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An investigation of the effect of accessibility to General Practitioner services on healthcare utilisation among older people

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  • Mohan, Gretta
  • Nolan, Anne
  • Lyons, Seán

Abstract

Equity in access to healthcare services is regarded as an important policy goal in the organisation of modern healthcare systems. Physical accessibility to healthcare services is recognised as a key component of access. Older people are more frequent and intensive users of healthcare, but reduced mobility and poorer access to transport may negatively influence patterns of utilisation. We investigate the extent to which supply-side factors in primary healthcare are associated with utilisation of General Practitioner (GP) services for over 50s in Ireland. We explore the effect of network distance on GP visits, and two novel access variables: an estimate of the number of addresses the nearest GP serves, and the number of providers within walking distance of a person's home. The results indicate that geographic accessibility to GP services does not in general explain differences in the utilisation of GP services in Ireland. However, we find that the effect of the number of GPs is significant for those who can exercise choice in selecting a GP, i.e., those without public health insurance. For these individuals, the number of GPs within walking distance exerts a positive and significant effect on the utilisation of GP services.

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  • Mohan, Gretta & Nolan, Anne & Lyons, Seán, 2019. "An investigation of the effect of accessibility to General Practitioner services on healthcare utilisation among older people," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 254-263.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:220:y:2019:i:c:p:254-263
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.11.028
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    2. Danxian Wu & Xiaolu Gao & Zhifei Xie & Zening Xu, 2021. "Understanding the Unmet Needs among Community-Dwelling Disabled Older People from a Linkage Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Liu, Xiaoxiao & Ben Liu, Qianqian, 2024. "Superior medical resources or geographic proximity? The joint effects of regional medical resource disparity, geographic distance, and cultural differences on online medical consultation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    4. Smith, Samantha & Walsh, Brendan & Wren, Maev-Ann & Barron, Steve & Morgenroth, Edgar & Eighan, James & Lyons, Seán, 2019. "Geographic profile of healthcare needs and non-acute healthcare supply in Ireland," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS90.

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