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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Divergent Trends in Life Expectancy Across the Rural-Urban Gradient and Association with Specific Racial Proportions in the Contiguous United States 2000-2005
Study estimating life expectancy at age 25 by rural and urban residence, race, and sex using county-level data from 2000 - 2005. Discusses geographic determinants of disparities in life expectancy in the contiguous U.S., comparing rurality and the proportion of specific race populations to life expectancy. Features color-coded maps of the contiguous U.S. that represents life expectancy at age 25 for White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian males and females.
Author(s): Yun Jian, Lucas Neas, Lynne C. Messer, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Public Health, 64(9), 1367-1374
Date: 12/2019
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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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Mortality-to-Incidence Ratios by U.S. Congressional District: Implications for Epidemiologic, Dissemination and Implementation Research, and Public Health Policy
Analyzes congressional district-specific mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) between 2011 and 2015 for all cancers and for cancers of breast, cervix, colorectal, esophagus, lung, oral, pancreas, and prostate cancers. Compares MIRs across regions, state Medicaid expansion status, race, and rurality. Discusses implications for policymakers and researchers.
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Whitney E. Zahnd, Swann Arp Adams, et al.
Citation: Preventative Medicine, 129(S), 105849
Date: 12/2019
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The Rural Hospital Stabilization Program: A Comprehensive Report
Provides an overview of the first three years of the Rural Hospital Stabilization Grant Program for rural Georgia hospitals. Describes grant-funded projects and evaluates the sustainability of these projects after funding ceased. Includes a financial analysis of participating hospitals before and after receiving grant funds.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia Department of Community Health, Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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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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Understanding Primary Care Providers' Perceptions of Cancer Prevention and Screening in a Predominantly Rural Healthcare System in the Upper Midwest
Study examining primary care provider experiences and perceptions of using electronic medical record (EMR) systems for cancer prevention. Discusses survey data from 36 primary care clinics to evaluate EMR systems as prevention tools.
Author(s): Daniel M. Saman, Kayla M. Walton, Melissa L. Harry, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1019
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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School-based Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Program for Increasing Vaccine Uptake in an Underserved Area in Texas
Study comparing community-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) education with school-based vaccination paired with education in a rural area in Texas. Draws data from 2,307 middle school students between August 2016 – April 2018. Discusses the impact of having on-site vaccination events in addition to community-based education.
Author(s): Sapna Kaul, Thuy Quynh N. Do, Enshuo Hsu, et al.
Citation: Papillomavirus Research, 8, 100189
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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Health Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on St Thomas and St John, US Virgin Islands, 2017–2018
Assesses the impacts of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria on the healthcare infrastructure and record keeping systems of St. Thomas and St. John, Virgin Islands. Discusses interviews and data drawn from emergency department records before, between, and after the hurricanes, including statistics on patient demographics and healthcare service usage by health condition. Describes the significant damage to the Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC) hospital, the only emergency hospital on the island, during and after the hurricanes, and the impact of that damage on healthcare services.
Author(s): Muhammad Abdul Baker Chowdhury, Andrew Fiore, Scott Cohen, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(12), 1725-1732
Date: 12/2019
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