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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Retail Tobacco Exposure: Using Geographic Analysis to Identify Areas With Excessively High Retail Density
Examines how socio-demographic factors relate to tobacco outlet density in the U.S. Includes rural versus urban tobacco outlet density data by race/ethnicity and poverty level.
Author(s): Daniel Rodriguez, Heather A. Carlos, Anna M. Adachi-Mejia, Ethan M. Berke, James Sargent
Citation: Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 16(2), 155-165
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
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Nonmydriatic Fundus Photography for Teleophthalmology Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Rural and Urban Clinics
Examines the diagnostic value of telehealth for eye exams to screen for diabetic retinopathy in remote California Native American reservations compared to patients seen in person at an urban University of California Davis medical clinic. Includes data and statistics for urban versus rural, ethnicity, and optic conditions present.
Author(s): Eric K. Chin, Bruna V. Ventura, Kai-Yin See, Joann Seibles, Susanna S. Park
Citation: Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 20(2),102-108
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
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The Health IT Regional Extension Center Program: Evolution and Lessons for Health Care Transformation
Highlights the accomplishments of the Regional Extension Center (REC) program, from January 2010 through June 2013, that provides assistance to small, rural, and underserved healthcare facilities in developing their electronic health record (EHR) platform and in achieving meaningful use.
Author(s): Kimberly Lynch, Mat Kendall, Katherine Shanks, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 49(1 Pt 2), 421-437
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
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Rural Implications of Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act
Report discusses how ACA Medicaid expansion will meet the distinctive needs of rural residents. Using 2007-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and data from state Medicaid policies and primary care providers, this report examines rural-urban differences in patient populations, reviews previous public health insurance programs affecting rural populations, and considers the availability of healthcare access in rural areas.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Jennifer Lenardson, Andrew Coburn
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Reform Evaluation
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Understanding the Rural–Urban Differences in Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use and Abuse in the United States
This report analyzes the risk factors, including availability and access, that drive nonmedical prescription opioid drug misuse and abuse in U.S. states with large rural populations.
Author(s): Katherine M. Keyes, Magdalena Cerdá, Joanne E. Brady, Jennifer R. Havens, Sandro Galea
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 104(2)
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
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The Uninsured: An Analysis by Age, Income, and Geography
Analyzes 2010 health insurance data showing the proportion of the rural population that is uninsured and living below 138% of federal poverty level in comparison with that of the urban population.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Jessica K. Londeree, Timothy D. McBride, Leah M. Kemper, Keith Mueller
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Do Rural Patients with Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Gain Access to All Treatment Choices?
Compares prostate cancer treatment options and treatment rates for early-stage prostate cancer patients living in rural and urban areas in 10 states. Includes 4 levels of rurality in the analysis, along with patient demographics, cancer characteristics, and provider access.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Laura-Mae Baldwin, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Michael P. Porter, et al.
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Early Impacts of Dental Therapists in Minnesota
Evaluates the impact of dental therapists on the delivery of and access to oral health services in Minnesota from 2009 through 2014. Includes a rural and urban comparison on the effects of dental therapists on patient wait times and distances traveled for dental appointments.
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Widening Rural-Urban Disparities in Life Expectancy, U.S., 1969-2009
Examined the trends in rural and urban disparities in life expectancy at birth in the U.S. between 1969-2009. Features statistics for socioeconomic, demographic, and health characteristics and life expectancy, with breakdowns by five rural and urban categories.
Author(s): Gopal K. Singh, Mohammad Siahpush
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46(2), e19-e29
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
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Residency and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Weight Status and Lifestyle Behaviors Among US Youth
Discusses a secondary analysis of a study based on the rates of adolescent obesity and obesity-related behaviors of U.S. students in grades 6-10 during the 2005-2006 school year. Details the results of the analysis by age, gender, race, and whether the students were from metro or nonmetro areas, as well as several other factors.
Author(s): Mary Kay Kenney, Jing Wang, Ron Iannotti
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 30(1), 89-100
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
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