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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Higher Risk of Melanoma-Related Deaths for Patients Residing in Rural Counties: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program Study
Analyzes the persistence of the rural mortality penalty (RMP) related to melanoma cancer. Utilizes 2000-2019 SEER Research-Plus-17-Registry data to examine disease characteristics, incidence, and mortality rates, with breakdowns by race/ethnicity, income, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sarah Kooper-Johnson, Viknesh Kasthuri, Alexander Homer, Bichchau Michelle Nguyen
Citation: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 90(6), 1257-1258
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Can ERAS Help Reduce Health Disparities and Overcome Barriers to Equitable Surgical Care in Marginalized Communities?
Discusses the value of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols in rural and marginalized communities. Identifies barriers to access and proposes strategies to increase equity. Highlights aspects of ERAS implementation including pediatrics, health literacy, communication with patients and among providers, telehealth, and more.
Author(s): Chirag Ram, Ruoying Li, Andrew D. Franklin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open, 7, 100141
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Examining the Dental Care Crisis in America: How Can We Make Dental Care More Affordable and More Available?
Recording of a May 16, 2024, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing on the accessibility and affordability of dental care, including in rural areas. Features testimony from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
Additional links: Myechia Minter-Jordan, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health - Testimony
Date: 05/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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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 prospective 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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Housing for Rural Residents Recovering from Substance Use Disorders
Presents a study featuring a number of programs providing housing for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in rural communities. Discusses three different case studies on programs in MN, OR, and WV. Highlights the community need, organizational structure, and key features of each program.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Ingrid Jacobson, Mariana Tuttle, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Task Force on Maternal Mental Health: National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care
Offers 5 recommendations for improving maternal mental health and associated substance use disorders using a whole-government approach by building infrastructure to improve care. Recommendations discuss federal collaboration, accessibility of care, data gathering, prevention strategies, and engaging those with lived experience. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Using a Customer Discovery Process to Enhance the Potential Dissemination and Scalability of a Family Healthy Weight Program for Rural Communities and Small Towns
Reports on factors influencing rural adoption of the Building Healthy Families Online Training Resources and Program Package, a family-based healthy weight program. Utilizes data from interviews with 47 individuals representing potential users, payers, and adoption influencers, including health departments, clinical healthcare providers, and community organizations. Includes discussion of organizational priorities, implementation challenges in clinical and community settings, and more.
Author(s): Gwenndolyn C. Porter, Jennie L. Hill, Kate A. Heelan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, 57
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Navigating Geographical Disparities: Access to Obstetric Hospitals in Maternity Care Deserts and Across the United States
Examines disparities related to maternity care access by analyzing travel distances to obstetric care across the United States. Provides data to nearest obstetric hospital by census tract, with further breakdowns according to maternity care desert (MCD) designation, rurality, race/ethnicity, and travel time. Includes U.S. maps showing spatial clusters of distance and travel time to obstetric care.
Author(s): Jazmin Fontenot, Christina Brigance, Ripley Lucas, Ashley Stoneburner
Citation: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24, 350
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Discrimination in Healthcare: Perceptions Among LGBTQ Individuals in the Metro and the Nonmetro
Discusses the disparities related to healthcare discrimination of LGBTQ individuals living in metro versus nonmetro areas of the United States. Utilizes 2022 survey data to examines LGBTQ experiences regarding topics such as location of residence, life satisfaction, access to respectful healthcare, trans healthcare issues, and more.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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A Standard Framework for Evaluating Large Health Care Data and Related Resources
Identifies a set of actions, criteria, and tools that can be used in evaluating large healthcare data and related resources. Includes information on evaluating data coverage, representativeness, inclusion, and equity, including the availability of information on rural or urban location.
Author(s): Suad El Burai Felix, Hussain Yusuf, Matthew Ritchey, et al.
Citation: MMWR Supplements, 73(Suppl. 3), 1-13
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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