Validation of Travel Times to Hospital Estimated by GIS
Author Information
Author(s): Robin Haynes, Andrew P. Jones, Violet Sauerzapf, Hongxin Zhao
Primary Institution: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
Hypothesis
Are GIS estimates of travel time accurate compared to actual reported travel times by patients?
Conclusion
GIS estimates of car travel times were moderately close approximations to reported times.
Supporting Evidence
- 50% of travel time estimates were within five minutes of reported times.
- 77% were within ten minutes and 90% were within fifteen minutes.
- There was a moderately strong association between reported times and estimated travel times (r = 0.856).
- Reported travel times were similarly related to straight line distances.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well computer estimates of travel times to hospitals matched what patients actually reported. It found that the estimates were usually pretty close.
Methodology
Car travel times were estimated using GIS and compared with reported journey times from cancer patients attending hospitals.
Potential Biases
The study may not account for all variables affecting travel times, such as traffic conditions and individual patient circumstances.
Limitations
The sample was not representative of all cancer patients, and there were potential inaccuracies in reported travel times due to rounding and recall errors.
Participant Demographics
70% female, age range from 18 to over 75, with a majority in the 45-64 age category.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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