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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

Mortality Among US Veterans Admitted to Community vs Veterans Health Administration Hospitals for COVID-19
Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Medical Assistants' Telehealth Roles and Skills in Primary Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Study examining the role of medical assistants (MAs) in providing primary care via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10 key informants from national and state primary care organizations were interviewed. Results include discussion about the variation in roles being dependent on organization size and rurality.
Author(s): Samantha W. Pollack, Susan M. Skillman, Tracy M. Mroz, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Urban and Rural Mpox Incidence Among Persons Aged 15–64 Years — United States, May 10–December 31, 2022
Reports on incidence of monkeypox (mpox) in metropolitan and nonmetro areas. Includes data by age group, gender, race/ethnicity, and by month. Discusses barriers to accessing prevention services in rural areas, as well as the need for ongoing surveillance.
Author(s): Carla E. Zelaya, Brandi P. Smith, Aspen P. Riser, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 72(21), 574-578
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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When It's Not Enough: Sleep's Impact on Rural America's Health and Safety
Discusses the impact of sleep on rural health and public safety, with insights from clinical sleep experts, a federal public health agency representative, and Nebraska Extension.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patients in Western Pennsylvania: Rural–Urban Disparities
Examines the impact of COVID-19 and related concerns on cancer patients in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Analyzes a sample of 1,980 patient surveys from August-December 2020 and March 2021 by patient perception of pandemic-related distress, cancer care, COVID-19 impact on personal health, and more. Includes rural versus urban data on COVID-19 concerns related to cancer care as well as demographic breakdowns.
Author(s): Kathryn Demanelis, Margaret Rosenzweig, Linda B. Robertson, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 34(7), 595-609
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Disparities in Diabetes Care: Differences Between Rural and Urban Patients Within a Large Health System
Examines rural versus urban residence and the related impact on a patient's quality of diabetes care. Analyzes 2019 data of 45,279 patients with diabetes in a large healthcare system, comparing rural versus urban outcomes of 5 diabetes care metrics. Discusses health disparities in diabetes care based on geography.
Author(s): Randy Foss, Karen Fischer, Michelle A. Lampman, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 21(3), 234-239
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Vaccine Hesitancy and the Willingness to Recommend the COVID-19 Vaccine to Children in a Rural County on the United States-Mexico Border
Presents the results of a 2022 survey in Cochise County, Arizona evaluating the readiness of Latinx adults to recommend vaccinating children under 5 years and children 5 to 12 years of age. Discusses characteristics linked to support COVID-19 vaccination for these two groups and other issues regarding the vaccination of children from these groups.
Author(s): Raghu D. Darisi, Audrey J. Buckland, Mario Morales, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Rural Healthy People 2030: Common Challenges, Rural Nuances
Policy brief focused on Rural Healthy People 2030, a companion piece to the Healthy People 2030 initiative with a focus on health priorities of rural populations. Features rural stakeholder perspectives on the top 20 Rural Healthy People priorities with breakdowns by census region, Medicaid expansion status, gender, age, race, and field of employment.
Author(s): Morgan Kassabian, Aakriti Shrestha, Timothy Callaghan, et al.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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The Association Between Social Functioning and Health Literacy Among Rural Southeastern African Americans with Hypertension
Analyzes how the relationship between social support and health literacy may mitigate health outcomes in African American populations in rural Southeastern USA. Utilizes data from the Southeastern Collaboration to Improve Blood Pressure Control trial to examine social isolation and health literacy in 1,221 individuals, with data further broken down by age, sex, education, income, cognition impairments, marriage status, and study site.
Author(s): Iliana Gutierrez, Joanna Bryan, Elizabeth Baquero, Monika M. Safford
Citation: Health Promotion International, 38
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Association of Rural Living With COPD-Related Hospitalizations and Deaths in Us Veterans
Highlights a study aiming to identify the cause of higher COPD rates in rural areas. Utilizes VA data to draw conclusions about incidence and access to treatment for COPD for rural veterans. Breaks down data by age, comorbidities, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Spyridon Fortis, Yubo Gao, Arianne K. Baldomero, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 13, 7887
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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