Geographic and Sociodemographic Analysis of ASOPRS-Trained Oculofacial Plastic Surgeons in the United States
Author: Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen
Base Hospital / Institution: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 24-244
Purpose
To identify disparities in access to complex oculofacial plastic care by characterizing ASOPRS-trained surgeons and mapping their service areas in the United States (U.S).
Methods
Using the 2024 Oculofacial Society directory, we identified all U.S.-based members (referred as OFSs) and their primary practice location. We recorded their gender and degrees. Their practice locations were converted into latitude and longitude coordinates using LocationIQ (Unwired Labs). Coordinates were inputted in ArcGIS Pro (Esri) to perform geospatial coverage analyses. We delineated SCAs by generating regions within a 60-minute drive time from each provider address. The most recent American Community Survey data (ACS) from the U.S. Census Bureau were then layered onto the provider distribution map to characterize the population within and outside the SCAs. Social determinants of health of the population within and outside the SCAs were compared using chi-square tests.
Results
Of the 635 practicing OFSs, 427 (68.2%) were men, and 53 (8.3%) had a Masters/Doctorate degree. States with the most OFSs were California (n=95, 15.0%), Texas (n=47, 7.4%) and Florida (n=45, 7.1%), while no OFSs practiced in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Wyoming. Of the 322,561,852 Americans nationwide, 260,154,031 (80.7%) lived within a 60-minute driving time from an OFSs office. The population living outside a 60-minute drive from an OFS was significantly more likely to be White, Non-Hispanic, without university education, receiving social security income, residing in a household below the federal poverty level, and lacking health insurance, compared to the population living inside 60-minute SCAs (each P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Inequitable geographic distribution in OFSs across the U.S leads to service deserts, disproportionately affecting patients in rural areas and those with lower socio-economic status. Recognizing these geographical and social obstacles to complex oculoplastic care access can inform future policies aimed at reducing these barriers.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel R. | Chow | Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. |
| Mélanie | Hébert | Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. |
| Georges | Nassrallah | Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. |
| Navdeep | Nijhawan | Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. |
