SEED: A novel web-based data visualization platform to visualize, communicate, and explore social, environmental, and equity drivers of health

Abstract

Multisector stakeholders, including, community-based organizations, health systems, researchers, policymakers, and commerce, increasingly seek to address health inequities that persist due to structural racism. They require accessible tools to visualize and quantify the prevalence of social drivers of health (SDOH) and correlate them with health to facilitate dialog and action. We developed and deployed a web-based data visualization platform to make health and SDOH data available to the community. We conducted interviews and focus groups among end users of the platform to establish needs and desired platform functionality. The platform displays curated SDOH and de-identified and aggregated local electronic health record data. The resulting Social, Environmental, and Equity Drivers (SEED) Health Atlas integrates SDOH data across multiple constructs, including socioeconomic status, environmental pollution, and built environment. Aggregated health prevalence data on multiple conditions can be visualized in interactive maps. Data can be visualized and downloaded without coding knowledge. Visualizations facilitate an understanding of community health priorities and local health inequities. SEED could facilitate future discussions on improving community health and health equity. SEED provides a promising tool that members of the community and researchers may use in their efforts to improve health equity.

Keywords

• Social determinants of health
• health equity
• community engagement
• electronic health records
• health disparities
• data visualization