Correlating Access to Primary Medical Care and Veterinary Care Providers: A Novel Application of Spatial Gravity Modelling

Abstract

Increasingly, health professionals are recognizing the need for a more holistic, or One Health, approach to wellness. Companion animals share the lives and homes of many Americans, and yet little research exists on the intersection of disparities of access to veterinary care and access to human health care. This research aims to fill that gap by exploring the use of a spatial model that identifies the relationship of supply and demand while also considering reductions as a function of travel time to a care facility. Four counties in Alabama were analyzed at the census tract level to determine the supply of primary care physicians and veterinary care providers. This research provides a unique application of the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area model by independently examining access to each type of care and then comparing both access supply values at the census level. Results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between access to both types of care, implying areas with lower access to primary care have concomitantly low access to veterinary care. Implications for practice include the introduction of this methodological approach, identification of future parameter specification research to improve the approach, and identification of an area of significant concern in the One Health framework. Further, the results can inform solution strategies such as offering integrated care interventions for both humans and their companion animal household members with direct use for policymakers aimed at increasing equitable access to health care across the One Health spectrum.

Barriers and Lack of Access to Veterinary Care in Canada 2022

“…Barriers to veterinary care do not exist in isolation, but in the context of the same social determinants of health that impact human health provision, 2,6,45 and the political and policy frameworks within which these exist. An effective safety net is needed for pets marginal to the existing care provision model.…”

“…A ccess to veterinary care (AVC) has received growing attention in recent years. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Pets who are not presented for care remain largely invisible to veterinarians and policymakers, creating a vicious cycle in which this important welfare concern is not adequately recognised and cannot be appropriately addressed. Lack of AVC and other pet resources is likely to be a substantial problem in Canada, as elsewhere Multiple barriers to AVC exist, including affordability, transport, clinic location and availability, communication, cultural or language barriers, negative previous encounters with veterinarians, lack of trust in veterinarians, and lack of knowledge.…”

Strengthening the Implementation of the One Health Approach in the Americas: Interagency Collaboration, Comprehensive Policies, and Information Exchange

“…Reluctance to share critical data on disease outbreaks and health threats can hinder timely and coordinated responses. (8) Furthermore, a robust legal framework and legislation supporting the One Health approach are required. This entails the enactment of policies that facilitate intersectoral collaboration and the allocation of adequate resources to support the implementation of One Health strategies.…”