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Accessibility and spatial distribution of general practice services in an Australian city by levels of social disadvantage

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  • Hyndman, Jilda C. G.
  • Holman, C. D'Arcy J.

Abstract

The accessibility and spatial distribution of health services provided by the main source of primary medical care in Australia -- the general practice surgery -- was investigated by level of social disadvantage of local catchment areas. All 459 general practice surgeries in Perth, an Australian city of 1.2 million residents, were surveyed with a 94% response. Amount of service provision was measured using weekly doctor-hours, available from consulting rooms during opening hours, and associated nurse-hours of service. Access factors were defined as the distance to the nearest surgery, provision of Sunday and evening services, ease of making a same day appointment, bulk-billing, and whether the surgery offered a choice of gender of doctor. There were relatively more surgeries in disadvantaged areas and doctor-hours of service provision were also greater (41.0Â h/1,000 most disadvantaged vs. 37.9Â h/1000 least disadvantaged). Bulk-billing care, at no direct cost to the patient, was more likely to be provided in most disadvantaged areas compared with least disadvantaged areas (61 vs. 38%). However, populations living in the most disadvantaged areas were less likely to be able to see the local GP at short notice (91 vs. 95%), to have access to a local female GP (56 vs. 62%) or a local service in the evenings (42 vs. 51%). While the overall picture of accessibility was favourable, there was considerable variation in the type of services provided to different socioeconomic groups. Health care planners should investigate the reasons for these differences and advise Government to ensure that access factors affecting publicly funded services are equitably distributed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyndman, Jilda C. G. & Holman, C. D'Arcy J., 2001. "Accessibility and spatial distribution of general practice services in an Australian city by levels of social disadvantage," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 53(12), pages 1599-1609, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:53:y:2001:i:12:p:1599-1609
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hopkins, Sandra & Speed, Nathan, 2005. "The decline in `free' general practitioner care in Australia: reasons and repercussions," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 316-329, September.
    2. Kelaher, Margaret & Dunt, David & Day, Susan & Feldman, Peter, 2006. "Effects of financial disadvantage on use and non-use of after hours care in Australia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(1), pages 16-23, November.
    3. Yamashita, Takashi & Kunkel, Suzanne R., 2010. "The association between heart disease mortality and geographic access to hospitals: County level comparisons in Ohio, USA," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1211-1218, April.
    4. Páez, Antonio & Scott, Darren M. & Morency, Catherine, 2012. "Measuring accessibility: positive and normative implementations of various accessibility indicators," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 141-153.

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