Spatial patterns of attendance at general practitioner services.
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.
Hays
S M
SM
Department of Geography, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Kearns
R A
RA
Moran
W
W
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005194:Family Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014195:Travel