A recent study reveals that even a relatively brief trip to reach a family doctor can create barriers to accessing healthcare.
According to research findings, having a family physician situated as close as 19 miles away correlates with reduced office visits, decreased cancer screening rates, and an increased probability of receiving basic healthcare through emergency departments, as documented by researchers in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Lead researcher Dr. Archna Gupta, who practices family medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, explained in a news release: “Our research shows that people use the emergency room not just because they don’t have a family doctor or can’t get an appointment. It’s also because their family doctor might be too far away to reach easily.”
The research team examined medical records from approximately 10 million Ontario patients who had an established family physician. The data showed that roughly 13% of these patients resided beyond 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from their doctor’s office.
The study’s findings indicated that these patients had a 43% higher likelihood of visiting an emergency room for non-urgent medical issues and were 28% more likely to have gone without any family physician check-ups over a two-year period.
Additionally, the research demonstrated that these patients showed 17% lower screening rates for colon or cervical cancer and were 24% less likely to undergo breast cancer screening.
“The distance makes it harder for many Ontarians to get the care they need when they need it most,” Gupta said.