Final answer:
The researcher would most likely look at regional cost estimates, considering factors like geography of disease and care, which include mapping treatments and conducting statistical tests for spatial autocorrelation to assess health care quality and variations.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a researcher looking at the estimated cost of treating patients in a rural area versus in a large city, the criteria you are most likely to look at is regional cost estimates. This encompasses various factors that can influence the cost such as the geography of disease, geography of care, availability of medical facilities, and the presence of health care providers. Researchers may utilize geographic information systems (GIS) to map treatments and conduct statistical tests for spatial autocorrelation to determine if the distribution of certain treatments is random or clustered. By comparing the spatial pattern of diseases and treatments, researchers can raise essential questions about health care quality and regional variations in health care. It is important to consider the different health care systems that may be in place, such as those that provide universal health care funded through taxes.