Using a geographical information system to map the distribution of dentists in Ohio
Using a geographical information system to map the distribution of dentists in Ohio
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DOI：
10.14219/jada.archive.2002.0239
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发表时间：
2002-05-01
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
Mascarenhas, K
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Susi, L;Mascarenhas, K
背景资料。研究报告称，牙科护理是美国最高的未得到满足的卫生保健需求，并根据获取和利用的个别决定因素对其进行了评估。这些研究都没有考虑到提供者的可用性和可及性问题或空间关系问题。这项研究的目的是利用地理信息系统(GIS)分析俄亥俄州提供者的可用性和可及性问题。使用地理信息系统软件对俄亥俄州的三个数据库进行了地理编码。这些数据库包括所有6132名获准在俄亥俄州执业的牙医，1898名在1998年为州医疗补助计划开具账单的牙医，以及提供免费或低成本医疗服务的安全网诊所。每个从业者都被映射到县和邮政编码级别。结果使用县和邮政编码级别的地图进行报告。地图显示，69.4%的牙医在12个城市县执业，14%在17个郊区县执业，16.6%在59个农村县(非阿巴拉契亚农村县加上阿巴拉契亚县)执业。在阿巴拉契亚，牙医与人口的比例大约是大都市国家的一半。在俄亥俄州，特别是在农村和阿巴拉契亚县，牙医的分布存在明显的差异。在这些县增加牙医的必要性是显而易见的。实践中的含义。地理信息系统是一种有用的工具，用于评估提供者的分布和可用性，并规划计划，以吸引牙医到牙医人数较少的地区。
Background. Studies have reported that dental care is the highest unmet health care need in the United States and have evaluated this in terms of individual determinants of access and utilization. None of these studies took into consideration the provider issues of availability and accessibility or of spatial relations. The aim of this study was to analyze issues of provider availability and accessibility in Ohio using a geographical information system, or GIS.Methods. Three Ohio databases were geocoded using GIS software. The databases included all 6,132 dentists licensed to practice in Ohio, 1,898 dentists who had billed the state Medicaid program in 1998 and safety-net clinics that provided free or low-cost care. Each practitioner was mapped at the county and ZIP code levels.Results. Results are reported using maps at the county and ZIP code levels. The maps showed that 69.4 percent of dentists practiced in 12 metropolitan counties, 14 percent in 17 suburban counties and 16.6 percent in 59 rural counties (rural non-Appalachian counties plus Appalachian counties). In Appalachia, the dentist-to-population ratio was about one-half that of the metropolitan countriesConclusion. Obvious disparities exist in the distribution-of dentists in Ohio, particularly in rural and Appalachian counties. The need to increase the availability of dentists in these counties is evident. Practice Implications. GIS is a useful tool for evaluating provider distribution and availability and-planning programs to attract dentists to areas with small numbers of dentists.