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The supply of general practitioners across local areas: accounting for spatial heterogeneity
- Source :
- BMC Health Services Research
- Publisher :
- Springer Nature
-
Abstract
- Background The geographic distribution of general practitioners (GPs) remains persistently unequal in many countries despite notable increases in overall supply. This paper explores how the factors associated with the supply of general practitioners (GPs) are aligned with the arbitrary geographic boundaries imposed by the use of spatially referenced GP supply data. Methods Data on GP supply in postcodes within Australia are matched to data on the population characteristics and levels of amenities in postcodes. Tobit regression models are used that examine the associations between GP supply and postcode characteristics, whilst accounting for spatial heterogeneity. Results The results demonstrate that GPs do not consider space in a one-dimensional sense. Location choice is related to both neighbourhood-specific factors, such as hospitals, and broader area factors, such as area income and proximity to private schools. Although the proportion of females and elderly were related to GPs supply, mortality rate was not. Conclusions This paper represents the first attempt to map the factors influencing GP supply to the appropriate geographic level at which GPs may be considering that factor. We suggest that both neighbourhood and broader regional characteristics can influence GPs’ locational choices. This finding is highly relevant to the design and evaluation of relocation incentive programmes.
- Subjects :
- Redistribution policy
Male
education
Population
Accounting
Health care supply
Health administration
General Practitioners
Medicine
Humans
Tobit model
Spatial econometrics
Aged
Demography
education.field_of_study
business.industry
Health Policy
Australia
Location choice
Spatial heterogeneity
Incentive
Global Positioning System
Income
Female
business
Relocation
General practice
Algorithms
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14726963
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Health Services Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9a92678f2313a3e4efbad8a9aa93f5ce
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-1102-y