title: Mapping access to health services as a strategy for planning: access to primary care for older people in regional Queensland.
abstract: Australia has seen a significant increase in people aged over 65 years accessing general practice services over the last decade. Although people aged 65 years and over comprise 14% of the total population, this age demographic accounts for the largest proportion of general practitioner (GP)-patient encounters. Access to general practice is important for older Australians as the burden of chronic disease increases with age. A geographic information system, ArcGIS, was used to assess geographic access to general practice for older people residing in the regional Queensland towns of Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. Geographic units with high proportions of over 65-year-old people were spatially analysed in relation to proximity to geomapped general practices with a 2-km buffer zone. Modelling of changes in access was performed with the strategic location of a new general practice where gaps existed. Geographic access to general practice for the older population was poorest in Cairns despite a high population density. Addition of a single, strategically placed general practice in Cairns markedly improved access. Socioeconomic analysis suggested that general practices were appropriately located in areas of greatest need. Geographic information systems provide a means to map population characteristics against service locations to assist in strategic development and location of future health services.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Qld 4811 Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Qld 4811 Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larkins
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Qld 4811 Australia.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheffins
authors.affiliation: Townsville Mackay Medicare Local, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Qld 4811 Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: International Research Collaborative - Oral Health and Equity, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tennant
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011793:Queensland