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Wiens D, Smolik IA, MacKay D, Fowler-Woods A, Robinson DB, Barnabe C, El-Gabalawy HS, O'Neil LJ. Perceived Access to Healthcare of Indigenous Peoples in Canada With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Their First-Degree Relatives. J Rheumatol 2024; 51:654-662. [PMID: 38428959 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2023-1080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are complex and interrelated factors that lead to inequitable healthcare delivery in Canada. Many of the factors that underlie these inequities for Canada's geographically dispersed Indigenous peoples remain underexamined. METHODS A cohort of 831 First Nations (FN) individuals from urban and remote communities were recruited into a longitudinal study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk from 2005 to 2017. Data from each participant's initial enrollment visit were assessed using a survey that captured concerns with healthcare access. RESULTS We found that remote participants with RA reported poor access compared to remote first-degree relatives (FDRs; P < 0.001); this difference was not observed for urban participants with RA. We observed substantial differences based on sex; female participants perceived access to care to be more difficult than male participants in both urban and remote cohorts (P < 0.001). We also observed that male participants with RA reported poor access to care compared to male FDRs. Importantly, access to care in remote communities appeared to improve over the duration of the study (P = 0.01). In a logistic regression analysis, female sex, remote location, and older age were independent predictors of poor access to care. Predictors of poor access in participants with RA also included female sex, remote location, and older age. CONCLUSION FN peoples living in remote communities, particularly those with an established RA diagnosis, report more problems accessing health care. Sex-based inequities exist, with FN female individuals reporting greater difficulties in accessing appropriate health care, regardless of RA diagnosis. Addressing these sex-based inequities should be a high priority for improving healthcare delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Wiens
- D. Wiens, BSc, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
| | - Irene A Smolik
- I.A. Smolik, PhD, D.B. Robinson, MD, H.S. El-Gabalawy, MD, L.J. O'Neil, MD, MHSc, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
| | - Dylan MacKay
- D. MacKay, PhD, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
| | - Amanda Fowler-Woods
- A. Fowler-Woods, PhD, Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
| | - David B Robinson
- I.A. Smolik, PhD, D.B. Robinson, MD, H.S. El-Gabalawy, MD, L.J. O'Neil, MD, MHSc, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
| | - Cheryl Barnabe
- C. Barnabe, MD, MSc, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hani S El-Gabalawy
- I.A. Smolik, PhD, D.B. Robinson, MD, H.S. El-Gabalawy, MD, L.J. O'Neil, MD, MHSc, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
| | - Liam J O'Neil
- I.A. Smolik, PhD, D.B. Robinson, MD, H.S. El-Gabalawy, MD, L.J. O'Neil, MD, MHSc, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba;
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Buhler M, Shah T, Perry M, Tennant M, Kruger E, Milosavljevic S. Geographic accessibility to physiotherapy care in Aotearoa New Zealand. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2024; 49:100656. [PMID: 38876567 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2024.100656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Disparities in care access for health conditions where physiotherapy can play a major role are abetting health inequities. Spatial analyses can contribute to illuminating inequities in health yet the geographic accessibility to physiotherapy care across New Zealand has not been examined. This population-based study evaluated the accessibility of the New Zealand physiotherapy workforce relative to the population at a local scale. The locations of 5,582 physiotherapists were geocoded and integrated with 2018 Census data to generate 'accessibility scores' for each Statistical Area 2 using the newer 3-step floating catchment area method. For examining the spatial distribution and mapping, accessibility scores were categorized into seven levels, centered around 0.5 SD above and below the mean. New Zealand has an above-average physiotherapy-to-population ratio compared with other OECD countries; however, this workforce is maldistributed. This study identified areas (and locations) where geographic accessibility to physiotherapy care is relatively low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Buhler
- School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Tayyab Shah
- Canadian Hub for Applied and Social Research, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Dr Room 260, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5, Canada
| | - Meredith Perry
- School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, 325 Great King Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Marc Tennant
- The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Estie Kruger
- School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Stephan Milosavljevic
- School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Pl, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
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Ab Hamid J, Juni MH, Abdul Manaf R, Syed Ismail SN, Lim PY. Spatial Accessibility of Primary Care in the Dual Public-Private Health System in Rural Areas, Malaysia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3147. [PMID: 36833838 PMCID: PMC9959538 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Disparities in access to health services in rural areas represent a global health issue. Various external factors contribute to these disparities and each root requires specific remedial action to alleviate the issue. This study elucidates an approach to assessing the spatial accessibility of primary care, considering Malaysia's dual public-private system specifically in rural areas, and identifies its associated ecological factors. Spatial accessibility was calculated using the Enhance 2-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) method, modified as per local context. Data were secondary sourced from Population and Housing Census data and administrative datasets pertaining to health facilities and road network. The spatial pattern of the E2SFCA scores were depicted using Hot spot Analysis. Hierarchical multiple linear regression and geographical weight regression were performed to identify factors that affect E2SFCA scores. Hot spot areas revolved near the urban agglomeration, largely contributed by the private sector. Distance to urban areas, road density, population density dependency ratios and ethnic composition were among the associated factors. Accurate conceptualization and comprehensive assessment of accessibility are crucial for evidence-based decision making by the policymakers and health authorities in identifying areas that need attention for a more specific and localized planning and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jabrullah Ab Hamid
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Blok B2, Kompleks NIH, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Hanafiah Juni
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rosliza Abdul Manaf
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Poh Ying Lim
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
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Chen L, Chen T, Lan T, Chen C, Pan J. The Contributions of Population Distribution, Healthcare Resourcing, and Transportation Infrastructure to Spatial Accessibility of Health Care. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2023; 60:469580221146041. [PMID: 36629371 PMCID: PMC9837279 DOI: 10.1177/00469580221146041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Population demand, healthcare resourcing, and transportation linkage are considered as major determinants of spatial access to health care. Temporal changes of the 3 determinants would result in gain or loss of spatial access to health care. As a remarkable milestone achieved by Targeted Poverty Reduction Project launched in China, the significant improvements in spatial access to health care served as an ideal context for investigating the relative contributions of these 3 determinants to the changes in spatial access to health care in a rural county. A national level poverty-stricken county, Chishui county from Guizhou province, China, was chosen as our study area. The enhanced two-step floating catchment area model and the chain substitution method were employed for analysis. The relative contributions of the 3 determinants demonstrated variations with villages. The relative contributions of healthcare resourcing were positive in all villages as indicated by sharp increases in healthcare resources. Population changes and transportation infrastructure expansion had both negative and positive effects on spatial access to health care for different villages. Decisionmakers should take into account the duration of travel time spent between where people live, where transport hubs are located, and where healthcare services are delivered in the process of formulating policies toward rural healthcare planning. For villages with poorly-established infrastructure, the optimization of population distribution and healthcare resourcing should be considered as the priority. A stronger marginal effect would be induced by transportation infrastructure expansion with increased spatial accessibility. This study provides empirical evidences to inform healthcare planning in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting Chen
- Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | | | - Chu Chen
- Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jay Pan
- Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Jay Pan, HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Abstract
Purpose of Review Population aging is occurring worldwide, particularly in developed countries such as the United States (US). However, in the US, the population is aging more rapidly in rural areas than in urban areas. Healthy aging in rural areas presents unique challenges. Understanding and addressing those challenges is essential to ensure healthy aging and promote health equity across the lifespan and all geographies. This review aims to present findings and evaluate recent literature (2019-2022) on rural aging and highlight future directions and opportunities to improve population health in rural communities. Recent Findings The review first addresses several methodological considerations in measuring rurality, including the choice of measure used, the composition of each measure, and the limitations and drawbacks of each measure. Next, the review considers important concepts and context when describing what it means to be rural, including social, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions. The review assesses several key epidemiologic studies addressing rural-urban differences in population health among older adults. Health and social services in rural areas are then discussed in the context of healthy aging in rural areas. Racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, and informal caregivers are considered as special populations in the discussion of rural older adults and healthy aging. Lastly, the review provides evidence to support critical longitudinal, place-based research to promote healthy aging across the rural-urban divide is highlighted. Summary Policies, programs, and interventions to reduce rural-urban differences in population health and to promote health equity and healthy aging necessitate a context-specific approach. Considering the cultural context and root causes of rural-urban differences in population health and healthy aging is essential to support the real-world effectiveness of such programs, policies, and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A. Cohen
- Department of Health Studies, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI USA
| | - Mary L. Greaney
- Department of Health Studies, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI USA
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Lankila T, Laatikainen T, Wikström K, Linna M, Antikainen H. Association of travel time with mental health service use in primary health care according to contact type - a register-based study in Kainuu, Finland. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1458. [PMID: 36451184 PMCID: PMC9713086 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08815-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study aim was to analyse how mental health services are used in different parts of the Kainuu region in Finland and whether travel time to primary health care services is associated with the use of different contact types (in-person visits, remote contacts, home visits). METHODS The study population included adults who had used mental health services under primary health care (N = 7643) between 2015 and 2019. The travel times to the nearest health centre in a municipality were estimated as the population-weighted average drive time in postal code areas. The Kruskal-Wallis test and pairwise comparisons with Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc tests were used to assess the differences in mental health service use between health centre areas. A negative binomial regression was performed for the travel time categories using different contact types of mental health service use as outcomes. Models were adjusted for gender, age, number of mental health diseases and the nearest health centre in the municipality. RESULTS Distance was negatively associated with mental health service use in health centre in-person visits and in home visits. In the adjusted models, there were 36% fewer in-person visits and 83% fewer home visits in distances further than 30 min, and 67% fewer home visits in a travel time distance of 15-30 min compared with 15 min travel time distance from a health centre. In the adjusted model, in remote contacts, the incidence rate ratios increased with distance, but the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The present study revealed significant differences in mental health service use in relation to travel time and contact type, indicating possible problems in providing services to distant areas. Long travel times can pose a barrier, especially for home care and in-person visits. Remote contacts may partly compensate for the barrier effects of long travel times in mental health services. Especially with conditions that call for the continuation and regularity of care, enabling factors, such as travel time, may be important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Lankila
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O Box 8000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina Laatikainen
- grid.14758.3f0000 0001 1013 0499Department of Public Health and Social Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland ,grid.9668.10000 0001 0726 2490Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland ,Joint Municipal Authority for North Karelia Social and Health Services, (Siun Sote), Tikkamäentie 16, 80210 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Katja Wikström
- grid.14758.3f0000 0001 1013 0499Department of Public Health and Social Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland ,grid.9668.10000 0001 0726 2490Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Miika Linna
- grid.9668.10000 0001 0726 2490Department of Health and Social Care Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland ,grid.5373.20000000108389418Institute of Healthcare Engineering, management and architecture, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Harri Antikainen
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O Box 8000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
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Yeh HJ, Chen TA, Cheng HC, Chou YJ, Huang N. Long-Term Rehabilitation Utilization Pattern Among Stroke Patients Under the National Health Insurance Program. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2022; 101:129-134. [PMID: 33782272 DOI: 10.1097/phm.0000000000001747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to understand the frequency of patients receiving rehabilitation services at various periods after stroke and the possible medical barriers to receiving rehabilitation. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a nationally representative sample in Taiwan. A total of 14,600 stroke patients between 2005 and 2011 were included. Utilization of physical therapy or occupational therapy at different periods after stroke onset was the outcome variable. Individual and geographic characteristics were investigated to determine their effect on patients' probability of receiving rehabilitation. RESULTS More severe stroke or more comorbid diseases increased the odds of receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy; older age was associated with decreased odds. Notably, sex and stroke type influenced the odds of rehabilitation only in the early period. Copayment exemption lowered the odds of rehabilitation in the first 6 mos but increased the odds in later periods. Rural and suburban patients had significantly lower odds of receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy, as did patients living in areas with fewer rehabilitation therapists. CONCLUSIONS Besides personal factors, geographic factors such as urban-rural gaps and number of therapists were significantly associated with the utilization of post-stroke rehabilitation care. Furthermore, the influence of certain factors, such as sex, stroke type, and copayment exemption type, changed over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Jui Yeh
- From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan (H-JY, T-AC); Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-JY, Y-JC); Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); Program in Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, School of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (H-CC); and Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (NH)
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Sato J, Mitsutake N, Kitsuregawa M, Ishikawa T, Goda K. Predicting demand for long-term care using Japanese healthcare insurance claims data. Environ Health Prev Med 2022; 27:42. [PMID: 36310062 PMCID: PMC9640742 DOI: 10.1265/ehpm.22-00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Driven by the rapid aging of the population, Japan introduced public long-term care insurance to reinforce healthcare services for the elderly in 2000. Precisely predicting future demand for long-term care services helps authorities to plan and manage their healthcare resources and citizens to prevent their health status deterioration. METHODS This paper presents our novel study for developing an effective model to predict individual-level future long-term care demand using previous healthcare insurance claims data. We designed two discriminative models and subsequently trained and validated the models using three learning algorithms with medical and long-term care insurance claims and enrollment records, which were provided by 170 regional public insurers in Gifu, Japan. RESULTS The prediction model based on multiclass classification and gradient-boosting decision tree achieved practically high accuracy (weighted average of Precision, 0.872; Recall, 0.878; and F-measure, 0.873) for up to 12 months after the previous claims. The top important feature variables were indicators of current health status (e.g., current eligibility levels and age), risk factors to worsen future healthcare status (e.g., dementia), and preventive care services for improving future healthcare status (e.g., training and rehabilitation). CONCLUSIONS The intensive validation tests have indicated that the developed prediction method holds high robustness, even though it yields relatively lower accuracy for specific patient groups with health conditions that are hard to distinguish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Sato
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Masaru Kitsuregawa
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoki Ishikawa
- Institute for Health Economics and Policy, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Goda
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Cheng M, Tao L, Lian Y, Huang W. Measuring Spatial Accessibility of Urban Medical Facilities: A Case Study in Changning District of Shanghai in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9598. [PMID: 34574526 PMCID: PMC8471982 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Medical facilities help to ensure a higher quality of life and improve social welfare. The spatial accessibility determines the allocation fairness and efficiency of medical facilities. It also provides information about medical services that residents can share. Although critical, scholars often overlooked the level of medical facilities, the composition of integrated transportation networks, and the size of service catchment in the literature on accessibility. This study aims to fill this research gap by considering the integrated transportation network, population scale, travel impedance between medical facilities and residential areas, and the impact of medical facilities' levels on residents' medical choices. An improved potential model was constructed to analyze the spatial accessibility of medical facilities in Changning District of Shanghai, China. Interpolation analysis was conducted to reveal the spatial accessibility pattern. Cluster and outlier analysis and Getis-Ord Gi* analysis were applied for the cluster analysis. Results show that the spatial accessibility of medical facilities is quite different in different residential areas of Changning District, Shanghai. Among them, the spatial accessibility of medical facilities is relatively high in Hongqiao subdistrict, Xinjing Town, and part of Xinhua Road subdistrict. In addition, residents have overall better access to secondary hospitals than to primary and tertiary hospitals in the study area. This study provides a spatial decision support system for urban planners and policymakers regarding improving the accessibility of healthcare facilities. It extends the literature on spatial planning of public facilities and could facilitate scientific decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Tao
- School of Management, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai 200444, China; (M.C.); (Y.L.); (W.H.)
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Assessing Health Resources Equipped with Hemodynamic Rooms in the Portuguese-Spanish Borderland: Cross-Border Cooperation Strategies as a Possible Solution. ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/ijgi10080514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Portugal and Spain share one of the greatest European borderland areas. This fact has direct impacts on a large territory and consequently on the communities’ living in it. Still, even if the border areas represent an essential fraction of the territory, planning policies have not resulted in specific cooperation programs that could enable sharing general leisure and recreation assets and infrastructures and collaboration in critical domains—i.e., the case of the health sector. The present study aims to assess the territorial accessibility to the hemodynamic rooms by the potential population of the Spanish-Portuguese transition areas that may suffer an acute myocardial infarction. Contextually, this study employed a spatial interaction model based on the three-step floating catchment area method (method-3SFCA). By applying these methods, it was possible to develop a map of accessibility to health infrastructures equipped with hemodynamics rooms on both sides of the border that may answer the Spanish-Portuguese border populations’ needs. Besides, while granting valuable information for decision-makers regarding the need to develop new infrastructures to guarantee that even considering cross border cooperation, everyone gets access to a hemodynamics room within the critical intervention period.
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Burns EE, Mathias HM, Heisler C, Cui Y, Kits O, Veldhuyzen van Zanten S, Jones JL. Access to inflammatory bowel disease speciality care: the primary healthcare physician perspective. Fam Pract 2021; 38:416-424. [PMID: 33615344 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is little literature related to access to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care that incorporates the perspective of key system stakeholders, such as primary healthcare providers (PHCP), despite their clear and integral role in facilitating access. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify barriers to referring patients to speciality IBD care as perceived by referring PHCP. In particular, we sought to understand PHCP satisfaction with the current IBD specialist referral system, as well as indicators of geographic variance to access. METHODS A population-based survey was mailed out to currently practising PHCPs who have referred or who are currently referring patients to IBD speciality care in Nova Scotia (Canada). Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were performed. Qualitative comments were themed using framework analysis to identify key barriers. RESULTS The majority of PHCP (57%) were dissatisfied with the current referral process due to long patient wait times and perceived system inefficiency. Key areas of geographic variance in access included access to speciality care in the community and patient wait times. PHCPs suggested ideas to improve access including increased gastroenterologist supply, particularly in rural areas, and the creation of a provincial centralized referral and triage process. CONCLUSIONS PHCPs play an important role in identifying and managing patients with IBD in partnership with gastroenterologists. This study identifies key PHCP perceived barriers that may prevent patients from accessing speciality IBD care. Understanding and addressing barriers to access from multiple stakeholder perspectives, including PHCPs, has the potential to support informed system redesign and overcome access inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen E Burns
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Holly M Mathias
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Courtney Heisler
- Nova Scotia Collaborative Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, Division of Digestive Care and Endoscopy, QEII Health Science Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Yunsong Cui
- Atlantic Path, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Olga Kits
- Research Methods Unit, Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer L Jones
- Nova Scotia Collaborative Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, Division of Digestive Care and Endoscopy, QEII Health Science Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Whitehead J, Pearson AL, Lawrenson R, Atatoa Carr P. Selecting Health Need Indicators for Spatial Equity Analysis in the New Zealand Primary Care Context. J Rural Health 2020; 38:194-206. [PMID: 32965692 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine potential indicators of health need for primary care in spatial equity research, and evidence of the Inverse Care Law in the Waikato region of New Zealand. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of 7 health need indicators (ambulatory sensitive hospitalizations; cancer rate; mortality rate; New Zealand index of multiple deprivation-health domain; age; New Zealand index of deprivation; smoking rate) that were identified through a systematic review was carried out. Values of indicators were mapped and analyzed using geographic information systems (GIS). Spearman's correlations were calculated between indicators, and clusters of high need were identified through spatial autocorrelation. The impact of incorporating indicator-based weightings into an accessibility model was tested using analysis of variance and Spearman's correlations. General practice service spatial equity was assessed by comparing clusters of high access versus need, and quantified through the Gini coefficient. FINDINGS Ambulatory sensitive hospitalization (ASH) rates were significantly correlated with all indicators. Health needs were significantly clustered, but incorporating indicator weightings into the spatial accessibility analysis did not impact accessibility scores. A misalignment of access and need, and a Gini coefficient of 0.281 suggest that services are not equitably distributed. CONCLUSION ASH rates seem a robust indicator of health need. However, data access issues may restrict their use. Area-level socioeconomic deprivation measures incorporate some social determinants of health, and they have potential for wider use. High need clusters vary spatially according to the indicator used. GIS techniques can identify "hot-spots" of need, but these can be masked in accessibility models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Whitehead
- National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Amber L Pearson
- Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Ross Lawrenson
- Waikato Medical Research Centre, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Polly Atatoa Carr
- National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Toms R, Feng X, Mayne DJ, Bonney A. Role of Area-Level Access to Primary Care on the Geographic Variation of Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Distribution: A Multilevel Analysis of the Adult Residents in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Region of NSW, Australia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4297. [PMID: 32560149 PMCID: PMC7344656 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to primary care is important for the identification, control and management of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). This study investigated whether differences in geographic access to primary care explained area-level variation in CMRFs. METHODS Multilevel logistic regression models were used to derive the association between area-level access to primary care and seven discrete CMRFs after adjusting for individual and area-level co-variates. Two-step floating catchment area method was used to calculate the geographic access to primary care for the small areas within the study region. RESULTS Geographic access to primary care was inversely associated with low high density lipoprotein (OR 0.94, CI 0.91-0.96) and obesity (OR 0.91, CI 0.88-0.93), after adjusting for age, sex and area-level disadvantage. The intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICCs) of all the fully adjusted models ranged between 0.4-1.8%, indicating low general contextual effects of the areas on CMRF distribution. The area-level variation in CMRFs explained by primary care access was ≤10.5%. CONCLUSION The findings of the study support proportionate universal interventions for the prevention and control of CMRFs, rather than any area specific interventions based on their primary care access, as the contextual influence of areas on all the analysed CMRFs were found to be minimal. The findings also call for future research that includes other aspects of primary care access, such as road-network access, financial affordability and individual-level acceptance of the services in order to gain an overall picture of the area-level contributing role of primary care on CMRFs in the study region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renin Toms
- School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia; (D.J.M.); (A.B.)
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia;
| | - Xiaoqi Feng
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia;
- Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2500, Australia
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2033, Australia
| | - Darren J Mayne
- School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia; (D.J.M.); (A.B.)
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia;
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Public Health Unit, Warrawong NSW 2502, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew Bonney
- School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia; (D.J.M.); (A.B.)
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia;
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PoleSat_2018: an optimized, automated, geomatics IT tool based on a gravitational model: strategic decision support in hospital catchment area planning. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-2735-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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Whitehead J, Pearson AL, Lawrenson R, Atatoa‐Carr P. Framework for examining the spatial equity and sustainability of general practitioner services. Aust J Rural Health 2018; 26:336-341. [DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Whitehead
- National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis University of WaikatoHamiltonNew Zealand
| | - Amber L. Pearson
- Department of Geography Environment and Spatial Sciences Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
| | - Ross Lawrenson
- National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis University of WaikatoHamiltonNew Zealand
- Waikato Medical Research Centre University of WaikatoHamiltonNew Zealand
| | - Polly Atatoa‐Carr
- National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis University of WaikatoHamiltonNew Zealand
- Waikato District Health Board Hamilton New Zealand
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