Cervical cancer rates and the supply of primary care physicians in Florida

Abstract

Background and objectives: This study's aim was to determine if an increased supply of primary care physicians is associated with lower incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer.

Methods: We determined cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates for each of Florida's 67 counties over the 3-year period of 1993-1995 using data from Florida's population-based tumor registry. Data on physician supply were obtained from the 1994 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. We used multiple linear regression analysis to examine the relationship between physician supply and cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, adjusting for other county-level characteristics.

Results: In regression analysis that adjusted for other county-level characteristics, each increase in the supply of family physicians of one physician/10,000 persons was associated with a corresponding drop in the incidence rate of 1.5 cases/100,000 persons and a corresponding drop in mortality rate of .65 cases/100,000 persons.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that a greater supply of primary care physicians is likely associated with a lower incidence of cervical cancer and a lower cervical cancer mortality rate. More studies are needed at the individual patient level to confirm this association.