Equity and spatial accessibility of healthcare resources in online health community network

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the geographical distribution and fractal characteristics of the medical service network in China, using the “Good Doctor website” as a case study. Methods: Data for this study were extracted from the Good Doctor website Health Community. A two-tiered hierarchical network model was developed to analyze the geographical distribution and fractal characteristics of the medical service network in China. Results: Results unveil the hierarchical nature of hospital distribution and the interconnectivity among healthcare institutions. Shandong Province as a central node within the national hospital network, and networks of secondary hospitals show significant self-similarity and scale-free properties. Discussion: The small world and fractal characteristics shed light on the rapid dissemination of medical information and the robustness of the healthcare network. The results offer a novel perspective for understanding and optimizing the distribution of medical resources, and help improve the efficiency of healthcare services supply.