Conducting Rural Health Research, Needs Assessments, and Program Evaluations – Resources

Identifying Rural Health Clinics in Medicaid Data
Describes and compares 6 different tested methods for identifying Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) within Medicaid claims as a technique to better understand Medicaid enrollees' use of RHC services. Uses data from North Carolina, California, Georgia, and Texas.
Author(s): Marisa Domino, Seth Tyree, Regina Rutledge, Mark Holmes
Date: 05/2016
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Conducting Community Health Needs Assessments: A Ten-Step Process
Outlines a 10-step process for conducting community health needs assessments centered around a broad-based Community Group. Based on a model developed by the National Center for Rural Health Works.
Date: 05/2016
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Guiding Principles for Engaging in Research with Native American Communities
Offers guidance on how to conduct research in and with Native communities based on 11 principles focusing on cultural humility, relationship building, relevance, and more.
Date: 04/2016
Sponsoring organizations: Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, Nadine Tafoya and Associates, New Mexico Tribal Strategic Prevention Framework Project, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, UNM Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health, UNM Prevention Research Center
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Updated ERS County Economic Types Show a Changing Rural Landscape
Identifies nonmetropolitan counties based on the industries driving income and earnings. Includes a national map showing nonmetro counties primarily dependent on farming, mining, manufacturing, recreation, and federal-state government. May be useful to those considering health-related policies or undertaking research projects where the type of industry that is predominant is relevant.
Author(s): Timothy Parker
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Evaluating Tablet Computers as a Survey Tool in Rural Communities
Examines whether two survey methods, paper and pencil versus tablet computers, yield similar survey responses to common health questionnaires in undeserved rural communities. Examines perceptions of usability for each survey method and whether findings could be replicated between the survey methods.
Author(s): Steve M. Newell, Henrietta L. Logan, Yi Guo, John G. Marks, James A. Shepperd
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(1), 108-117
Date: 01/2015
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An Optimization Framework for Measuring Spatial Access over Healthcare Networks
Examines spatial access, a dimension of healthcare access, using an optimization framework involving supply, demand, and network structure. Includes optimization models, maps, and accessibility estimates.
Author(s): Zihao Li, Nicoleta Serban, Julie L. Swann
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 15, 273
Date: 2015
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The Social Determinants of Health of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: A Research Framework
Examines the social determinants of health related to childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes from a Native perspective, considering historical trauma, self-determination, and cultural factors. Looks at currently available information, identifies gaps, and provides a research framework to help build a better understanding of the causes of child obesity among Native Americans.
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: Notah Begay III Foundation
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Spatial, Temporal and Relational Patterns in Respondent-Driven Sampling: Evidence from a Social Network Study of Rural Drug Users
Reports on a study that used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit participants who were drug users in rural Central Appalachia. Focuses on the patterns of recruitment in this rural setting using RDS, which relies on an initial set of participants who recruit additional participants from their personal networks.
Author(s): April M. Young, Abby E. Rudolph, Deane Quillen, Jennifer R. Havens
Citation: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 68(8), 792-8
Date: 08/2014
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Understanding Geographic Relationships: American Indian Areas
Explains the relationships that exist between different types of American Indian Areas that are used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Includes a chart showing the relationships among these legal and statistical boundaries and how they relate to the standard geographic units of states and census blocks.
Author(s): Katy Rossiter
Date: 08/2014
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Building Partnerships in Community-Based Participatory Research: Budgetary and Other Cost Considerations
Explores costs and budget considerations when implementing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework to work with communities to reduce health disparities. Analysis can inform budget discussions and assist with planning CBPR project timelines. Table 1 details budget concerns for CBPR project staff and Table 2 lists opportunity costs associated with community partners for a CBPR project.
Author(s): Theresa J. Hoeft, Wylie Burke, Scarlett E. Hopkins, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion Practice, 15(2), 263-270
Date: 03/2014
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