APPLICATION OF THE WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH TRACKING NETWORK TO CHILDHOOD CANCERS

Abstract

ISEE-314 Abstract: The possible relationships between environmental factors and childhood diseases is a significant public concern. One specific area of interest is childhood cancers and how they may be linked to various environmental exposures. Approximately 250 cases of childhood cancer are reported to the Wisconsin Cancer Registry each year. As yet, it has been difficult to conduct systematic and comprehensive analyses linking these cases with probable exposures. Wisconsin is utilizing its Public Health Tracking Network (PHIN) to address this issue. The PHIN integrates the Health Alert Network (HAN) and the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) and serves as the platform for all Wisconsin public health surveillance. The program area module (PAM) for childhood cancer surveillance includes the following functions: rapid case ascertainment via automated exchange of cancer case data between the public health division and hospitals; supplemental web data entry for environmental exposure confirmation and hypothesis testing; automated data analysis, visualization, and exposure-outcome record linkage; personnel directories for controlling access to sensitive surveillance information; information dissemination and alerting; and IT security. This functionality is divided into two utilization tracks. Track 1 is for hypothesis generation such that cancer cases are messaged and populate the integrated data repository (IDR). The environmental data are merged and visualized using GIS tools for ecologic exposure risk assessment. Track 2 is for hypothesis testing. Follow-back interviews are completed for exposure, parental employment, and residential histories. The PAM framework and these functions allow for the near real-time state-level assessment of linkages for childhood cancer cases and environmental factors. This PAM provides the basis for a modern, comprehensive system to assess potential environmental cancer etiology.