Use of Geographic Information System to Measure Access to Health Care Facilities in Rural Communities in Mountainous Region
10.2185/jjrm.60.516
- VernacularTitle:中山間地域における地理情報システム (Geographic Information System) を用いた生活習慣病の受療行動解析
- Author:
Tsuyoshi HAMANO
;
Yoshinari KIMURA
;
Miwako TAKEDA
;
Masayuki YAMASAKI
;
Kuninori SHIWAKU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
2011;60(4):516-526
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
As is often the case with rural communities in Japan, a dearth of health resources poses a serious problem in a mountainous region of Shimane Prefecture. Although a medical care plan focusing on needs of people should be devised with a view to building up a sustainable health care system, studies have not always adequately been pursued. The aim of this study was to assess the data on the patients with lifestyle-related health problems to and from health care facilities. A Geographic Information System was used for measuring the travel time and road distance. The data for 255 patients with hypertension, 114 patients with hyperlipidemia, and 42 patients with diabetes were amassed. The results showed that the average travel time and distance were much longer in patients with diabetes than those with hypertension. Statistically no significant difference was observed in severity of diabetes (HbA1c, BMI and LDL-c) and blood pressure levels between patients who received regular treatment at clinics in the two towns and those who went all the way to clinics outside of the towns. In addition, compared with the patients with diabetes aged 75 years or over, the average travel time and road distance for aged of 74 years or younger were much longer. Similarly, compared with the patients with hypertension aged 75 years or over, the average travel time and road distance for aged of 74 yeras or younger were also much longer. These results indicated that the diabetics and the elderly age 74 or younger tended to go to health facilities beyond the secondary-medical care zone. These findings also suggested that a closer cooperation between facilities in the neighboring secondary-medical care zones to improve the quality of medical services and support general practitioners to review the existing disease management program would make it possible to cope with the present situation.
