Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Have Healthy People 2020 Benchmarks for Leading Causes of Death Been Met in Rural and Urban Areas?
Presentation slides from an August 20, 2019 webinar, with analysis of death rates for 7 major causes of death, in light of Healthy People 2020 benchmarks. Features mortality statistics from 2007-2017 for diabetes, heart disease, suicide, cancer, stroke, unintentional injury, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with breakdowns by gender, race, and region, with 6 levels of population density.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Marvellous Akinlotan, Kristie Primm
Date: 08/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organizations: Southwest Rural Health Research Center, Texas A&M Health Science Center
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Selection Biases in Technology-based Intervention Research: Patients' Technology Use Relates to Both Demographic and Health-related Inequities
Details a study on selection bias in health research, specifically the patient characteristics of people with implantable cardioverter defibrillators who were not included in an intervention on the basis of their inability to access the internet or a computer. Looks at patient demographics, such as age, race, education, and rural status, among other measures.
Author(s): Tammy Toscos, Michelle Drouin, Jessica Pater, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 835–839
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Advancing Health Equity and Access Using Telemedicine: A Geospatial Assessment
Highlights a study on the effectiveness of a virtual urgent care (VUC) program in expanding healthcare access and addressing health equity in rural populations in North Carolina. Compares rural versus urban areas and breaks down data by rates of poverty, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, and broadband access, among other measures.
Author(s): Saif Khairat, Timothy Haithcoat, Songzi Liu, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 796–805
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Unintentional Injury Death Rates in Rural and Urban Areas: United States, 1999–2017
Examines trends in unintentional injury deaths from 1999 through 2017. Provides urban versus rural age-adjusted death rates related to motor vehicle traffic injuries, unintentional drug overdoses, and unintentional falls, with data for 2014 and 2017.
Author(s): R. Henry Olaisen, Lauren M. Rossen, Margaret Warner, Robert N. Anderson
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Access to Hospital Maternity Care Units in Rural America
Webinar slides discussing the state of hospital-based obstetric units in rural areas. Looks at some of the characteristics of rural communities that correlate with obstetric closures and highlights some of the implications of lacking obstetric care.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Ira S. Moscovice, et al.
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Rural-Urban and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Invasive Cervical Cancer Incidence in the United States, 2010-2014
Results of a study examining 59,432 cases of cervical cancer. Features statistics on age-adjusted cervical cancer incidence, with breakdowns by race or ethnicity and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Lulu Yu, Susan A. Sabatino, Mary C. White
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
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Urban-Rural Disparities in Residential Access to Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Care Specialists
Poster presentation examining geographic distribution of cancer specialists and showing how far rural and urban residents must travel to reach nearest cancer care providers, by specialty. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of cancer provider and rural or urban location of patients.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Songyuan Deng, Whitney Zahnd, et al.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Overcoming Racial Disparities and Social Determinants in the Maternal Mortality Crisis
Provides testimonies and the recording of a hearing before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on disparities in maternal mortality. Discusses disparities by race and geographic location, social determinants of health, challenges in rural access to obstetrics, and potential steps for action. Includes testimony from the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Maternal Mortality Projects Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Health, and others.
Additional links: Lisa Hollier Testimony, Loren Robinson Testimony, Melanie Rouse Testimony, Patrice Harris Testimony, American Medical Association, Video Recording
Date: 05/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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Rural Residence and Poverty Are Independent Risk Factors for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the United States
Uses data from the 2012-2015 National Health Interview Survey to determine whether urban-rural status, poverty, and other individual- or community-level factors are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence in the United States. Compares COPD predictors among current or past smokers and individuals who have never smoked.
Author(s): Sarath Raju, Corinne A. Keet, Laura M. Paulin, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 199(8), 961-969
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
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Health Disparities Related to Smoking in Appalachia: Practical Strategies and Recommendations for Communities
Offers statistics on smoking in rural Appalachian communities. Highlights strategies and resources to reduce tobacco use. Covers recommendations to assist policymakers, funders, and leaders working to reduce health disparities related to smoking and tobacco use.
Author(s): Kate Beatty, Nathan Hale, Michael Meit, et al.
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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