The development of a spatial model of accessibility to phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation programs

Abstract

Existing Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation services are currently underutilised and improving access will be necessary because of ageing of the population and falling case-fatality rates. The Spatial Model of Accessibility to Phase 2 Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs was developed to quantify accessibility to out-patient cardiac rehabilitation in Australia. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to combine both geographic and socio-economic aspects of accessibility. The model was developed by integrating the socio-economic information gathered by survey and incorporating a distance decay model.