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Geographical information system mapping of paediatric referrals to the community paediatric dental services in
Sumaiya Irhouma1, Bilal Ahmed2, Saim Haider3
1Department of Oral Medicine, Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, United Kingdom. sumaiya.irhouma@nhs.net.
Insights
Geographical information systems (GIS) mapped paediatric dental referrals, revealing high referral densities in deprived areas. This data can guide resource allocation for community dental services (CDS).
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Public Health
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Background:
- Community Dental Services (CDS) receive numerous paediatric referrals.
- Understanding referral origins is crucial for effective resource allocation.
- Geographical disparities in healthcare access and need are well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the geographical origin of paediatric referrals to CDS.
- To assess the spatial relationship between referral density and socioeconomic deprivation using the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
- To inform resource allocation strategies for areas with high need.
Main Methods:
- Utilized geographical information systems (GIS) software (ArcGIS) to map 4,146 paediatric referrals over 18 months (April 2017-October 2018).
- Generated maps of IMD scores and decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) using established data resources.
- Superimposed referral data and deprivation maps to identify spatial correlations.
Main Results:
- High densities of paediatric referrals originated from areas with the highest deprivation scores.
- The majority of patients were referred externally, with common triage outcomes including Level 2, Level 3a, and Level 3b care.
- A clear spatial relationship was observed between high referral rates and areas of significant socioeconomic deprivation.
Conclusions:
- Mapping referral patterns using GIS provides valuable insights into healthcare needs.
- Findings suggest that areas with higher deprivation experience greater demand for community dental services.
- This evidence can support managed clinical networks in strategically planning healthcare facility locations and resource distribution.
Abstract:
Aims To map the origin of paediatric referrals to the Community Dental Services (CDS) using geographical information systems (GIS). This is to assess the spatial relationship between areas of high referral density in relation to measures of deprivation according to the English Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 (IMD) and subsequently recommend the allocation of resources to areas of need.Materials and methods Information from 4,146 paediatric referrals to the CDS over an 18-month period between April 2017 and October 2018 was collated and mapped using the GIS software (ArcGIS), allowing for analysis of data and identification of patterns. Maps of both IMD and decayed, missing or filled teeth scores were generated using the Indices of Deprivation Interactive Dashboard and Public Health Profiles mapping resources. Both paediatric referral data and deprivation score maps were then superimposed to create a combined map, permitting identification of spatial relationships.Results Most patients were externally referred to the CDS with three main triage outcomes: Level 2, Level 3a and Level 3b care. The maps produced showed high densities of referrals for patients residing in areas with the highest deprivation scores.Conclusion Such information may be of use to managed clinical networks when planning locations of healthcare facilities.
