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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer

The Costs of Cancer in Rural Communities
Explores the financial impact cancer has on individuals in rural communities. Includes information and data related to health insurance, income levels, and how cost is connected to healthcare access and deferred treatment.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
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The Involvement of Rural Health Clinic Practitioners in Cancer Treatment Decisions and Survivorship Care
Results of a survey examining how practitioners from 153 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in 36 states are involved in their patients' cancer treatment and survivorship decisions. Features statistics on RHC characteristics, proportions of RHC practitioners who provide care or engage in joint decisions with another practitioner, RHC practitioner roles in cancer survivorship care, and experience with follow-up care for cancer survivors.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Allie F. Silverman, Stella Self, et al.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Lessening the Impact of Financial Toxicity (Lift): A Protocol for a Multi-Site, Single-Arm Trial Examining the Effect of Financial Navigation on Financial Toxicity in Adult Patients with Cancer in Rural and Non-Rural Settings
Describes a trial study that examines financial toxicity (FT) experienced by adults with cancer in both rural and urban settings and implements financial navigation (FN) strategies for the patient. Observes 780 patients over 2 years who are enrolled in the Lessening the Impact of Financial Toxicity (LIFT) study that identifies and screens for FT, connects patients to FN resources, and includes ongoing check-ins and electronic tracking of LIFT patients. Includes rural versus urban breakdowns of oncology settings by organizational characteristics such as cancer program type, hospital ownership structure, presence of satellite locations, number of inpatient beds, and number of counties in catchment area.
Author(s): Stephanie B. Wheeler, Caitlin B. Biddell, Michelle L. Manning, et al.
Citation: Trials, 23, 839
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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Pairing Project ECHO and Patient Navigation as an Innovative Approach to Improving the Health and Wellness of Cancer Survivors in Rural Settings
Presents a study on the use of Project ECHO and patient navigation programs to support rural cancer control programs for survivors. Evaluates the efficacy of the programs in improving both access to cancer support care, as well as the quality of care received. Details the challenges and facilitators to these programs in each site.
Author(s): Elizabeth Rohan, PhD,1 Nora Kuiper, MPH,2 Shelly-Ann Bowen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 855-864
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Disparities in Breast and Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates for Females in Illinois, 1996 – 2019
Provides data on breast and cervical cancer disparities in Illinois women from 1996 to 2019, with breakdowns by race/ethnicity, age, stage at diagnosis, and rural, small urban, suburban, or urban county type. Includes incidence and mortality rates utilizing Illinois State Cancer Registry (ISCR) incidence data and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) mortality data.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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Impact of Social Vulnerability on Comorbid Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in the United States
Examines racial and social disparities as related to cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Utilizes 2015-2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database to analyze mortality rates and 2014-2018 data from the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to estimate the respective county-level social vulnerability index (SVI). Includes demographic breakdowns of mortality rates according to age, sex, race/ethnicity, and large metropolitan, medium small metropolitan, or micropolitan/noncore (nonmetropolitan) location.
Author(s): Sarju Ganatra, Sourbha S. Dani, Ashish Kumar, et al.
Citation: Journal of American College of Cardiology: CardioOncology, 4(3), 326-337
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Incidental Sun Exposures as a Source of Sunburn Among Rural Compared to Urban Residents in the United States
Presents a study comparing sun exposure for people living in rural versus urban areas. Looks at sun exposure from leisure time activities and outdoor work for both rural and urban people.
Author(s): Patricia I. Jewett, Carrie Henning-Smith, DeAnn Lazovich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Rural–Urban Differences in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Screening among US Women, 2014-2019
Analyzes disparities in breast and colorectal cancer screening in rural and urban women aged 50-74 in the U.S. using 2014-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes demographic breakdowns by age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, education level, income, marital status, health behaviors, and reported access to healthcare.
Author(s): Nicholas Theodoropoulos, Hui Xie, Qian Wang, Chi Wen, Yannan Li
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 22(3), 7339
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rural and Urban Cancer Patients' Experiences, Health Behaviors, and Perceptions
Study examining the impacts of COVID-19 on rural and urban cancer patients based on a survey of 1,472 adult patients of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Compares rural and urban demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics; experiences with healthcare; health behaviors; and stress factors.
Author(s): Anita R. Peoples, Laura B. Oswald, Jennifer Ose, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 886-899
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Association of Rurality, Race and Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status With the Surgical Management of Colon Cancer and Postoperative Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Results of a study of 57,710 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older diagnosed with colon cancer between April 2016, and September 2018, with follow-up until December 2018. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location.
Author(s): Niveditta Ramkumar, Carrie H. Colla, Qianfei Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(8)
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
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