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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Appalachia

Kentucky Dental Workforce Report 2023
Provides an overview of dental workforce in Kentucky using 2023 licensure data. Reports the characteristics of dentists and their geographic distribution, including comparisons of rural, urban, Appalachian, and Delta counties. Also provides a table of dentist to population ratios for Kentucky counties, and highlights counties considered shortage areas.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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A Road Map for Asset Based Investing in Central Appalachia
Report highlighting various wellbeing and community asset measures in the Appalachian region in the areas of economics, population health, infrastructure, housing, health facilities, and more. Discusses the associations between wellbeing and community assets as well as the implications for investment.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, Reinvestment Fund
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Association Between Insurer Connectivity in Appalachian Population Health Networks and Preventable Hospitalizations: Evidence from Kentucky
Examines insurer connectivity in community networks across regions in Kentucky, and the association between connectivity and the probability of experiencing a preventable hospitalization. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, rural non-Appalachian, and Appalachian locations.
Author(s): Rachel Hogg-Graham, Kelsey R. Gatton, Rick Ingram, Glen P. Mays
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 5(2), 15-31
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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A Survey of Behaviors, Beliefs, and Perceptions of COVID-19 in Rural Appalachian Ohio
Presents behaviors, beliefs, and perceptions related to COVID-19 based on a survey administered in a rural Appalachian community. Analyzes 23 responses regarding demographic information and perceptions surrounding COVID-19.
Author(s): Sanjay K. A. Jinka, Jay P. Natarajan, Matthew Kubina, et al.
Citation: Ohio Journal of Public Health, 6(1)
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Public Health Association
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Kentucky Physician Report 2022
Reports on the Kentucky primary care physician workforce distribution and shortages as of 2022. Features statistics on provider-to-population ratios and geographic distribution, with breakdowns by urban, rural, Delta, and Appalachian areas, and includes a county-level map showing numbers of physicians.
Author(s): Sydney P. Howard, Kaden Boots, Frances Feltner
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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Lung and Colorectal Cancer Disparities in Appalachian Kentucky: Spatial Analysis on the Influence of Education and Literacy
Results of a study to explore educational attainment as a risk factor for increased colorectal and lung cancer incidence and mortality in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties. Features county-level maps with shadings indicating prevalence of these cancers and literacy and educational levels.
Author(s): Nicole M. Robertson, Todd Burus, Lauren Hudson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6363
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Advancing Economic Development in Persistent-Poverty Communities
Examines census tracts to identify areas of "persistent poverty," defined as an area with at least a 20% poverty rate for at least 30 years. Discusses the distribution of the persistently poor population between rural and urban areas and highlights specific regions such as the Southeast, Tribal areas, and Appalachia. Outlines contributors to persistent poverty including workforce development, lack of infrastructure, race and ethnicity, economic conditions, and more. Presents 4 case studies, including 2 rural studies, to highlight overall themes and make recommendations for improving conditions in persistently poor locations. Interactive map provides information and data on persistent poverty counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Interactive Map
Author(s): August Benzow, Kenan Fikri, Joanne Kim, Daniel Newman
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Economic Innovation Group
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Ambulance Deserts: Geographic Disparities in the Provision of Ambulance Services
Webinar recording presenting key findings from a chartbook that analyzes 41 states in 2021-2022 and identifies places and people in ambulance deserts, defined as locations that are more than 25 minutes from an ambulance station.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk
Date: 06/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Rural Health Research Center, Rural Health Research Gateway
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The Impacts of Opioid Addiction on the Rural Workforce
A recorded webinar that examines how the rural workforce has been impacted by opioid addiction. Discusses issues of healthcare access, poverty, mental health, and farmworker health, along with data on workforce impacts. Includes resources to support opioid recovery and examples of recovery efforts in specific regions, such as Appalachia.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Presentation, Transcript
Author(s): Kellie Kubena, Carol Wetuski, Lauren Wood, et al.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, First Tennessee Development District, Office of Workforce Investment (OWI), U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Video Brochures in a Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Test Outreach Program Provide Cancer Screening Information in a User-friendly Format for Rural Appalachian Community Members
Presents a study on the efficacy of using a video brochure to provide colorectal cancer (CRC) screening information and instructions for a fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) sent out to rural patients in Appalachian Ohio. Explores the barriers to CRC screening, including the low rates of returning FITs, and discusses the effect the video brochure had on this process.
Author(s): Mira L. Katz, Abigail B. Shoben, Sabrina Newell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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