The geographic distribution of podiatrists in Perth, Western Australia

摘要

This study examined the spatial accessibility of podiatry services to aged people living in the Greater Perth area, and access to these services for people from different socioeconomic groups, using geographic information systems (GIS). All persons older than 65 years (n=216 062) were included in the study and divided into two subgroups (retirees and elders) by age. Census data, bus stops (high and medium accessible stops) and train station data were integrated with GIS to analyse population spatial accessibility. The study found that most of the aged population resided within 2 kilometers of podiatry clinics, and the podiatry services are well distributed. In terms of access to buses, around three-fifths of aged people lived within 1 kilometer of high-access bus stops, and more than four-fifths of this population resided within 1 kilometer of medium-access bus stops. The distribution of podiatrists among people from different socioeconomic areas showed the density of podiatry services was higher in more affluent areas, therefore, the Inverse Care Law is evident in access to podiatry services in the Greater Perth region.