Last month, HDC CEO Dwayne Spradlin served as a keynote at the “Data! Fostering Health Innovation in Kentucky and Ohio” conference, a day of fast-moving presentations that showcased novel and effective uses of health data in the Kentucky–Ohio region. Also in attendance was Interact for Health, who announced winners from their Health Infographics Competition. Read on to learn about the creative, informative inforgraphics that won the competition and the important health issues they address.
Infographics focusing on smoke-free communities, health status in Kentucky and dental health in Kentucky took the top prizes in a contest sponsored by Interact for Health and The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Winners were announced Nov. 19 at the Data! Fostering Health Innovation in Kentucky and Ohio conference, also sponsored by the two organizations. Entries were required to use data collected or sponsored by one or both organizations, and submissions were required to focus on health issues affecting Kentucky, Ohio or regions within either state. Entrants were strongly encouraged to focus on the areas of interest of one or both organizations.
Pat Smith, a community planner and evaluation researcher with REACH Evaluation, took first place with “Smoke Free Communities for a Smoke Free Commonwealth.” It used data from the 2012 Kentucky Health Issues Poll and journal articles to explain the need for and potential impact of smoke-free laws in Kentucky. The infographic showed that, as exposure to secondhand smoke decreases, asthma exacerbations decline, infant and birth outcomes improve, heart attacks are reduced, worker health is protected and smokers are more likely to quit.
Only 34 percent of Kentuckians are protected by comprehensive smoke-free laws or regulations, even though 59 percent of Kentuckians favored a ban in 2012, an increase over 2010 in every region in the state. The infographic included a call to action – following up with legislators to encourage them to pass a smoke-free law.
“Terrific concept for telling a story and actionable next steps,” one reviewer said. “The use of icons is very good in this graphic,” another said. Smith also presented at the conference on an effort to map Louisville’s urban trees.
Toby Sallee, a junior research associate with the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati, used information from the 2012 Kentucky Health Issues Poll about the demographics of health status in her “Health in Kentucky” infographic, which won second place. The infographic showed that overall, 41 percent of Kentuckians report excellent or very good health. However, almost three times more adults with a college degree or higher are likely to report having excellent or good health than those with less than a high school education. Gender also makes a difference. Women (11 percent) report excellent health at a lower rate than men (18 percent), and are also more likely to report fair or poor health (35 percent) than men (26 percent).
The infographic also showed that as age increases, the percentage of people reporting excellent health decreases. Poverty also plays a substantial role in reported health status, with 48 percent of adults living below 100 percent poverty reporting fair or poor health, compared with only 16 percent of adults living above 200 percent poverty.
“I like the clean and easy-to-understand design; colors are very attractive,” said one reviewer. Another said, “From top to bottom, this graphic tells very well the story that different demographic groups have different health statuses.”
Shay Hammond, a senior at Morehead State University, used information from the 2012 Kentucky Health Issues Poll , Kentucky Health Facts and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to look at dental health in Kentucky in “Make Your Smile Last a While,” the student winner. The infographic reported that 37 percent of Kentucky adults are missing six or more teeth because of gum disease or tooth decay, caused primarily by tobacco use and a poor diet. More than 3 in 4 Kentucky adults do not consume at least five fruits and vegetables a day, and more than 1 in 4 smokes regularly. Another reason for poor dental health is lack of dental insurance. Half of Kentucky adults lack dental insurance, and half of those without insurance do not go to the dentist.
Other entries focused on health issues in Kentucky, healthy living, the ABCs of behavioral health and what insurance status says about health, among other topics.
First and second place winners were determined based on a combination of votes on Facebook, votes at the conference, and evaluation by expert reviewers. First place earned $500; second place won $250. The student entry won based on Facebook votes and earned $250.