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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Appalachia

Adjuvant Therapy Use Among Appalachian Breast Cancer Survivors
Explores adjuvant hormone therapy behaviors in a four-state region of Appalachia. Evaluates the influences on adherence to the therapy, especially issues of access to cancer care resources in rural areas of the region.
Author(s): Xi Tan, Vincent D. Marshall, Roger T. Anderson, et al.
Citation: Medicine, 94(26), e1071
Date: 06/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Cancer Institute
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Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Treatment Delay Within Appalachia – The Role of For-Profit Hospitals
Discusses the timeliness of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment in rural hospitals of the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Study uses data from the 2006-2008 Central Cancer Registry (CCR) as well as Medicare claims to identify delays between diagnosis and treatment in healthcare facilities with various funding models.
Author(s): Eric E. Seiber, Fabian Camacho, Muhammad Fazal Zeeshan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(4), 382-391
Date: 05/2015
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Slade, Kentucky, May 27-29, 2015
Provides a summary of the 77th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. Discusses health disparities in Appalachia, social determinants of health, including poverty and economic development, and how federal programs are working to address these issues.
Date: 05/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Increases in Hepatitis C Virus Infection Related to Injection Drug Use Among Persons Aged ≤30 Years - Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, 2006-2012
Discusses opioid abuse, drug injecting, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in central Appalachia, with data on HCV infection rates for four states. Includes data for rural and urban areas by gender and race/ethnicity.
Author(s): Jon E. Zibbell, Kashif Iqbal, Rajiv C. Patel, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 64(17), 453-458
Date: 05/2015
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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A Rural Appalachian Faith-Placed Smoking Cessation Intervention
Describes a faith-oriented smoking cessation program comprising 590 smokers in 26 churches located in rural Appalachia. Discusses 3 themes identified by the participants' evaluation of the program including the program's ability to leverage social connections, be conveniently orientated, and to provide financial support for smoking cessation.
Author(s): Nancy E. Schoenberg, Henry E. Bundy, Jordan A. Baeker Bispo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Religion and Health, 54(2), 598-611
Date: 04/2015
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An Exploratory Study of Mental Health and HIV Risk Behavior among Drug-Using Rural Women in Jail
Examines HIV risk behaviors and mental health conditions through face-to-face interviews with 136 women incarcerated in three rural Kentucky county jails within Appalachia. Includes data and statistics on substance use and HIV risk behaviors for women with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Author(s): Michele Staton-Tindall, Kathi L.H. Harp, Alexandra Minieri, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38(1), 45-54
Date: 03/2015
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Knowledge and Perceptions of Tobacco-Related Media in Rural Appalachia
Examines the perceptions of tobacco-related media among rural, Appalachian residents to determine its impact on smoking rates.
Author(s): Steven Branstetter, Eugene Lengerich, Mark Dignan, Joshua Muscat
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 15(1), 3136
Date: 03/2015
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Appalachia Then and Now: Examining Changes to the Appalachian Region since 1965
Presents a comparison of collected data on the Appalachian region from the 1960s and 2010s. Discusses a variety of determinants of health, including poverty, mortality, infrastructure, and employment, among others. Document includes Executive Summary, Technical Report, and State Meetings Report.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Developing a Culturally Competent, Sustainable Rural Model for Diabetes Prevention
Assesses a community- and family-based approach to diabetes prevention and management in 11 Appalachian counties across 3 states. Highlights the benefits of utilizing a culturally sensitive approach to diabetes education and awareness when engaging rural communities.
Author(s): Lesli Johnson, Sharon Denham
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 15(1), 3031
Date: 02/2015
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Connecting People to the Source of Their Food: Changing the Way We Think about Food to Improve Health
Presents a study on local food systems as a means of providing access to healthy food in rural communities. Compares outcomes in rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Emily Jackson
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 76(1), 54-56
Date: 01/2015
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