Spatial barriers and the bypassing of nearby dental clinics for dental services: a secondary data analysis in Korea

ObjectiveThis study aimed to calculate the distance patients travel to dental clinics, the rate of bypassing nearby dental clinics and the distance covered when bypassing nearby dental clinics, and explored factors associated with patients’ spatial access to dental clinics.DesignA secondary data analysis.SettingKorea Health Panel.ParticipantsWe included users of dental care services from 2008 to 2011. A total of 2375 patients and 15 978 dental visits were analysed.Primary outcome measuresKorea Health Panel data (2008–2011) were used to geocode patients’ and healthcare facilities’ addresses. The distance travelled was calculated using road network information. To analyse the panel data, we adopted a generalised estimating equation: geographical measures on the choice of dental care facility were examined based on sex, age, educational level, equivalent income, treatment details and regional classification.ResultsThe median distance travelled to a dental clinic was 1.8 km, which is farther for rural (8.4 km) than for urban (1.5 km) patients. The bypass rate was 58.9%. Patients bypassing nearby dental clinics travelled 9.6 times farther for dental care (p