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Spatial patterns of attendance at general practitioner services.

S M Hays·R A Kearns·W Moran
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Abstract

Geographical theory suggests that consumers will travel to the centre nearest to their residence which offers a particular service. This is a weak indicator of surgery attendance patterns in Gisborne, New Zealand. Nearby surgeries were attended, rather than the nearest available. Various attributes of the practices and the patients were examined to discover their influence on attendance patterns. The distribution of the practices themselves had a significant effect upon relative surgery attendance. Prior knowledge of services was particularly important in determining surgery selection and continued attendance. This accounted for the spatially unconstrained attendance of many Maori. Greater personal mobility enabled higher income households to travel further to attend. Conversely, the less mobile were spatially bounded.

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Catchment Area, HealthFamily PracticeHealth Services AccessibilityHumansNew ZealandPrivate PracticeSocioeconomic FactorsTravelJournal Article

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BibTeXRIS

S M Hays, R A Kearns, W Moran. 1990. Spatial patterns of attendance at general practitioner services.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(90)90172-o

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