Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Healthcare Facilities in Nanjing: Network Point Pattern Analysis and Correlation Analysis

Jianhua Ni, Tianlu Qian, Changbai Xi, Yikang Rui and Jiechen Wang
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Jianhua Ni: Department of Geographic Information Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Tianlu Qian: Department of Geographic Information Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Changbai Xi: Department of Geographic Information Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Yikang Rui: Department of Geographic Information Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Jiechen Wang: Department of Geographic Information Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The spatial distribution of urban service facilities is largely constrained by the road network. In this study, network point pattern analysis and correlation analysis were used to analyze the relationship between road network and healthcare facility distribution. The weighted network kernel density estimation method proposed in this study identifies significant differences between the outside and inside areas of the Ming city wall. The results of network K-function analysis show that private hospitals are more evenly distributed than public hospitals, and pharmacy stores tend to cluster around hospitals along the road network. After computing the correlation analysis between different categorized hospitals and street centrality, we find that the distribution of these hospitals correlates highly with the street centralities, and that the correlations are higher with private and small hospitals than with public and large hospitals. The comprehensive analysis results could help examine the reasonability of existing urban healthcare facility distribution and optimize the location of new healthcare facilities.

Keywords: healthcare facilities; network kernel density estimation; network K-function; street centrality; correlation analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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