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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

Physical Activity–Friendly Policies and Community Design Features in the US, 2014 and 2021
Examines policy and community design changes from 2014 to 2021 that support physical activity infrastructure. Focuses on designs and policies such as sidewalk width, lighting, bicycle space, and more. Includes discussions about infrastructure and policy specific to rural areas.
Author(s): Bryant J. Webber, Geoffrey P. Whitfield, Latetia V. Moore, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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KFF Tracking Poll July 2023: Substance Use Crisis And Accessing Treatment
Provides results of a poll focused on the impact of substance use on American families, such as experiences with addiction, social and mental health impacts of substance use, and potential outcomes of substance use such as homelessness or need for medical care. Includes information specific to opioid use with results categorized by race/ethnicity and community type, including urban, suburban, and rural.
Author(s): Grace Sparks, Alex Montero, Ashley Kirzinger, Isabelle Valdes, Liz Hamel
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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A Descriptive Study of Covid-Era Movers to the Northern Forest Region
Discusses citizen relocation to the northern forest region, consisting of counties in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Describes motivations for relocation during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as opportunities for outdoor recreation and access to rural spaces.
Author(s): Jess Carson, Sarah Boege, Libby Schwaner
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Forming Partnerships to Increase Rural Immunization Rates
Discusses barriers to vaccine uptake in rural communities. Describes how two community organizations worked to increase vaccinations in rural Alabama and how a network led by the National Center for Farmworker Health built the capacity to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and build vaccine confidence among migrant farmworkers. Identifies state considerations for implementing community-based programs to increase vaccinations in rural areas.
Author(s): Shalini Nair, Heather Tomlinson
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE – Preventing Readmissions
Podcast episode discussing the varied approaches used by quality leaders from three Critical Access Hospitals to reduce readmissions. Covers community partnerships and collaboration with local health and human services providers, including emergency medical services (EMS).
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Feasibility of Delivering a Virtual 1-Day Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workshop to Rural Veterans Through Community Partnerships
Examines the efficacy of a one day virtual workshop for veterans undergoing psychological stress. Breaks down participant data by age, gender, branch of service, and rural versus urban residence, among other measures. Highlights the results of the pilot project and makes recommendations based on findings.
Author(s): Lilian Dindo, Angelic Chaison, Merlyn Rodrigues, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communication, 34, 101178
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Contextualizing Physical Activity in Rural Adults: Do Relationships Between Income Inequality, Neighborhood Environments, and Physical Activity Exist?
Examines a selection of rural southern counties to see how social determinants of health (SDOH) are related to physical activity. Utilizes data from an August 2020-March 2021 telephone survey to analyze physical activity in 334 respondents by sex, race, income, obesity status, marriage status, as well as rates of income inequality, social cohesion, and walkability of community.
Author(s): Samuel L. K. Baxter, Giselle Corbie, Sarah F. Griffin
Citation: Health Services Research, 58(S2), 238-247
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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An Active Roadmap: Best Practices in Rural Mobility
Provides a literature review and cases studies related to the ways rural communities encourage health-focused infrastructure, multimodal transportation, economic development, and environmentally safe practices. Describes the typology and demographics of rural areas and discusses how transportation is linked to wellness and community health outcomes.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Smart Growth America, The National Complete Streets Coalition
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North Dakota's Significant Rural Health Needs as Identified by Critical Access Hospital Community Health Needs Assessments: 2020-2022 Aggregate Results for Rural North Dakota Hospitals
Report highlights the results of community health needs assessments of North Dakota's Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) from 2020 to 2022. Identifies the most pressing healthcare needs in ND's rural communities.
Author(s): Kylie Nissen, Holly Long
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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On-Farm Health Screening Needs of Immigrant Dairy Workers
Webinar recording discussing a study evaluating the health needs of immigrant dairy workers in Texas as well as health risk screenings on the farm. Describes barriers to healthcare including access, childcare, leave from work, language barriers, and more. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Network of the National Library of Medicine
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