title: Effects of Neighborhood Characteristics on Length of Inpatient Stay: Findings from the U.S. National Data.
abstract: Using a nationally representative U.S. sample, this study examined the extent to which neighborhood characteristics affected length of inpatient stay (LOS) in the United States. Data were obtained from the 2012 Area Health Resource Files. A total of 3,148 U.S. counties were included in the study. Generalized linear models and the geographically weighted regression model were used to examine the extent to which neighborhood characteristics affected LOS and its spatial variation. Exploratory spatial data analysis was also conducted to examine the geographic patterns in LOS. Hospital bed capacity was found to be the strongest predictor of LOS. Counties with a lower poverty rate, a lower uninsured rate, a higher proportion of female residents, a higher proportion of residents living in urban areas, and more diverse racial groups had a longer LOS. Significant spatial clustering pattern of LOS was also found. Findings suggest that social work professionals should be aware of spatial disparity in health care resources and develop ways of providing equitable health care for vulnerable populations in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
authors.affiliation: is a doctoral student, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. is assistant professor, School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea. is assistant professor, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Address correspondence to Sungkyu Lee, School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-Ro, Dong-gu, Seoul, 156-743, South Korea.
authors.forename: Huairen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: is a doctoral student, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. is assistant professor, School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea. is assistant professor, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Address correspondence to Sungkyu Lee, School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-Ro, Dong-gu, Seoul, 156-743, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sungkyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: is a doctoral student, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. is assistant professor, School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea. is assistant professor, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Address correspondence to Sungkyu Lee, School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-Ro, Dong-gu, Seoul, 156-743, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: health care resources; health care use; length of inpatient stay; neighborhood characteristics; spatial disparity