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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

Enduring Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Access, Nutrition, and Well-Being in Rural Appalachia
Examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on a rural, Appalachian community in Kentucky. Utilizes focus group data from 39 participants to analyze ongoing issues such as social isolation, cost of living, and food access. Discusses how these issues affect mental health, access to needed medications, and ability to purchase nutritious food.
Author(s): Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily DeWitt, Rachel Gillespie, Nathan Bandy, Heather Norman-Burgdolf
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(5), 594
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses in U.S. Dairy Cattle and Detection of Two Human Cases
Reports on monitoring of farm workers with exposure to dairy cattle or raw cow's milk infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus and identification of two farm workers infected with the virus, presumably through cow-to-human transmission. Describes ongoing surveillance and medical countermeasures and discusses challenges with reaching workers exposed to A(H5N1) viruses, including those located in rural areas.
Author(s): Shikha Garg, Carrie Reed, C. Todd Davis, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(21), 501–505
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Association Between Characteristics of Employing Healthcare Facilities and Healthcare Worker Infection Rates and Psychosocial Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzes associations between healthcare facility characteristics and healthcare workers' likelihood of COVID-19 infection, access to personal protective equipment, and burnout. Utilizes April 2020-May 2022 Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) registry data. Covers facility characteristics including for-profit status, facility size, metropolitan or micropolitan location, and more.
Author(s): Jay B. Lusk, Pratik Manandhar, Laine E. Thomas, Emily C. O'Brien
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 24, 659
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Discussions of Cancer Survivorship Care Needs: Are There Rural Versus Urban Inequities?
Analyzed 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to identify rural and urban differences in discussions of cancer survivorship care with their healthcare provider. Includes rural and urban comparisons of predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with survivorship care discussions.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Lindsey Hammerslag
Citation: Medical Care, 2024
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Chronic Cough Diagnosis, Treatment, and Referral Practices among Family Physicians in the United States: A Survey Study
Presents results of a survey of 588 family physicians on chronic cough management practices. Provides data on diagnosis, treatment, and referral, including breakdowns by years of practice and rural versus urban location. Discusses challenges associated with providing chronic cough care in rural primary care settings.
Author(s): Joel B. Shields, Elisabeth Callen, Natalia Y. Loskutova, Jonathan Schelfhout, Christina M. Hester
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 25, 181
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Cohort Profile: The Assessing Imperial Valley Respiratory Health and the Environment (AIRE) Study
Details a prospective cohort study focused on examining the respiratory health effects of childhood exposures to wind-blown particulate matter (PM) in a rural area of California. Utilizes 2017-2019 data to observe asthmatic symptoms and other health indicators across sociodemographic categories. Discusses the impact of PM on childhood health and the potential for geographic disparities.
Author(s): Shohreh F. Farzan, Elizabeth Kamai, Dayane Duenas Barahona, et al.
Citation: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 38(4), 359-369
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Who is at Risk Amid the H5N1 Influenza Outbreak? Characteristics and Health Coverage of Animal Production Workers
Analyzes demographic characteristics of animal production and aquaculture workers to determine risk for contracting H5N1 influenza, also known as bird flu. Characteristics include race and ethnicity, immigration status, insurance status, household income, and English proficiency in the 7 impacted states. Discusses policy measures to address health threats.
Author(s): Josh Michaud, Drishti Pillai, Samantha Artiga, Jennifer Kates
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Regional and Rural-Urban Patterns in the Prevalence of Diagnosed Hypertension among Older U.S. Adults with Diabetes, 2005–2017
Explores trends in the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes across four geographic regions between 2005 and 2017. Examines Medicare administrative claims data to describe sociodemographic characteristics of the sampled beneficiaries with diabetes. Uses the 2013 CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) classification scheme to compare the age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension in each region over time by rurality.
Author(s): Jalal Uddin, Sha Zhu, Gargya Malla, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 24, 1326
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Rural Comprehensive Cancer Care: Qualitative Analysis of Current Challenges and Opportunities
Highlights a study aiming to understand the challenges in providing comprehensive cancer care in rural hospitals from the perspective of rural providers. Bases finding on interviews with 13 practitioners providing cancer care in rural hospitals in Iowa. Identifies strengths and barriers to providing cancer care in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Sydney Evans, Aaron T. Seaman, Erin C. Johnson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Facilitators and Barriers of HPV Vaccination: A Qualitative Study in Rural Georgia
Presents findings from interviews with 40 parents and young adults in rural southwest Georgia on attitudes, knowledge, and preferences related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake. Discusses challenges and opportunities related to transportation, knowledge, trust, and stigma.
Author(s): Courtney N. Petagna, Stephen Perez, Erica Hsu, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 24, 592
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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