Spatial Evaluation of the Health Care Need Index for Skin Cancer Using Structural Equation Modeling in Iran

The restriction in resources of health services renders the prioritization of the distribution of these resources necessary. The health care need index is used to investigate equality in distribution of health services. The main aim of the current study was to estimate this index for skin cancer in Iran by involving the effect of adjacent regions.
The present study was a correlational research. The study population consisted of all patients with and deceased due to skin cancer registered by the Iranian Ministry of Health from 2008 to 2010. Data were analyzed using winBUGS software and through geographical mapping using ArcGIS software.
Findings: The results suggested that Markazi, Isfahan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Provinces, respectively, had the highest health care need indices for skin cancer.
The results of this study displayed that the central provinces, which have longer sunshine duration, require more health services. Therefore, policymakers should pay additional attention to these regions because longer duration of exposure to sunshine is a risk factor for skin cancer.