title: Realizing neighbourhood potential? The role of the availability of health care services on contact with a primary care physician.
abstract: Access to health services research has traditionally focused on demographic, socioeconomic, and need-based factors, resulting in a relative lack of knowledge regarding place-based determinants. Further, much of what we know comes from international, national, and regional study. This study analyzes survey data (n=1635) to explore the relationship between neighbourhood-level potential access (i.e., availability) and realized access (i.e., use) in two Canadian cities. Controlling for predisposing, enabling and need factors, living in a well-served neighbourhood was a significant predictor of realized access, particularly in Saskatoon. This suggests that the relationship between potential and realized access may be modified by place-based factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd N, WG Davis Bldg, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 1C6. dan.harrington@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Nazeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhajarine
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruthart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012525:Saskatchewan; D055815:Young Adult