Journal article
A Geodemographic Analysis of Travel Time to Uveitis Specialists in the United States
OCULAR IMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATION
19 Apr 2023
PMID: 37094090
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
PurposeTravel time to a patient's medical provider represents a significant component of access to care. We examined travel time to the nearest uveitis specialist for the American population and characterize its impact on access to uveitis care.DesignObservational studies using the American Community Survey and American Census Bureau population estimates.MethodsAddresses of fellowship-trained uveitis specialists were collected from the American Uveitis Society (AUS) and the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF) websites and geocoded using ArcGIS Pro 2.9. Service areas were defined as all locations within a 60-min drive time from each specialist's location. Demographic and population data for total population, racial groups, household poverty levels, population in dependent groups (younger than 18, older than 65), and health insurance status were overlaid. Data were aggregated for census tracts within and outside service areas and compared using chi-square analysis. Main Outcome Measures: Differences in population demographics for people within and outside service area coverage.Results223 uveitis specialist addresses were geocoded into ArcGIS. Of specialist locations, 94% were found in urban areas. Of the total United States population, 63.3% were found to be within service areas. Of these, 55.9% were White and 14.7% were African American, whereas 70% of the people outside service areas were White and 10.1% were African American (p < 0.0001) (Table 1). Only 8.3% of the people within service area coverage had no health insurance compared with 9.5% outside service areas (p < 0.0001). Within coverage areas, 12.7% of the households had a total income below the federal poverty level versus 15.1% of the households outside service area coverage (p < 0.0001). Within service area coverage, 37.4% of the people were in a dependent age group compared with 40.4.% outside service area coverage (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsOur analysis shows a significant travel burden to the nearest uveitis specialist for a large proportion of Americans. More providers are needed in rural areas, as patients there are more likely to live under the poverty line, be uninsured, or belong to a dependent age group.
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Details
- Title
- A Geodemographic Analysis of Travel Time to Uveitis Specialists in the United States
- Publication Details
- OCULAR IMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATION
- Publisher
- TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC; PHILADELPHIA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000973385900001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85153617765
- Other Identifier
- 991021861171304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ophthalmology