Running head: JOURNAL ARTICLE SUMMARY

Journal Article Summary

Students Name

Institution
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Journal Article Summary

Article Reference

Arcury, T. A., et al. (2005). The effects of geography and spatial behavior on

health care utilization among the residents of a rural region. Health services

research, 40(1), 135-156.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose considered to be primary in the study was to establish the

significance of spatial behavior and geographic factors as the promoting

factors found in the rural health care utilization, social, cultural, and control

of demographic factors.

Hypothesis

Persons or individuals that reside in places far from urban centers and rural

dwellers are predisposed to health access problems due to enabling factors

including their spatial behavior, poor access to transportation and

geographic factors.

Participants

The study participants constituted of 1059 adults from 12 rural North

Carolina mountain counties. The survey had been carried out by Research

Triangle Institute. The study location was chosen since it carries very many

isolated communities.

Materials or Apparatus used

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The study was based on personal interviews conducted by trained

interviewers in the homes of the residents. The questionnaire addressed the

socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, medical care options, use of

care services, religious beliefs and health prevention behavior. The data

generated from these variables were manually fed into a GIS database.

Procedure Utilized

The MAP survey was utilized with a three-stage selection design. The trained

field staffs interviewed one adult and one eligible child from each family or

household. Then, screening refusals were also done.

Summary of Results

Different spatial behavior and geographic factors such as the use of provided

rides, possession of a driving license, and distance from care services were

significantly found to have relation with the utilization of healthcare. In fact,

in the multivariate model, these factors including distance from daily care

remained as vital as the predisposing factors including gender, geographic

factors, and household income.

Authors' Conclusions

In general, the authors concluded that spatial behavior and geographic

factors were significantly related to rural health care utilization. They

recommended that there was a need to address the continuing health care

access inequity by the public policy.