International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Measuring Access to Urban Health Services Using Geographical Information System (GIS): A Case Study of Health Service Management in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mehdi Masoodi 1
Mahsa Rahimzadeh 2, 3
1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3 Food and Cosmetic Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
10.15171/ijhpm.2015.23
Abstract
Background
The current distribution of and access to health services along with the future health needs of the population have prompted wide application of Geographic Information Systems (GISs). During recent years, GIS has been used in public health management for planning and organization of healthcare services. This study investigates geographical accessibility of residential areas in Bandar Abbas, Iran to healthcare services.
 
Methods
Accessibility was evaluated by using Floating Catchment Area (FCA), minimum distance methods and Response Time (RT) accessibility technique.
 
Results
More accurate measures of distances in Bandar Abbas, illustrated that Euclidean distances were not strongly correlated with network distances. The RT accessibility technique that utilizes shortest network path and time distances, presented detailed information about all the possible positions of the patients with respect to available healthcare services based on optimum and critical response times.
 
Conclusion
Locations of public health services in Bandar Abbas were not related to the sites of populations. The RT accessibility technique provides a reasonably sensitive and robust evaluation of accessibility
Keywords
Health Services Accessibility
Spatial Analysis
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Response Time (RT) Accessibility Technique
Bandar Abbas
Subjects
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  • Received Date 19 September 2014
  • Revised Date 31 January 2015
  • Accepted Date 31 January 2015
  • First Published Date 01 July 2015
  • Published Date 01 July 2015