Application of Geographical Elements in the Health Service Research

doi:10.7664/CHE20170902

Abstract：Objective:To discuss the relevant theories and applications of geographical elements in the health service research,and put forward the prospect of the application based on the basic connotation of geographical elements in the health service research.Methods:Literature research were applied to analyze the geographical elements based on the use of the CNKI and PubMed.Results:The geographical elements were mainly divided into natural and social geographical elements,whose theoretical basis in health service research were the theory of man-land relationship and Anderson health service model.There were three main application aspects in the health service research including public health and epidemiology,health system planning and resource allocation,and influence study on the health service supply and demand.Conclusion:Relationship between the natural geographic elements and human health and diseases was addressed in the public health research.The influence of the social geographic elements on the health resources allocation and service utilization was mainly analyzed.It suggested to apply the integration of natural and geographic elements in the health service research,which needed the future research,in order to provide more evidence for health policy reform,resources allocation and stakeholders' equilibrium.