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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Rural Veteran Population Continues to Decline Despite Rise in Post-9/11 Veterans
Chart showing the change in the rural veteran population from 2006 to 2016, with a comparison of pre- and post-9/11 rural veterans.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Occupational Exposure to Vapor-Gas, Dust, and Fumes in a Cohort of Rural Adults in Iowa Compared with a Cohort of Urban Adults
Examines differences in occupational exposure to vapor-gas, dust, and fumes in rural and urban areas. The rural population studied included both current and former farmers, and those who never farmed, thereby providing insights related to non-agriculture occupational exposure to airborne pollutants in rural areas.
Author(s): Brent C. Doney, Paul K. Henneberger, Michael J. Humann, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(21), 1-5
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Data Limitations in the American Community Survey: The Impact on Rural Disability Research
Describes difficulties associated with small sample sizes in county-level American Community Survey data for the study of population subgroups. Presents statistics on margin of error by race/ethnicity and county classification, including metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore. Also presents maps showing disability rates as well as areas of insufficient data at the county level by race and ethnicity.
Author(s): Lillie Greiman
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Rurality and Determinants of Hearing Healthcare in Adult Hearing Aid Recipients
Presents results of a survey on length of time between hearing loss onset and hearing aid acquisition in rural and urban populations. Compares data for multiple factors, including age at hearing loss onset, length of commute to hearing specialist, insurance status, hearing aid use frequency and satisfaction, and educational and occupational impacts of hearing loss. Discusses life impact of hearing loss and issues associated with seeking hearing healthcare for rural people.
Author(s): Stephen Chan, Brian Hixon, Margaret Adkins, Jennifer B. Shinn, Matthew L. Bush
Citation: Laryngoscope, 127(10), 2362-2367
Date: 10/2017
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Rural Health in 2030: The Role of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Reports on the viability of the rural healthcare workforce in Nebraska and the University of Nebraska Medical Center's (UNMC) role to assist local healthcare providers, patients, and students in rural areas. Focuses on rural education, rural healthcare delivery, and rural technology to achieve viability. Includes chart of 2016 healthcare graduates by rural versus urban location.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: University of Nebraska Medical Center
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Newly Licensed RN Retention: Hospital and Nurse Characteristics
Study of retention rates for newly licensed RNs (NLRNs) within 1 year of hire in Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio. Analyzes retention data based on hospital characteristics including rural and urban location, hospital size, type of ownership, Magnet status, and university affiliation. Discusses implications of characteristics data and NLRN retention trends.
Author(s): Mary A. Blegen, Nancy Spector, Mary R. Lynn, Jane Barnsteiner, Beth T. Ulrich
Citation: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 47(10), 508-514
Date: 10/2017
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Rural Studies Program Food Insecurity in Oregon and the U.S.: Uneven Recovery in the Midst of Overall Improvement (2014-2016)
Describes the food insecurity rate in Oregon that is statistically higher than the rate for the U.S. Highlights the characteristics of the population affected by food insecurity including renters, single mothers, limited education, and rural versus urban.
Author(s): Mark Edwards
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, School of Public Policy and the Rural Studies Program
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Emergency Medical Services Response Times in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Areas
Analyzes 2015 emergency medical services (EMS) data from 485 EMS agencies across the U.S. to describe the time period between a 911 call and EMS arrival, or response time. Includes EMS response time data for rural, suburban, and urban zip codes.
Author(s): Howard K. Mell, Shannon N. Mumma, Brian Hiestand, et al.
Citation: JAMA Surgery, 152(10), 983-984
Date: 10/2017
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Rural Versus Urban Use of Traditional and Emerging Tobacco Products in the United States, 2013–2014
Details a study on tobacco usage in rural and urban areas from 2013-2014. Discusses usage of traditional tobacco products, such as cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and emerging tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and cigarillos. Breaks down data by sex, poverty level, and area of residence, among other factors.
Author(s): Megan E. Roberts, Nathan J. Doogan, Cassandra A. Stanton, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 107(10), 1554-1559
Date: 10/2017
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Trends in Primary Care Provision to Medicare Beneficiaries by Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, or Physician Assistants: 2008-2014
Examines trends in elderly patients receiving primary care from physicians alone, physicians with nurse practitioners (NPs) and/or physician assistants (PAs), and NPs/PAs without physicians. Considered these models for delivering primary care to Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions and Medicare patients in rural and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
Author(s): Ying Xue, James S. Goodwin, Deepak Adhikari, Mukaila A. Raji, Yong-Fang Kuo
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 8(4), 256-263
Date: 10/2017
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