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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Appalachia

Spatial, Temporal and Relational Patterns in Respondent-Driven Sampling: Evidence from a Social Network Study of Rural Drug Users
Reports on a study that used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit participants who were drug users in rural Central Appalachia. Focuses on the patterns of recruitment in this rural setting using RDS, which relies on an initial set of participants who recruit additional participants from their personal networks.
Author(s): April M. Young, Abby E. Rudolph, Deane Quillen, Jennifer R. Havens
Citation: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 68(8), 792-8
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
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Health Disparities Are Leaving Ohio's Rural Children Behind
Examines rural health disparities and their impact on children in rural, poverty stricken counties in Ohio, many in Appalachia. Investigates how limited access to nutritious food and healthcare providers has led to the health disparities in children. Offers policy recommendations to remedy the situation.
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Children's Defense Fund
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Gender and Age Are Associated with Healthy Food Purchases via Grocery Voucher Redemption
Explores the association of age, gender, education, and income level with purchasing healthy foods using a grocery voucher in rural Appalachian Kentucky, an area considered a food desert with higher rates of chronic disease. Includes data on the purchase of a designated voucher food item by age, sex, education, and income.
Author(s): Frances Hardin-Fanning, Yevgeniya Gokun
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 14(3), 2830
Date: 07/2014
Type: Document
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Assessment of Appalachian Region Pediatric Hearing Healthcare Disparities and Delays
Reports on a study to analyze the timeliness of diagnostic and rehabilitative services for children with severe hearing loss in rural areas of Appalachia which may postpone or delay cochlear implantation and other intervention services.
Author(s): Matthew L. Bush, Mariel Osetinsky, Jennifer B. Shinn, et al.
Citation: Laryngoscope, 124(7), 1713-1717
Date: 07/2014
Type: Document
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Comparisons of Cancer Incidence and Mortality for Rural vs. Urban Pennsylvania Counties, Rural Appalachian Counties, and Rural U.S. Counties
Examines differences in cancer incidence in men and women in rural U.S. counties, rural Appalachian counties, and rural/urban Pennsylvania counties. Identifies cancers on which to focus prevention and screening efforts. Includes county specific incidence and mortality by cancer type for men and women in rural Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Steven Godin, Samuel Lesko, Eugene Lengerich, et al.
Date: 07/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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ATC Update: The Health Wagon Featured on CBS News
The Health Wagon, which offers free health care to thousands of patients each year in Southwestern Virginia, was spotlighted on the CBS news show, "60 Minutes."
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Bad News, Good News
An early childhood education intervention project in North Carolina is proving to have long-term health benefits for some of the participants 30 years later.
Author(s): Wayne Myers
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Trust in Physicians Among Rural Medicaid-Enrolled Smokers
Reports on a study of rural Medicaid-enrolled adult smokers participating in a tobacco cessation program to assess their level of trust in their physicians and the relationship between trust and patient characteristics and physician performance.
Author(s): Emory Nelms, Ling Wang, Michael Pennell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 30(2), 214–220
Date: 04/2014
Type: Document
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Delays in Diagnosis of Congenital Hearing Loss in Rural Children
Analyzes Kentucky's newborn hearing-screening program data to determine the frequency of congenital hearing loss for both rural Appalachia and non-Appalachia regions of the state. Includes Appalachia and non-Appalachia hearing loss data by the number of births, failed newborns screenings, types of hearing loss, percent of families obtaining diagnostic testing following a failed screening test, and children enrolled in an early intervention program.
Author(s): Matthew L. Bush, Kristin Bianchi, Cathy Lester, et al.
Citation: Journal of Pediatrics, 164(2), 393-397
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
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Clinical, Sociodemographic and Service Provider Determinants of Guideline Concordant Colorectal Cancer Care for Appalachian Residents
Presents a study of Appalachian colorectal cancer patients diagnosed between 2006-2008 regarding their adherence to treatment guidelines by measuring rates of chemotherapy, lymph node assessment, and radiation treatments. Breaks down results by participants' age, race, and type and severity of comorbidity, as well as several treatment facility factors, such as bed size and surgical volume, among others.
Author(s): Steven T. Fleming, Heath B. Mackley, Fabian Camacho, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 30(1), 27-39
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
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