Trends in the geographic distribution of dental clinics in Japan
Trends in the geographic distribution of dental clinics in Japan
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DOI：
10.1922/cdh_3301okawa03
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发表时间：
2014-03-01
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
Hirata, S.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Okawa, Y.;Hirata, S.
目的：在日本，随着牙医人数的增加，牙科设施的数量也在不断增加。这项研究旨在检查日本牙科诊所数量的增加是否导致了它们的地理分布的改善。方法：我们分析了2000年、2005年和2010年日本所有直辖市的牙科诊所数量和人口。我们从人口普查中获得了人口数据，从医疗机构调查中获得了牙科诊所数量的数据。2000年，市镇的数量为3258个，但由于市政合并，到2010年已减少到1750个，因此其他年份的人口和牙科数据是根据2010年的市政边界重新计算的。使用洛伦兹曲线和基尼系数来评估每10万人中牙科诊所的分布情况。结果：2000年平均每10万人拥有49.9家牙科诊所，2005年为52.2家，2010年为53.4家。全国诊所的基尼系数2000年为0.172,2005年为0.164,2010年为0.153。结论：随着牙科诊所数量的增加，牙科医生可获得性的地区不平等现象逐渐缩小。
Aim: In Japan, along with the increase in the number of dentists, the number of dental facilities has continuously increased as well. This study aimed to examine whether the increase in the number of dental clinics in Japan has led to an improvement in their geographic distribution. Methods: We analysed the number of dental clinics and population in all municipalities in Japan as of 2000, 2005 and 2010. We obtained data on the population from the population census and data on the number of dental clinics from the Survey of Medical Institutions. The number of municipalities was 3,258 in 2000 but had dropped to 1,750 by 2010 due to municipal mergers so population and dental data for other years were recalculated based on 2010 municipal boundaries. Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients were used to assess the distribution of dental clinics per 100,000 persons. Results: The mean number of dental clinics per 100,000 persons among all municipalities was 49.9 in 2000, 52.2 in 2005 and 53.4 in 2010. The Gini coefficient for the clinics in the whole country was 0.172 in 2000, 0.164 in 2005 and 0.153 in 2010. Conclusion: The results suggest that the regional inequalities in the availability of dentists have been reduced gradually as the number of dental clinics has increased.