title: The impact of travel distance on the decision to attend for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: This paper estimates the impact of travel distance on the decision to attend for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), controlling for a range of personal, clinical and lifestyle characteristics. The results suggest that women who live further away from a screening site are less likely to attend for screening. In particular, the probability of attending for screening is reduced by 1.8% [95% CI: 1.2% to 2.4%] for every additional 10 kms of travel. This is consistent wth previous research that shows geographic inequalities in access to GDM screening in Ireland. We also find that older women, those with a family history of diabetes, and those who are obese are more likely to accept the screening offer, suggesting that certain higher-risk groups may be either self-selecting into the screening programme or are being targeted by health care professionals through specific initiatives.
authors: School of Business, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway. john.cullinan@nuigalway.ie
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Cullinan
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gillespie
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Owens
authors: F P
authors: FP
authors: Dunne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D014195:Travel