Cancer Death Rates by Congressional District in the U.S.
Author Information
Author(s): Hao Yongping, Ward Elizabeth M, Jemal Ahmedin, Pickle Linda W, Thun Michael J
Primary Institution: American Cancer Society
Hypothesis
Can cancer death rates be accurately estimated by congressional district using county-level data?
Conclusion
The study developed a method to generate cancer death rates by congressional district, which can aid in cancer control advocacy.
Supporting Evidence
- Cancer death rates varied widely across congressional districts.
- The method can be applied to other geographic analyses.
- Geographic variations in cancer death rates may reflect differences in risk factors.
Takeaway
This study shows how cancer death rates can be looked at by congressional district instead of just by state or county, helping lawmakers understand cancer issues better.
Methodology
The study used a dasymetric method to estimate cancer death rates by assigning county-level data to census blocks and aggregating them by congressional district.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the assumption that cancer death rates are homogeneously distributed across census blocks.
Limitations
The method relies on county-level data, which may not capture local variations accurately.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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