title: The supply of general practitioners across local areas: accounting for spatial heterogeneity.
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.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne, 111 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia. m.mcisaac@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McIsaac
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne, 111 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia. a.scott@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne, 111 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia. g.kalb@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Guyonne
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kalb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001315:Australia; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male