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Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Rural Areas – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Rural Areas.

Prioritizing Rural Populations in State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans: A Qualitative Assessment
Discusses the development of comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans at the state level to address rural health disparities. Reports on interviews with cancer control leaders about barriers and facilitators in creating CCC plans and the strategies to create effective partnerships and networks in rural areas.
Author(s): Rachel Hirschey, Catherine Rohweder, Whitney E. Zahnd, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 34, 159-169
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Radiotherapy Deserts: The Impact of Race, Poverty, and the Rural-Urban Continuum on Density of Providers and the Use of Radiation Therapy in the US
Investigates the prevalence of radiotherapy deserts for prostate cancer (PC) and invasive breast cancer (BC) at the county level in the United States. Analyzes physicians to persons at risk (PPR) and use to persons at risk (UPR) according to gender, race/ethnicity, poverty level, and metro versus non-metro county. Includes U.S. maps depicting death and incidence rate hot zones, high PPR density, high UPR density, and more.
Author(s): Anna W. LaVigne, Theodore L. DeWeese, Jean L. Wright, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, 116(1), 17-27
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Cancer Disproportionately Impacts Adults Living in Rural Areas
Analyzes cancer disparities in metro and nonmetro areas across the U.S. as well as select states that did not expand Medicaid coverage: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Utilizes multiple data sources to examine cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates in metro and nonmetro areas.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The National Grange
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Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Primary Care: Preliminary Effectiveness and Implementation of a Collaborative Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Test Pilot
Examines the feasibility of implementing a mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) program in rural clinics to improve screening rates for colorectal cancer (CRC). Discusses the effectiveness of additional strategies in FIT programs such as auto-calling and live reminder calls from clinics. Provides data on screening success rates and qualitative feedback from clinic staff on the program.
Author(s): Melinda M. Davis, Jen Coury, Jean Hiebert Larson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 279-290
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Pre-Pandemic Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Telehealth for Cancer Care in the United States
Explores the availability of telehealth and oncology services across geographic and sociodemographic domains before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2019 and 2020 data sources to examine hospital characteristics by telehealth and oncology services, with information on hospital ownership, number of hospital beds, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, presence of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) co-located at hospital, and more. Includes availability of telehealth, oncology, and hospital services broken down by county; HPSA status; income, average age, and race/ethnicity of residents; ratio of population to primary care physicians; rural noncore, rural micropolitan, or urban status; and more.
Author(s): David I. Shalowitz, Peiyin Hung, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan Eberth
Citation: PLoS One, 18(1)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Geographic Access to Pediatric Cancer Care in the US
Examines estimated travel time for various populations to access pediatric cancer care in the United States. Analyzes data from more than 90 million children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs) extracted from 2015-2019 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Includes demographic breakdowns of median travel time by race/ethnicity, age, health insurance status, area deprivation index (ADI), U.S. region, and urban, large town, small town, or rural location. Provides maps that show travel time from population centroids of U.S. ZIP code tabulation areas as well as per capita pediatric oncologist supply by Census division and state.
Author(s): Xiaohui Liu, Mark N. Fluchel, Anne C. Kirchhoff, Haojie Zhu, Tracy Onega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2251524
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Shorter Time to Treatment Is Associated With Improved Survival in Rural Patients With Breast Cancer Despite Other Adverse Socioeconomic Factors
Analyzes the relationship between time to treatment initiation (TTI) and overall survival (OS) of cancer patients. Examines 1,205,031 women with breast cancer from 2004 to 2012 by socioeconomic and demographic information, with data further broken down by rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Minh-Tri Nguyen, Wei Wei, Gregory Cooper, Alok A. Khorana, Suneel D. Kamath
Citation: Oncology, 37(1), 19-24
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Assessing the Use of Constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in U.S. Rural Cancer Screening Promotion Programs: A Systematic Search and Scoping Review
Reports on a literature review examining the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains and constructs in rural cancer screening promotion programs. Explains the 5 CFIR domains of intervention, inner setting, outer setting, individuals, and process that influence the success of implementing interventions. Discusses 15 studies that examine how CFIR is used and reflects on how cancer screening promotion programs can be improved in rural areas.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Moss, Kelsey C. Stoltzfus, Madyson L. Popalis, William A. Calo, Jennifer L. Kraschnewski
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 23, 48
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2021
Presents 2021 survey data, including revisions, on use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, trends in substance use disorder and mental health, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status. Includes information on substance use and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Colorectal Cancer Incidence
Data brief providing incidence trends for colon and rectum cancer by stage at diagnosis, and by county-level metropolitan and non-metropolitan status. Utilizes 2003-2019 data derived from population-based registries participating in CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Last Updated: 6/28/2024