Abstract:
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.
