Differences in access to healthcare resources and regional differences in cancer risk and prognosis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13755
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: University of Shizuoka (2021-2023); National Cancer Center Japan (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Hori Megumi 静岡県立大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (20735732)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アクセシビリティ / がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The regional distribution of cancer incidence, mortality and prognosis was estimated at a sub-regional level. The study then focused on differences in accessibility to medical facilities as a factor in regional differences in cancer risk and estimated the impact of differences in distance and travel time on cancer incidence, mortality and prognosis. The location of medical facilities and the number of patients in the area were used to illustrate the balance between supply and demand for medical care in the region. The results of the analysis using official statistics showed that although access to health facilities was good in all urban areas, there were areas with an imbalance between supply and demand. In non-urban areas, there were areas with poor accessibility and an imbalance between supply and demand, although no association with morbidity or prognosis was found.

Free Research Field

がん疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

医療は居住地によらず、すべての住民に公平に提供されることが望ましい。本研究の結果からは、医療施設へのアクセシビリティ格差が明らかとなった。アクセシビリティが不良な地域では、アクセシビリティが予後に与える影響だけでなく、生活の質に関連する負担への影響を評価する必要性が示唆される。また、アクセシビリティが良好な都市部であっても、医療施設数と患者数の関係に基づき、医療需要と供給のバランスが不良である地域がみられた。この結果は、医療サービスの適切な供給を検討する非常に有益な資料となり得る。がん患者の地理的特性の理解を通じて、医療資源利用への公平性に関する示唆を与えることができる。