Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study

Background: Geospatial access to healthcare is defined as the ability of patients to obtain healthcare services based on their locations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate patients’ proximity to healthcare and its correlation with the complications of surgically treated Achilles tendon rupture (ATR...

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Main Authors: Karina Mirochnik, Nour Nassour, Joris RH Hendriks, Noopur Ranganathan, Andreea Lucaciu, Gregory R Waryasz, Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher 2022-12-01
Series:Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (Asia Pacific)
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Online Access:https://www.jfasap.com/doi/JFASAP/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10040-1277
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author Karina Mirochnik
Nour Nassour
Joris RH Hendriks
Noopur Ranganathan
Andreea Lucaciu
Gregory R Waryasz
Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani
author_facet Karina Mirochnik
Nour Nassour
Joris RH Hendriks
Noopur Ranganathan
Andreea Lucaciu
Gregory R Waryasz
Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani
author_sort Karina Mirochnik
collection DOAJ
description Background: Geospatial access to healthcare is defined as the ability of patients to obtain healthcare services based on their locations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate patients’ proximity to healthcare and its correlation with the complications of surgically treated Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) including venous thromboembolism (VTE), rerupture, and wound problems. Methods: We included 426 patients who lived in the United States (US) Tri-State Area with surgically treated for ATR. We used patient and hospital addresses and zip codes to calculate the distances to healthcare centers. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to determine normal distribution. Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic> test was used to compare the groups with and without complication. The point biserial correlation test was used to determine any correlations between driving distance and the incidence of complications (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05 was considered significant). Results: The average driving distance to the patient’s specific healthcare center was 62.16 ± 76.54 km. There was no significant difference between the distances for patients with and without overall complications (<italic>p</italic> = 0.65), with and without VTE (<italic>p</italic> = 0.70), with and without rerupture (<italic>p</italic> = 0.84), and with and without wound problems (<italic>p</italic> = 0.36). No correlation between complications and the distance to healthcare centers was found (<italic>p</italic> = 0.65). Conclusion: Geospatial information is important within the context of healthcare accessibility and can provide crucial guidance to healthcare planning for patients and healthcare policymakers. Although this study showed that driving distance to healthcare facilities did not lead to significantly higher complication rates amongst ATR patients, it does not resolve the need for further studies looking at a larger population and wider geographical segments.
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spelling doaj-art-a90e28a5b97d4880a7e376e4204b05a82025-08-20T02:17:32ZengJaypee Brothers Medical PublisherJournal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (Asia Pacific)2348-280X2394-77052022-12-011012710.5005/jp-journals-10040-12772Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial StudyKarina Mirochnik0Nour Nassour1Joris RH Hendriks2Noopur Ranganathan3Andreea Lucaciu4Gregory R Waryasz5Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2299-6278Foot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; The Foot & Ankle Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesNour Nassour, Foot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; The Foot & Ankle Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesFoot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsFoot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; The Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, United StatesFARIL-SORG Collaborative, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesFoot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; The Foot & Ankle Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesFoot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; FARIL-SORG Collaborative, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; The Foot & Ankle Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesBackground: Geospatial access to healthcare is defined as the ability of patients to obtain healthcare services based on their locations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate patients’ proximity to healthcare and its correlation with the complications of surgically treated Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) including venous thromboembolism (VTE), rerupture, and wound problems. Methods: We included 426 patients who lived in the United States (US) Tri-State Area with surgically treated for ATR. We used patient and hospital addresses and zip codes to calculate the distances to healthcare centers. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to determine normal distribution. Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic> test was used to compare the groups with and without complication. The point biserial correlation test was used to determine any correlations between driving distance and the incidence of complications (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05 was considered significant). Results: The average driving distance to the patient’s specific healthcare center was 62.16 ± 76.54 km. There was no significant difference between the distances for patients with and without overall complications (<italic>p</italic> = 0.65), with and without VTE (<italic>p</italic> = 0.70), with and without rerupture (<italic>p</italic> = 0.84), and with and without wound problems (<italic>p</italic> = 0.36). No correlation between complications and the distance to healthcare centers was found (<italic>p</italic> = 0.65). Conclusion: Geospatial information is important within the context of healthcare accessibility and can provide crucial guidance to healthcare planning for patients and healthcare policymakers. Although this study showed that driving distance to healthcare facilities did not lead to significantly higher complication rates amongst ATR patients, it does not resolve the need for further studies looking at a larger population and wider geographical segments.https://www.jfasap.com/doi/JFASAP/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10040-1277geographic distributiongeographic information systemhealthcare accessibilityhealthcare equitysocial determinants of health
spellingShingle Karina Mirochnik
Nour Nassour
Joris RH Hendriks
Noopur Ranganathan
Andreea Lucaciu
Gregory R Waryasz
Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani
Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study
Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (Asia Pacific)
geographic distribution
geographic information system
healthcare accessibility
healthcare equity
social determinants of health
title Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study
title_full Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study
title_fullStr Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study
title_full_unstemmed Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study
title_short Is There a Correlation Between the Driving Distance to Healthcare Facilities and Postoperative Complications After Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgical Repair? A Geospatial Study
title_sort is there a correlation between the driving distance to healthcare facilities and postoperative complications after achilles tendon rupture surgical repair a geospatial study
topic geographic distribution
geographic information system
healthcare accessibility
healthcare equity
social determinants of health
url https://www.jfasap.com/doi/JFASAP/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10040-1277
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