Date of Award
6-12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Mathematics, MS
First Advisor
Hao Yang Teng
Committee Members
Jason Causey; Sudeepa Bhattacharyya; Xiao Huang
Call Number
ISBN 9798280760516
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and preventable cancers, yet significant disparities in screening, incidence, and late-stage diagnosis persist across different geographic and socioeconomic contexts. This thesis presents a spatial modeling framework for identifying multidimensional risk factors associated with CRC outcomes across various geographic scales. Using county- and census-tract-level data from national and state sources, the study integrates demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, built environment, and behavioral predictors to analyze geographic variability in CRC risk factors. Advanced spatial modeling techniques, including Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Geographically Weighted Random Forest (GW-RF), are employed to capture spatial heterogeneity in these relationships. The results highlight distinct geographic clusters of high and low CRC burden and underscore the importance of incorporating spatially explicit methods to identify localized risk factors. Findings from this study can inform targeted public health interventions and policy strategies aimed at reducing disparities and improving CRC prevention and early detection efforts.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Berryhill, Johnna K., "A Spatial Modeling Framework for Identifying Multidimensional Risk Factors of Colorectal Cancer" (2025). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1049.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1049
