A pilot study using geospatial analysis to identify hot-spot of populations utilizing services at university based counseling centers. Issue 5 (22nd June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Patel, Rahul S.; Walker, Tanesha; Weber, Zachary T.; Kelley, Sarah D.; Hansen, Ryan
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 70:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 1280
• Page End: 1285
• Publication Date: 2022-06-22
• Subjects: College health outreach and prevention -- college health utilization -- college mental health geospatial analysis -- college mental health outreach and prevention -- college mental health utilization; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1798970
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Our pilot study tests whether university counseling centers (UCC) can apply the concept of cluster analysis, and geospatial analysis to identify clusters of "hot spots". Participants: Study participants were university students who received services from a large mid-western UCC between August 2015 and July 2016. The study was approved by the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB). Data collected include demographics, address, educational level and declared major. Methods: Data analysis, conducted using SYSTAT 13.1, IBM SPSS Statistics, ArcGIS Desktop and 10.2, ArcOnline, Microsoft excel to clean and analyze demographic data. Analysis included optimized cluster analysis with a p -value < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: 927 participants, average age was 21.6. We identified "hotspots" using cluster analysis based on age, address, and country of origin. Conclusions: Our study shows that UCCs can apply cluster analysis, and geospatial analysis to identify clusters of "hot spots" to target risk populations.