Studies have shown that increased distance to the closest endoscopy provider is associated with lower screening utilization among Medicare enrollees. The purpose of this study is to expand beyond the Medicare population to examine the travel behaviors of the entire population, comparing urban vs. rural residents in obtaining endoscopies for colorectal cancer screening.

Publications

• Colonoscopy Access and Utilization – Rural Disparities in the Carolinas, 2001-2010
  Policy Brief
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 07/2016
  This study aims to use data on where patients travel for their colonoscopies to determine the extent to which access is changing over space and time, and to better understand utilization patterns among rural residents of North and South Carolina between 2001 and 2010.
• Trends in Spatial Access to Colonoscopy in South Carolina, 2000-2014
  Journal Article
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 06/2021
  This study looks at the availability of colonoscopy screenings in South Carolina between 2000 and 2014 with a focus on changes in spatial access for these preventive services.
• Who Performs Colonoscopy? Workforce Trends Over Space and Time
  Journal Article
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 11/2017
  Using data from South Carolina from 2001-2010, this study looked at changes in the types of facilities doing colonoscopies as well as the any changes in who is performing them.