Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Research methods and resources
Ten-Year Reflections on the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Discussion of how data, evidence, guidance, and examples used in County Health Rankings & Roadmaps publications from January 2009 - January 2019 have helped communities improve the conditions in which their residents live. Examines how the methodology has changed over time, and includes a section on how the researchers adapted their methods so as to appropriately analyze data from rural areas with small populations.
Author(s): Bridget Booske Catlin, Willems Van Dijk
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
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Discussion of how data, evidence, guidance, and examples used in County Health Rankings & Roadmaps publications from January 2009 - January 2019 have helped communities improve the conditions in which their residents live. Examines how the methodology has changed over time, and includes a section on how the researchers adapted their methods so as to appropriately analyze data from rural areas with small populations.
Author(s): Bridget Booske Catlin, Willems Van Dijk
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
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Health Literacy in Clinical Research: Practice and Impact: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summary of presentations and discussions held April 11, 2019 in Washington, D.C. by the Roundtable on Health Literacy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Topics include challenges for diverse populations' participation in clinical trials, best practices, and health literacy strategies for effective communication with participants. Chapter 4 includes a description of clinical trials during which researchers conducted health literacy interventions in cancer screenings in mainly rural areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summary of presentations and discussions held April 11, 2019 in Washington, D.C. by the Roundtable on Health Literacy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Topics include challenges for diverse populations' participation in clinical trials, best practices, and health literacy strategies for effective communication with participants. Chapter 4 includes a description of clinical trials during which researchers conducted health literacy interventions in cancer screenings in mainly rural areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Challenges of Using Nationally Representative, Population-Based Surveys to Assess Rural Cancer Disparities
Examines research methods in studies of rural cancer-related health behaviors and disparities, exploring the definition of "rural" in population-based national surveys, complications for rural cancer studies, and possible solutions to improve survey accuracy. Discusses prominent data sources, including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), and the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), and examines use of these data sources in 68 published studies.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Natoshia Askelson, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 129(Supplement), 105812
Date: 12/2019
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Examines research methods in studies of rural cancer-related health behaviors and disparities, exploring the definition of "rural" in population-based national surveys, complications for rural cancer studies, and possible solutions to improve survey accuracy. Discusses prominent data sources, including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), and the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), and examines use of these data sources in 68 published studies.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Natoshia Askelson, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 129(Supplement), 105812
Date: 12/2019
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Access to Specialty Healthcare in Urban Versus Rural US Populations: A Systematic Literature Review
Surveys research between January 2013 – August 2018 on healthcare access, seeking clear definition and understanding of barriers to specialty care. Draws data from 67 peer-reviewed articles, presenting a conceptual framework based on common themes. Discusses issues of availability, perception, policy, stigma, and other access factors.
Author(s): Melissa E. Cyr, Anna G. Etchin, Barbara J. Guthrie, James C. Benneyan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 974
Date: 12/2019
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Surveys research between January 2013 – August 2018 on healthcare access, seeking clear definition and understanding of barriers to specialty care. Draws data from 67 peer-reviewed articles, presenting a conceptual framework based on common themes. Discusses issues of availability, perception, policy, stigma, and other access factors.
Author(s): Melissa E. Cyr, Anna G. Etchin, Barbara J. Guthrie, James C. Benneyan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 974
Date: 12/2019
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Rural Physical Activity Interventions in the United States: A Systematic Review and RE-AIM Evaluation
Using the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, examines the validity and design of rural physical activity intervention studies. Analyzes 40 reports that represent 29 studies of intervention programs. Discusses role of research in developing understandings of rurality, health, and behavior and the role of physical activity programs in addressing health disparities.
Author(s): Nishat Bhuiyan, Pritika Singh, Samantha M. Harden, Scherezade K. Mama
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16, 140
Date: 12/2019
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Using the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, examines the validity and design of rural physical activity intervention studies. Analyzes 40 reports that represent 29 studies of intervention programs. Discusses role of research in developing understandings of rurality, health, and behavior and the role of physical activity programs in addressing health disparities.
Author(s): Nishat Bhuiyan, Pritika Singh, Samantha M. Harden, Scherezade K. Mama
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16, 140
Date: 12/2019
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Study Protocol of Coaching End-of-Life Palliative Care for Advanced Heart Failure Patients and Their Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Describes a clinical trial to study an end-of-life palliative care program for heart failure patients in rural West Virginia. Discusses the prevalence of heart failure in rural Appalachia and the need for palliative care training for family caregivers.
Author(s): Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Trisha Petitte, Angel Smothers, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 18, 119
Date: 12/2019
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Describes a clinical trial to study an end-of-life palliative care program for heart failure patients in rural West Virginia. Discusses the prevalence of heart failure in rural Appalachia and the need for palliative care training for family caregivers.
Author(s): Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Trisha Petitte, Angel Smothers, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 18, 119
Date: 12/2019
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Translational Science: Research with Results that Touch Rural Populations
Provides an overview of translational science and the role of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Discusses how NCATS is working to ensure rural communities benefit from translated science. Features a New York telehealth program addressing Parkinson Disease that is helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of translational science and the role of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Discusses how NCATS is working to ensure rural communities benefit from translated science. Features a New York telehealth program addressing Parkinson Disease that is helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science: Involving Rural America in Research
Features translational science teams in Arkansas, Florida, and Washington that are helping ensure new scientific findings are being used in rural communities to help patients. Discusses community engagement, the role of the electronic health record in data sharing, and collaboration with cooperative extension.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features translational science teams in Arkansas, Florida, and Washington that are helping ensure new scientific findings are being used in rural communities to help patients. Discusses community engagement, the role of the electronic health record in data sharing, and collaboration with cooperative extension.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Evaluating Adaptation of a Cancer Clinical Trials Decision Aid for Rural Cancer Patients: A Mixed Methods Approach
Study examining clinical trial methods for rural cancer patients. Surveys 15 cancer survivors and 31 recently diagnosed patients in two phases to evaluate patient decision aids (DA), which are designed to improve patient knowledge and preparedness so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in a trial. Compares data from rural and urban participants and discusses concerns specific to rural cancer trial participants, including confidence in the healthcare system, willingness to undertake the effort to participate, and access to web-based tools required for participation, among other factors.
Author(s): Swati Pathak, Nerissa George, Denise Monti, Kathy Robinson, Mary C. Politi
Citation: Journal of Cancer Education, 34(4), 803-809
Date: 08/2019
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Study examining clinical trial methods for rural cancer patients. Surveys 15 cancer survivors and 31 recently diagnosed patients in two phases to evaluate patient decision aids (DA), which are designed to improve patient knowledge and preparedness so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in a trial. Compares data from rural and urban participants and discusses concerns specific to rural cancer trial participants, including confidence in the healthcare system, willingness to undertake the effort to participate, and access to web-based tools required for participation, among other factors.
Author(s): Swati Pathak, Nerissa George, Denise Monti, Kathy Robinson, Mary C. Politi
Citation: Journal of Cancer Education, 34(4), 803-809
Date: 08/2019
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Dissemination of Rural Health Research: A Toolkit
Offers health services researchers a variety of approaches and products to help communicate research findings to their target audience. Provides general guidelines, as well as advice related to specific product types, such as fact sheets and policy briefs, and to particular methods of communication, including social media.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Offers health services researchers a variety of approaches and products to help communicate research findings to their target audience. Provides general guidelines, as well as advice related to specific product types, such as fact sheets and policy briefs, and to particular methods of communication, including social media.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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