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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Diminished Trust of Healthcare Providers, Risky Lifestyle Behaviors, and Low Use of Health Services: A Descriptive Study of Rural Adolescents
Examines individual factors and traits that can predict trust with a healthcare provider, lifestyle behaviors, and health services utilization for adolescents in 9th and 12th grade in public high school in rural Indiana. Covers demographic statistics for study participants by age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, and diagnosed conditions.
Author(s): Heather K. Hardin, Valerie Lander McCarthy, Barbara J. Speck, Timothy N. Crawford
Citation: Journal of School Nursing, 34(6), 458-467
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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Delivery of Fall Prevention Interventions for At-Risk Older Adults in Rural Areas: Findings from a National Dissemination
Identifies the geographical reach of 8 evidence-based fall prevention programs in the U.S. Compares fall prevention program dissemination characteristics by rurality. Includes participant and workshop statistics for the 8 fall prevention programs and various program delivery sites by metro, nonmetro adjacent, and nonmetro non-adjacent areas.
Author(s): Matthew Lee Smith, Samuel D. Towne, Angelica Herrera-Venson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(12), 2798
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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New SASI Analysis: In the Deep South, Significant Percentages of People Most Impacted by HIV Live Outside Large Urban Areas Demonstrating a Need for Increased Federal Resources
Examines HIV data in the Deep South to help identify targets for federal funding, focusing on underserved groups in rural areas and small cities. Analyzes Black and Latino populations, drug injection users, men who have sex with men, women, and people aged 13-24 living with HIV. Identifies 6 states where a higher proportion of these groups live outside large, urban areas. See additional links for state-specific reports.
Additional links: Alabama Report, Georgia Report, Louisiana Report, Mississippi Report, North Carolina Report, South Carolina Report
Author(s): Carolyn McAllaster, Gabrielle Goodrow
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Duke University, Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative
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Critical Access Hospitals' Community Benefit Activities: An Updated Review
Examines community benefit data from a sample of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to understand how they are fulfilling their community benefit obligations, including related spending. Discusses how state Flex programs can help CAHs meet their community benefit obligations and the related Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements. Second of two briefs reporting project results.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Zachariah Croll, Lauren Zoll, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Addressing the Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Rural America
Discusses the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its impact on rural America. Covers rural risk factors for COPD and healthcare disparities influencing rural COPD patients' ability to access care. Discusses ongoing federal COPD programs and offers policy recommendations and considerations to improve access to COPD care and treatments for individuals living in rural areas.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Social Medicine in Practice: Realizing the American Indian and Alaska Native Right to Health
Explores the health disparities facing American Indian and Alaska Native populations and the social determinants of health specific to Native nations. Features a case study of the Maniilaq Social Medicine Program (SMP) in Alaska, which aims to address Native health disparities.
Author(s): Lucas Trout, Corina Kramer, Lois Fischer
Citation: Health and Human Rights Journal, 20(2), 19–30
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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Improving Oral Health Care Services in Rural America
Discusses the link between oral health and overall health and issues affecting oral health access in rural areas, including shortages of dental providers, differences in dental hygienist scope of practice by state, and insurance coverage. Provides an overview of federal efforts related to rural oral health and offers policy recommendations. Includes a summary of local perspectives from a site visit to Winnsboro Smiles Family Dentistry in rural South Carolina as part of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Disparities in Social Determinants of Health Outcomes and Behaviours Between Older Adults in Alaska and the Contiguous US: Evidence from a National Survey
Examines sociodemographic factors, rural versus urban residence, health outcomes, and behaviors among adults aged 65 years and older living in Alaska to those living in the contiguous 48 states. Assesses if residence, living in Alaska versus the lower 48 states, is associated with the social determinants of health and health outcomes.
Author(s): Steven A. Cohen, Ana X. Talamas, Natalie J. Sabik
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 78(1)
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
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Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans
Updates the 2003 report, A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country, evaluating federal spending on Native American programs, including those related to healthcare, housing, education, infrastructure, criminal justice, and economic development. Provides policy recommendations addressing funding, tribal sovereignty, and data collection.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
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