Simulation Modelling of Inequality in Cancer Service Access

TL;DR

This paper introduces a mathematical model using economic inequality measures to analyze spatial disparities in cancer service access across regional areas, aiming to inform policy decisions.

Contribution

It develops a novel model incorporating distance factors to measure inequality in cancer service access, advancing the application of economic concepts to healthcare spatial analysis.

Findings

Lorenz curve visualization of inequality in illustrative data

Model demonstrates potential for real-world application

Framework guides data collection for policy improvement

Abstract

This paper applies economic concepts from measuring income inequality to an exercise in assessing spatial inequality in cancer service access in regional areas. We propose a mathematical model for accessing chemotherapy among local government areas (LGAs). Our model incorporates a distance factor. With a simulation we report results for a single inequality measure: the Lorenz curve is depicted for our illustrative data. We develop this approach in order to move incrementally towards its application to actual data and real-world health service regions. We seek to develop the exercises that can lead policy makers to relevant policy information on the most useful data collections to be collected and modeling for cancer service access in regional areas.