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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

Advancing Equity in Challenging Times: A Qualitative Study of Telehealth Expansion And Changing Patient–Provider Relationships In Primary Care Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the expansion of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic and potential access issues related to technical and workforce barriers. Analyzes interview data from primary healthcare providers to explore challenges such as reduced team-based care coordination, technological difficulties, loss of nonverbal communication, and equity issues for vulnerable groups, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Monisa Aijaz, Valerie A Lewis, Genevra F Murray
Citation: Digital Health, 10
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Disparities in Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Based on Residence and Distance From Medical Facility
Evaluates associations between thyroid cancer stage at diagnosis, rural or urban status, and distance from treatment center among 800 current thyroid cancer patients in Nebraska. Includes demographic breakdowns and discussion of access-based treatment and outcome disparities.
Author(s): Sunita Regmi, Paraskevi A Farazi, Elizabeth Lyden, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Endocrine Society, 8(5), bvae033
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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The Báa nnilah Program: Results of a Chronic-Illness Self-Management Cluster Randomized Trial with the Apsáalooke Nation
Presents a study on the efficacy of a chronic illness self-management program for Apsáalooke tribe in Montana. Breaks down data by demographic information, such as education, income, and marital status, among other measures, and number and type of illnesses managed.
Author(s): Suzanne Held, Du Feng, Alma McCormick, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 285
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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The Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. (Trust, Research, Understand, Teach, and Heal) Project—A Tribal Community–Academic Partnership for Understanding the Impact of Structural Factors on Perceived Cancer Risk in Rural Virginia
Provides an overview of the Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. Project, a community–academic partnership between the Virginia Chickahominy Indian Tribe and Virginia Commonwealth University. Designed to investigate perceived cancer risk in Charles City County, Virginia; assess cancer knowledge, care access gaps, and perceived risks; and develop culturally tailored cancer education and resource navigation. Based on data from 50 in-person interviews and water tests near an area with significantly elevated cancer incidence rates.
Additional links: Supplemental Materials
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Savannah Reitzel, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 262
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Helping Families Through Upheaval: How Home Visiting Programs Supported Families' Economic Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how early childhood home visiting programs continued to support families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes interviews and existing literature of 9 programs to understand economic struggles, housing, transportation, medical care and health insurance, employment, and more. Provides reflections on the challenges experienced in underserved communities, including rural.
Author(s): Sarah Avellar, Jill Filene, Megan Hague Angus, Anna Beckham, Patrice Cachat
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Factors Associated With Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Outcomes
Analyzes social determinants of health and demographic factors influencing racial and ethnic disparities in treatment response among rectal cancer patients. Provides data breakdowns of factors associated with patient outcomes, including treatment facilities' level of rurality. Highlights disparities experienced by Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients relative to non-Hispanic White patients.
Author(s): Rebecca M. Shulman, Mengying Deng, Elizabeth A. Handorf, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(2), e240044
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Incidence among Asian and Pacific Islander Populations in Guam, Hawai'i, and the United States
Presents a study on the rates of colorectal cancer among Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and CHamoru populations living in the mainland U.S., Hawaii, and Guam. Breaks down data by ethnicity, gender, location, and age. Details incidence over time from 2000 to 2019.
Author(s): JaeYong Choi, Grazyna Badowski 1 [OR , Yurii B. Shvetsov
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 170
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Rural–Urban Disparities and Trends in Utilization of Palliative Care Services among US Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Reports on palliative care use among patients with metastatic breast cancer, utilizing 2004-2019 National Cancer Database data. Includes breakdowns by level of rurality, race, ethnicity, and other demographic and clinical characteristics. Discusses palliative care access and treatment disparities, and identifies trends.
Author(s): Jincong Q. Freeman, Adam W. Scott, Ted O. Akhiwu
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Geographic Variation, Economic Activity, and Labor Market Characteristics in Trajectories of Suicide in the United States, 2008–2020
Presents a study exploring the associations between economic and labor activity and rurality with changes in suicide rates from 2008-2015. Creates county-level economic categories based on economy type and metropolitan status while breaking down the data by age and firearm involvement.
Author(s): Katherine M Keyes, Sasikiran Kandula, Gonzalo Martinez-Ales, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 193(2), 256–266
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Chronic Disease Prevalence in the US: Sociodemographic and Geographic Variations by Zip Code Tabulation Area
Examines geographic, sociodemographic, and economic characteristics of chronic disease prevalence in the U.S. Provides ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) maps depicting chronic disease across the country and includes related demographic and health condition data.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Whitney E. Zahnd, Peiyin Hung, Jan M. Eberth
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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