Measuring access to primary healthcare services after stroke: A spatial analytic approach
File version
Author(s)
Liu, Yan
Foster, Michele
Cruwys, Tegan
Fleming, Jennifer
Worrall, Linda
Williams, Ian
Shah, Darshan
Aitken, Philip
Corcoran, Jonathan
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
Objective: To determine accessibility of the primary healthcare system for patients with stroke recently discharged from hospital. Methods: This project mapped retrospective patient location data and the location of primary healthcare services in the same region. Patient location data were from all patients with stroke (N = 1595: January 2011–January 2017) discharged from one metropolitan hospital to the local Primary Health Network. Geographic Information System technology was used to map the patient discharge locations and the spatial distribution of primary healthcare services (general practitioner, pharmacy, allied health) across the region. Road network data were used to measure the level of access from each patient’s discharge location to the services. Results: Access to primary healthcare services was variable. Areas with larger proportions of patients with stroke did not necessarily have good service access. With an increase in travel time, the number of services accessible to patients also increased. However, the spatial variation of access to services remained largely unchanged. Conclusion: Access to primary healthcare services for patients with stroke varies spatially, with a trend towards relatively low levels of accessibility for many patients. There is an urgent need for future planning to consider geographical access to primary healthcare services for patients with stroke.
Journal Title
Brain Impairment
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
20
Issue
3
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Psychology
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Clinical Neurology
Neurosciences
Rehabilitation
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Finch, E; Liu, Y; Foster, M; Cruwys, T; Fleming, J; Worrall, L; Williams, I; Shah, D; Aitken, P; Corcoran, J, Measuring access to primary healthcare services after stroke: A spatial analytic approach, Brain Impairment, 2019, 20 (3), pp. 240-250