Access to Accident and Emergency Departments in Caerphilly
Author Information
Author(s): David L. Fone, Stephen Christie, Nathan Lester
Primary Institution: Cardiff University
Hypothesis
Is there a correlation between perceived accessibility of A&E departments and GIS-modelled accessibility measures?
Conclusion
The study found that perceived accessibility of A&E departments is significantly correlated with GIS-modelled measures of accessibility.
Supporting Evidence
- The median drive-time was significantly shorter for those with better perceived access.
- Correlations were stronger among respondents with good public transport access.
- Perceived accessibility was influenced by recent attendance at A&E for injury treatment.
Takeaway
People's feelings about how easy it is to get to the hospital match up with how far away it really is, showing that what they think matters.
Methodology
A postal questionnaire survey was conducted among residents of Caerphilly county borough, with data analyzed for perceived accessibility and GIS-modelled drive-time.
Potential Biases
The survey responses may have been influenced by non-spatial factors such as financial considerations and service acceptability.
Limitations
The study was limited to a specific area with a maximum distance of 22 km from A&E, which may not reflect broader accessibility issues.
Participant Demographics
The study included 11,853 respondents aged 18 and over from Caerphilly county borough.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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