Correlation between Motor Vehicle Mortality Rate and Density of Medical Resources

Abstract

AbstractAn inverse correlation has been reported between motor vehicle crash mortality rate (MVCMR) and population density. The reasons for this are unknown, but variations in prehospital and hospital resources are a possible explanation.Hypothesis:Densities of prehospital and hospital resources correlate inversely with motor vehicle crash mortality rates.Methods:Data regarding population, area, number of motor vehicle deaths, and number and types of hospital and prehospital care resources for 1987, were obtained from the Michigan State Department of Public Health and transformed to create measures of resource per square mile by county. Correlation coefficients were computed between motor vehicle death rate and medical resource densities.Results:Small negative correlations were seen for all variables. Correlation coefficients ranged from -0.224 (EMTs per sq mi) to -0.167 (beds per sq mi). Only the coefficient for EMTs per square mile was statistically significant (p=0.043).Conclusion:Small negative correlations exist in Michigan counties between MVCMR and medical resources. We conclude that only a small proportion of MVCMR variation can be accounted for by the density of medical resources.