Spatial Accessibility to Primary Care in Texas and its Association with Cancer and Diabetes Outcomes

Keywords: GIS, Health, Geography, Spatial Accessibility, Primary Care, Texas
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 21

Abstract

Introduction

The importance of high-quality primary care (PC) and its contributions to the overall health of the general population have gained additional attention in recent years. This study examines how spatial accessibility to primary care is associated with cancer and diabetes outcomes monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methods

We calculated the spatial accessibility to primary care index using data at the census tract level in Texas. In addition, we performed correlation as well as regression analysis using the cancer and diabetes health outcomes and six factors. These factors included spatial accessibility to primary care, percent of people in each tract living in urban areas, percent of population without health insurance, percent of population without a high school diploma, percent of population with disability, and social vulnerability.

Results

Higher levels of spatial accessibility to primary care and urbanization are associated with better outcomes. Worse health outcomes are associated with a higher level of disability. Except for cancer, higher levels of uninsured population, low level of educational attainment, and high level of social vulnerability are correlated with worse diabetes outcomes.

Conclusions

Improved spatial accessibility to primary care and higher-level urbanization are associated with better cancer and diabetes outcomes monitored by the CDC. Interventions about decrease the socioeconomic inequalities should be taken to improve the health outcomes.