Rating access to health care: Are there differences according to geographical region?

Abstract

Objective: To report on satisfaction with access to health care in Queensland focussing on regional differences. Methods: A sub-sample of 4440 respondents with no history of cancer from the Queensland Cancer Risk Study who completed a self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. Main outcome measures: Perceptions of overall difficulty gaining access to health care and ratings of access to various health care services by region. Results: Queenslanders living outside major cities reported less satisfaction with access to various aspects of health care services. Age was associated with more favourable ratings of health care access. Conclusions: Despite public health efforts to increase service provision throughout Queensland, health care access is still rated relatively less favourably by Queenslanders in regional and remote parts of the state. Implications: Identifying which services are difficult to access and why will assist public health policy makers in improving health service accessibility.