Digital footprints of the medical behaviour in municipalities of the Sverdlovsk Oblast: A spatial analysis of differences
Svetlana V. Begicheva - Cand. Sc. (Econ.), Associate Prof. of Business Informatics Dept. Ural State University of Economics
Varvara V. Sokolova - Student. Ural State University of Economics
Abstract
The article aims to analyse territorial differences in the behavioural accessibility of medical care at the municipal level. Methodologically, the research rests on contemporary concepts of healthcare accessibility, including the Levesque model, which emphasises the role of behavioural aspects (ability to seek, pay and engage). The information base includes aggregated data on non-cash expenditures of the population on medical services, indicators of economic security and spatial connectivity of municipalities in the Sverdlovsk Oblast. The methods include correlation and spatial analysis, as well as visual analytics. The results of the study show that the share of health expenditure statistically significantly correlates with income level. The research has not found any statistically significant correlation with spatial accessibility. We have identified territorial clusters with high and low medical activity, and municipalities with visible behavioural barriers. The paper concludes that the actual use of medical services depends not only on the infrastructure development level, but also on sustainable patterns of population behaviour. The article proposes regional policy directions that take into account behavioural factors affecting access to medical care.
Keywords: healthcare accessibility; behavioural accessibility; digital footprints; spatial analysis; municipal differences; health expenditures; transaction data.
For citation: Begicheva S. V., Sokolova V. V. Digital footprints of the medical behaviour in municipalities of the Sverdlovsk Oblast: A spatial analysis of differences. Digital Models and Solutions. 2025. Vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 69–80. DOI: 10.29141/2949-477X-2025-4-4-6. EDN: MQZZZP.
