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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Associations Between COVID-19 Therapies and Outcomes in Rural and Urban America: A Multisite, Temporal Analysis from the Alpha to Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Examines COVID-19 treatment, health outcomes, and mortality disparities in rural and urban areas of the United States. Analyzes 2021-2023 National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data from 3,018,646 patients to break down COVID-19 disparities according to patient demographics, vaccine status, comorbidities, U.S. Census region, and adverse inpatient events, as well as urban, urban-adjacent, or nonurban-adjacent location.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, William H. Beasley, Kimberly Murray, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Impact of In-Home Handwashing Stations on Hand Hygiene During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Unpiped Rural Alaska Native Homes
Examines the impact of installing the Miniature Portable Alternative Sanitation System (Mini-PASS) in rural Alaskan homes that lacked piped water. Utilizes interview feedback from 71 households who used the Mini-PASS during the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing themes such as handwashing station usage, the ability to troubleshoot repairs, collaboration with tribal health organizations, and more.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Tricia S. Howe, Jacqualine D. Schaeffer, Ramot Adeboyejo, Laura P. Eichelberger
Citation: Public Health Reports, 139(1), 81S-88S
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Stroke Prevention and Management in Rural Georgia: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Community Paramedicine Program
Evaluates the effectiveness of a community paramedicine service delivery model for improving stroke outcomes for high risk residents of 2 rural Georgia counties. Assesses hospital readmissions and mortality for 22 study participants compared to 621 nonparticipants. Discusses risk factors, telehealth, and pandemic related challenges.
Author(s): Brandon Calvert, Rana Bayakly, Teri Newsome
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30, S32-S38
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Distance as an Obstacle to Clinical Trial Access: Who Is Affected and Why It Matters
Evaluates factors associated with geographic remoteness of 60 miles or more from the nearest phase 2 or 3 clinical trial for a variety of health conditions. Discusses American Indian reservations and rural areas, and provides data on demographic factors associated with remoteness including race and ethnicity, educational attainment, and poverty. Includes a county-level interactive map of clinical trial remoteness for health conditions including cancers, substance use disorder, diabetes, obesity, COPD, stroke, and more.
Additional links: Interactive Map
Author(s): Andrew Friedson, Bumyang Kim, Maggie Switek, Lawson Mansell
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The Milken Institute
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Estimating the Burden and Distribution of Post–COVID-19 Condition in Washington State, March 2020–October 2023
Examines the prevalence of post–COVID-19 condition (PCC) in Washington State, utilizing a framework that incorporated data on reported COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations with estimates of PCC progression from the Household Pulse Survey. Includes data on population subgroups as well as a county-level map of Washington and corresponding chart showing PCC prevalence changes from January 2020 to January 2023.
Author(s): Arran Hamlet, Daniel Hoffman, Sharon Saydah, Ian Painter
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Mountain West HPV Vaccination Project Helps Shape American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Program
Provides an overview of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Mountain West HPV vaccination project, which focused on increasing HPV vaccination among adolescents in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Details ACS partnerships with health systems and other groups to implement interventions and provide professional education.
Author(s): Ashley Lach, Hannah Nein
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Provider-to-Provider Telemedicine for Sepsis Is Used Less Frequently in Communities with High Social Vulnerability
Examines the relationship between provider-to-provider emergency department-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) and the prevalence of sepsis in counties with elevated social vulnerability index (SVI) scores. Analyzes 2016-2019 data from 1191 patients treated in rural, Midwestern EDs, with breakdowns according to patient, provider, hospital, and county characteristics. Discusses the relationship between SVI scores and tele-ED use.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Supporting Direct Acting Antiviral Medication Adherence and Treatment Completion in a Sample of Predominantly Rural Veterans with Hepatitis C and Substance Use Disorders
Explores strategies to improve direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment among rural veterans with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and substance use disorder (SUD). Analyzes a clinic-based intervention that utilizes motivational interviewing (MI) to improve medication adherence among 20 enrolled participants in a 12-week course.
Author(s): Mary Jane Burton, Andrew C. Voluse, Amee B. Patel
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 51
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Excess Deaths Associated With COVID-19 by Rurality and Demographic Factors in the United States
Details a study on the patterns of excess death associated with COVID-19 by rural and urban location and other demographic factors using CDC WONDER data from March 2020 to February 2023. Breaks down percent of excess deaths by large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
Author(s): Katherine A. Ahrens, Lauren M. Rossen, Carly Milkowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 491-499
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Findings from the First Year of a Federally Funded, Direct-to-Consumer HIV Self-Test Distribution Program — United States, March 2023–March 2024
Reports on people who ordered and used a direct-to-consumer HIV self-test through the Together TakeMeHome HIV self-test distribution program. Also provides data on related testing and services used by those requesting the self-test. Includes data by participant location for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Travis Sanchez, Robin J. MacGowan, Jennifer Hecht, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(24), 558-564
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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