature that supports this hypothesis: novel educational programs that focus on geo-referenced epidemic data may help generate cost-effective policies that prevent or control disease dissemination.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1492426/fullgeo-epidemiologymultidimensional analysisemergencegeographyepidemics |
| spellingShingle | S. D. Smith E. M. Geraghty A. L. Rivas F. O. Fasina F. O. Fasina M. Kosoy L. Malania A. L. Hoogesteijn J. M. Fair Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making Frontiers in Public Health geo-epidemiology multidimensional analysis emergence geography epidemics |
| title | Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making |
| title_full | Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making |
| title_fullStr | Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making |
| title_short | Multidimensional perspectives of geo-epidemiology: from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost–benefit oriented decision-making |
| title_sort | multidimensional perspectives of geo epidemiology from interdisciplinary learning and research to cost benefit oriented decision making |
| topic | geo-epidemiology multidimensional analysis emergence geography epidemics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1492426/full |
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