Spatial Accessibility of Primary Care in England: A Cross‐Sectional Study Using a Floating Catchment Area Method. (30th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bauer, Jan; Müller, Ruth; Brüggmann, Dörthe; Groneberg, David A.
• Is Part Of: Health services research. Volume 53:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 1957
• Page End: 1978
• Publication Date: 2018-04-30
• Subjects: Access -- GP -- England -- GIS -- social deprivation; Medical care -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Hospital care -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; 362
• DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12731
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-9124

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To analyze the general practitioners (GPs) with regard to the degree of urbanization, social deprivation, general health, and disability. Data Sources: Small area population data and GP practice data in England. Study Design: We used a floating catchment area method to measure spatial GP accessibility with regard to the degree of urbanization, social deprivation, general health, and disability. Data Collection: Data were collected from the Office for National Statistics and the general practice census and analyzed using a geographic information system. Principal Findings: In all, 25.8 percent of the population in England lived in areas with a significant low GP accessibility (mean z ‐score: −4.2); 27.6 percent lived in areas with a significant high GP accessibility (mean z ‐score: 7.7); 97.8 percent of high GP accessibility areas represented urban areas, and 31.1 percent of low GP accessibility areas represented rural areas (correlation of accessibility and urbanity: r = 0.59; p <.001). Furthermore, a minor negative correlation with social deprivation was present ( r = −0.19; p <.001). Results were confirmed by a multivariate analysis. Conclusion: This study showed substantially differing GP accessibility throughout England. However, socially deprived areas did not have poorer spatial access to GPs.