Rough work
Health regions that were ≥ 37 kilometers away from the nearest radiotherapy centre had a significantly higher MIR than those situated < 37 kilometers (0.45 versus 0.41, respective; F(1,110) = 9.14, p = .003).
When considering the impact of both variables together, health regions inhabited by ≥ 23% of Aboriginals had significantly higher MIR compared to those with < 23%, irrespective of distance to nearest radiotherapy centre (MIR = .41, Z = 4.75, p < .0001 for centres < 37 kilometers; and MIR = .43, Z = 4.50, p < .0001 for centres ≥ 37 kilometers). In addition, health regions with < 23% of Aboriginals had a higher MIR if they were located ≥ 37 kilometers away from the nearest radiotherapy centre versus < 37 kilometers (Z = 3.15, p = .002).
MIRs in health regions with ≥ 23% Aboriginals were not significantly different whether the region was greater or less than 922 kilometers from the nearest radiotherapy centre (Z = 1.41, p = .16), again noting that none of these health regions were closer than 200 kilometers to the nearest radiotherapy centre. Conversely, health regions with ≥ 23% Aboriginals, regardless of distance, had significantly higher MIRs when compared to health regions with < 23% Aboriginals regardless of distance (all p < .01; see Figure 2). Health regions with < 23% Aboriginals that were ≥ 37 kilometers from the nearest radiotherapy centre also had significantly higher MIRs compared to those < 37 kilometers away (Z = 3.15, p = .002).
Health regions with <23% Aboriginals and <37 kilometres distance to nearest radiotherapy centre had the lowest MIR, when compared to all other groups (<23% Aboriginals and ≥37 kilometres: Z = -3.15, p = .002; ≥23% Aboriginals and <922 kilometres: Z = -3.88, p = .0001; ≥23% Aboriginals and ≥922 kilometres: Z = -3.48, p = .0005). Health regions with <23% Aboriginals that were ≥37 kilometres away still had significantly lower MIR compared to those with ≥23% Aboriginals regardless of whether they were <922 kilometres (Z = -3.27, p = .001) or ≥ 922 kilometres from the nearest radiotherapy centre (Z = -3.52, p = .0004). Of note again, however, is that there were no health regions with ≥23% Aboriginals that were closer than 200 kilometres to the nearest radiotherapy centre. MIRs in health regions with ≥23% Aboriginals and ≥922 kilometres distance had the highest MIR, but was not significantly different from those located <922 kilometres away (Z = 1.41, p = .158).