Does location matter: effects of distance & practice size on consumer preferences for seeking primary healthcare

This article examines distance to healthcare services and physician practice size as factors influencing consumer preference and choice when seeking primary healthcare (PHC) in an urban setting. Data from a multipurpose telephone survey for the Canadian city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was analyzed. Using network analyst in ArcGIS and information drawn from this survey, distances to respondents' regular family physicians were compared against distances to the location where healthcare was alternatively received. Statistical analysis demonstrated preferences for larger, more local practices at the expense of continuity of care. These findings suggest erratic utilization of healthcare services that could lead to further healthcare access issues. This paper contributes to a growing body of work that recognizes the complexity of access to healthcare; most importantly it suggests that lower neighbourhood level access can result in health care decisions that might reduce continuity of care.