A pilot study of spatial patterns in referrals to a multicentre cancer genetics service

Tempest, Vanessa, Higgs, Gary, McDonald, Kevin, Iredale, Rachel, Bater, Tony and Gray, Jonathon 2005. A pilot study of spatial patterns in referrals to a multicentre cancer genetics service. Community Genetics 8 (2) , pp. 73-79. 10.1159/000084774

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Abstract

Objectives: To analyse spatial and temporal patterns in patients referred to a cancer genetics service in order to monitor service utilization and accessibility. Methods: Postcodes of patients during a 4-year period were used to examine spatial patterns using a Geographical Information System (GIS). Referral rates were compared visually and statistically to explore yearly variation for administrative areas in Wales. Results: There has been a four-fold increase in actual referrals to the service over the period of study. The variance between unitary authority referral rates has decreased from the inception of the service from an almost ten-fold difference between lowest and highest in year 1 to less than a three-fold difference in year 4. Conclusions: This study shows the potential of GIS to highlight spatial variations in referral rates across Wales. Although the disparity in referral rates has decreased, trends in referral rates are not consistent. Ongoing research will examine those referral and referrer characteristics affecting uptake.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Karger
ISSN:	1422-2833
Date of Acceptance:	30 July 2004
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2016 23:51
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/69503

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