Rural Health
Resources by State: Alaska
Hearing Norton Sound: Community Involvement in the Design of a Mixed Methods Community Randomized Trial in 15 Alaska Native Communities
Describes a community-based research project examining a telemedicine cell-phone based screening process to improve early detection and treatment of childhood hearing loss in rural Alaska. Community stakeholders assisted in shaping the research question, measurable outcomes, and project procedures. Serves as a model for community-based research in rural communities.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, S. Meade Inglis, Joseph J. Gallo, et al.
Citation: Research Involvement and Engagement, 6(67)
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Describes a community-based research project examining a telemedicine cell-phone based screening process to improve early detection and treatment of childhood hearing loss in rural Alaska. Community stakeholders assisted in shaping the research question, measurable outcomes, and project procedures. Serves as a model for community-based research in rural communities.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, S. Meade Inglis, Joseph J. Gallo, et al.
Citation: Research Involvement and Engagement, 6(67)
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Rapid Detection of Tuberculosis in Remote Alaska
Study of a rapid testing method for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) administered in a remote area of western Alaska. Discusses challenges of diagnosing and treating TB in a timely manner in remote areas, and describes the process of creating and implementing a rapid testing program in partnership with healthcare organizations. Presents data from 223 patients who received the rapid test over 3 years, including positivity rates, test sensitivity and specificity, and effectiveness of the testing method.
Author(s): Ronald J. Bowerman
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 79(1), 1827786
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
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Study of a rapid testing method for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) administered in a remote area of western Alaska. Discusses challenges of diagnosing and treating TB in a timely manner in remote areas, and describes the process of creating and implementing a rapid testing program in partnership with healthcare organizations. Presents data from 223 patients who received the rapid test over 3 years, including positivity rates, test sensitivity and specificity, and effectiveness of the testing method.
Author(s): Ronald J. Bowerman
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 79(1), 1827786
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
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Contact Tracing: Training New Workers and Connecting with Rural Residents
Discusses the role contact tracing plays in preventing further spread of the coronavirus in rural communities. Highlights an IHS hospital in Arizona and its in-person contact tracing initiative. Also covers contact tracing training strategies, featuring the work of Alaska's AHEC program, a center for public health in Washington, and a national public health foundation.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses the role contact tracing plays in preventing further spread of the coronavirus in rural communities. Highlights an IHS hospital in Arizona and its in-person contact tracing initiative. Also covers contact tracing training strategies, featuring the work of Alaska's AHEC program, a center for public health in Washington, and a national public health foundation.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Recruitment Best Practices of a Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Randomised Control Trial in Rural Alaska Native Communities
Describes the research methods of the Healthy and Empowering Alaskan Lives Towards Healthy Hearts (HEALTHH) project, which recruited Indigenous participants from the 16 communities that make up the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska to study smoking behavior and chronic disease prevention efforts among Alaska Native populations. Explores special considerations for research involving remote Alaska Native communities and analyzes data related to recruitment best practices, staffing issues, and barriers to enrolling study participants.
Author(s): Mariah Knox, Jordan Skan, Neal L. Benowitz, Matthew Schnellbaecher, Judith J. Prochaska
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 79(1), 1806639
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
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Describes the research methods of the Healthy and Empowering Alaskan Lives Towards Healthy Hearts (HEALTHH) project, which recruited Indigenous participants from the 16 communities that make up the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska to study smoking behavior and chronic disease prevention efforts among Alaska Native populations. Explores special considerations for research involving remote Alaska Native communities and analyzes data related to recruitment best practices, staffing issues, and barriers to enrolling study participants.
Author(s): Mariah Knox, Jordan Skan, Neal L. Benowitz, Matthew Schnellbaecher, Judith J. Prochaska
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 79(1), 1806639
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
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Defining Rural Population Health and Health Equity
Establishes a unified definition of population health and health equity in rural and frontier communities. Intended to educate rural health and clinical partners and to help engage rural health stakeholders in discussions to improve the health and well-being of rural people. Provides examples of community-based programs addressing health inequities.
Citation: NOSORH Issue Brief, 2(5), 1-4
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Establishes a unified definition of population health and health equity in rural and frontier communities. Intended to educate rural health and clinical partners and to help engage rural health stakeholders in discussions to improve the health and well-being of rural people. Provides examples of community-based programs addressing health inequities.
Citation: NOSORH Issue Brief, 2(5), 1-4
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Advance Care Planning: New Realities in Times of COVID-19
Examines the challenges of advance care planning, planning for decision-making in times of medical crisis, due to COVID-19. Shares insights from clinicians and others involved in helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Examines the challenges of advance care planning, planning for decision-making in times of medical crisis, due to COVID-19. Shares insights from clinicians and others involved in helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Lack of In-Home Piped Water and Reported Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Adults in Rural Alaska
Examines associations between availability of in-home piped water service and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in rural Alaska using data from 2013 and 2015. Assesses health outcomes such as obesity and self-reported poor health as related to SSBs. Includes statistics broken down by age, sex, household income, and education level, among other things.
Author(s): Emily Mosites, Sara Seeman, Andrea Fenaughty, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 23(5), 861-868
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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Examines associations between availability of in-home piped water service and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in rural Alaska using data from 2013 and 2015. Assesses health outcomes such as obesity and self-reported poor health as related to SSBs. Includes statistics broken down by age, sex, household income, and education level, among other things.
Author(s): Emily Mosites, Sara Seeman, Andrea Fenaughty, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 23(5), 861-868
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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Organizational Readiness to Implement System Changes in an Alaskan Tribal Dental Care Organization
Study of an Alaska tribal dental care organization's readiness for system-level changes based on surveys of dental providers, assistants, and support staff employed by the organization at 15 clinics in remote villages and 3 main dental clinics located in cities. Discusses perceptions of staff regarding workforce issues and support for change related to policies and evidence-based practices. Scores each area of readiness for change based on survey data, including organizational functioning, resources, and management.
Author(s): C.L. Randall, K. Hort, C.E. Huebner, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 5(2), 156-165
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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Study of an Alaska tribal dental care organization's readiness for system-level changes based on surveys of dental providers, assistants, and support staff employed by the organization at 15 clinics in remote villages and 3 main dental clinics located in cities. Discusses perceptions of staff regarding workforce issues and support for change related to policies and evidence-based practices. Scores each area of readiness for change based on survey data, including organizational functioning, resources, and management.
Author(s): C.L. Randall, K. Hort, C.E. Huebner, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 5(2), 156-165
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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Tribal HPOG Program Snapshot - The CITC HPOG Program: Creating Pathways to Brighter Futures
Highlights key features of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program and outcomes from the first four years of program implementation. CITC is a Tribal HPOG 2.0 grantee and helps individuals in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley pursue careers in health professions.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Highlights key features of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program and outcomes from the first four years of program implementation. CITC is a Tribal HPOG 2.0 grantee and helps individuals in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley pursue careers in health professions.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Strengthening the System: Alaska's Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program Plan 2020-24
Details Alaska's mental health integration plan. Discusses 9 goals that cover different aspects of mental health coverage, such as suicide prevention, substance use disorder prevention, and early childhood mental health.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Department of Health, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
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Details Alaska's mental health integration plan. Discusses 9 goals that cover different aspects of mental health coverage, such as suicide prevention, substance use disorder prevention, and early childhood mental health.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Department of Health, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
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