Comparative study of using E2SFCA and 3SFCA methods for selected healthcare resources in Jordan during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to enhance the spatial accessibility of the local public in Amman city to select healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of doctors and nurses in all public hospitals in all cities, particularly Amman, significantly increased. In this study, the spatial accessibility of Amman sub-districts was assessed using these resources to determine the extent to which residents had access to health resources during the pandemic when demand for healthcare capacity was increased. The spatial accessibility index was computed using the three-step floating catchment area (3SFCA) method, which rates these sub-districts with a degree of accessibility to healthcare services, considering spatial travel time and demand for healthcare services. The enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) approach was used to compare the 3SFCA scores and its spatial pattern by population environmental structure and income level. The integrated Gaussian weight of 3SFCA significantly decreased the study area's high estimate of the demand problem. The number of residential areas identified as being in a doctor’s healthcare shortage by 3SFCA and E2SFCA were three and four, respectively. For nurses, this equaled two and four, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Spatial accessibility
• 3SFCA
• E2SFCA
• healthcare facility
• healthcare shortage area
• GIS
• SPAI
• SPAR

Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).