A Geographic Information System Analysis of Accessibility to Community Pharmacy in Shiraz, Iran Geographic accessibility to pharmacy in Shiraz
Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2012),
1 October 2012
,
Page 283-288
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijps.v8.40932
Abstract
Geographic proximity has been shown to be a significant factor in healthcare utilization and also one of the important dimensions in the concept of accessibility. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the geographic accessibility to pharmacies in city of Shiraz. A geographic information system approach was obtained to evaluate geographic accessibility to pharmacies. A stratified random sampling was conducted
to choose adequate points as the representative of whole city to measure their distance in both pedestrian and driving condition to the pharmacies. To measure the pedestrian accessibility of selected blocks in Shiraz, different distances of 150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 meter, and to measure driving accessibility different network distances of 5, 10 and 15 min were considered as acceptable levels of geographic
accessibility. In terms of pedestrian accessibility, the analysis showed that about 45% and 15% of sample blocks have accessibility to at least one pharmacy in their 750 meters in normal days and holidays, respectively, based on straight line distance. In terms of driving accessibility, our analysis indicated that in normal days and also in holidays about 98% of sample blocks in Shiraz have at least one pharmacy in their 15 min based on network analysis and considering traffic limitation. In spite of implemented policy by food and drug organization to distribute pharmacies equitably through the whole city, geographic accessibility to pharmacy doesn’t seem to be desirable in Shiraz and some other policies may be needed to make the situation better.
- Accessibility
- GIS
- Iran
- Pharmacy
- Shiraz.
How to Cite
References
[2] Penchansky R, Thomas JW. The concept of access. Med Care 1981; 19: 127-40.
[3] Baluch WM. Pharmacists' role in a smokingcessation program at a health maintenance organization. AJHP 1995; 52: 287-93.
[4] Schilling KW. Pharmacy program for monitoring diabetic patients. AJHP 1977; 34: 1242-5.
[5] Hiscok R, Pearce J, Blakely T, Witten K. Is neighborhood access to health care provision associated with individual-level utilization and satisfaction? Health Serv Res 2008; 43: 2183-200.
[6] Kebriaeezadeh A, Eslamitabar Sh, Khatibi M.Iranian pharmaceutical law and regulations. Tehran: Razi distribution publication, 2009.
[7] HELI, WHO, UNEP. Maps and spatial information technologies (Geographical Information Systems) in health and environment decision-making. Health Environment Linkages Policy Series 2012.
[8] Lin SJ. Access to community pharmacies by the elderly in Illinois: a geographic information systems analysis. J Med Syst 2004; 28: 301-9.
[9] Mosavi-Jarrahi A, Moini M, Mohagheghi MA, Alebouyeh M, Yazdizadeh B, Shahabian A, Nahvijo A, Alizadeh R. Clustering of childhood cancer in the inner city of Tehran metropolitan area: a GIS-based analysis. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2007; 210: 113-9.
[10] Haghdoost AA, Kawaguchi L, Mirzazadeh A, Rashidi H, Sarafinejad A, Baniasadi AR, Davies C. Using GIS in explaining spatial distribution of brucellosis in an endemic district in Iran. Iranian J Publ Health 2007; 36: 27-34.
[11] Mesgari MS, Masoomi Z. GIS applications in public health as a decision making support system and It’s limitation in Iran. World Appl Sci J 2008; 3 (Supple 1): 73-7.
[12] Leonard K, Mliga GR, Mariam DH. Bypassing health centers in Tanzania: revealed preferences for observable and unobservable quality. Columbia University, Department of Economics 2002.
[13] Akin JS, Hutchinson P. Health-care facility choice and the phenomenon of bypassing. Health Policy Plan 1999; 14:135-51.
- Abstract Viewed: 257 times
- IJPS_Volume 8_Issue 4_Pages 283-288 Downloaded: 179 times