To the Editor: Clark et al have claimed to map the distribution of services for people with chronic heart failure (CHF) against the distribution of these people.1 An examination will show that they have mapped the distribution of people likely to have CHF, using age and Aboriginality as surrogate markers. The stated mapping of the services shows the services probably available to these people.
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- 1. Clark RA, Driscoll A, Nottage J, et al. Inequitable provision of optimal services for patients with chronic heart failure: a national geo-mapping study. Med J Aust 2007; 186: 169-173. <MJA full text>
- 2. Hurvitz P. Introduction to geographic information systems in forest resources: displaying layers. http://gis.washington.edu/esrm250/lessons/arcmap_basics/displaying_layers.html (accessed Jul 2007).
- 3. Strahota M. Municipal water consumption and health issues in Texas. 2004. http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishydro05/Introduction/TermProjects/strahota.htm (accessed Jul 2007).
- 4. Atkinson R, Flint J. Accessing hidden and hard-to-reach populations: snowball research strategies. Soc Res Update [Internet] 2001; 33. http://sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/SRU33.html (accessed Jul 2007).
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I acknowledge the assistance of several colleagues in the preparation of this letter: Oliver Frank, Ian Haywood, Tim Churches, and Adrian Billiau.