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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Kentucky

Social Network Barriers to Extended-Release Naltrexone Within Rural Appalachia: Perspectives from Justice-Involved Clients and Clinicians
Presents a study on the role of family, friends, and clinicians can play in influencing naltrexone treatment uptake of people with opioid use disorder (POUD) who are incarcerated in Appalachia. Bases findings on interviews with clinicians and breaks down data by sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and social network composition, among other measures.
Author(s): Amanda M. Bunting, Carrie B. Oser, Marisa Booty, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Misuse, 60(5), 758-765
Date: 01/2025
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Bringing Pandemic Science to the Classroom: Building Public Health Capacity at a Rural Kentucky High School
Examines the multidisciplinary Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky: Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technology (WACKIEST) unit created for high school students to study the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Discusses wastewater testing, public health surveillance, and public health education.
Author(s): Sahar Alameh, Anna G Hoover, James W Keck, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 141(1), 17-23
Date: 01/2025
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Community-Engaged Approach to Improve Food Access and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in a Rural Appalachian Community
Examines a community advisory board (CAB) in Kentucky consisting of community-academic relationships focused on addressing food security. Discusses the process of forming the CAB, their engagement and contributions, and potential food access solutions that could be implemented in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Courtney T. Luecking, Makenzie Barr-Porter, Dawn Brewer, Kathryn M. Cardarelli
Citation: Nutrients, 17(3), 431
Date: 01/2025
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Rural Obstetrical Care Workforce: A State-Level Analysis
Provides fact sheets on the rural obstetrical care workforce for select states in 2025. Includes maps and tables providing county-level data and rural-urban comparisons of provider to population ratios for obstetricians, advanced practice midwives, and midwives.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Behavioral Health Workforce: A State-Level Analysis
Provides fact sheets on the rural behavioral health workforce for select states in 2025. Includes maps and tables providing county-level data and rural-urban comparisons of provider to population ratios for psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Primary Care Workforce: A State-Level Analysis
Provides fact sheets on the rural primary care workforce for select states in 2025. Includes maps and tables providing county-level data and rural-urban comparisons of provider to population ratios for family physicians, general internists, general pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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A Community-Engaged, Mixed-Methods Approach to Prioritizing Needs in a Statewide Assessment of Community Cancer Needs
Discusses a community needs assessment (CNA) in Kentucky that addresses cancer incidence and mortality in the state. Reports on feedback from 162 people and presents a concept map focused on health behaviors, education, access, cultural beliefs, and risk factors, including those specific to rural and Appalachian areas.
Author(s): Jessica R. Thompson, Todd Burus, Caree McAfee, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 12/2024
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Suicide Care in Kentucky Hospitals
Provides an overview of suicide-related visits in Kentucky hospitals and emergency departments, recent changes, and patient demographics. Features statistics including percentages of suicide-related visits in 2017-2023 in rural and urban Kentucky hospitals, and a county-level map showing locations of psychiatric hospitals.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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How Emergency Departments Are Responding to the Opioid Crisis: Results from a Statewide Survey in Kentucky
Examines hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Kentucky and their substance use disorder (SUD) services. Utilizes 2023 survey data from ED directors and discusses themes such as use of buprenorphine, referrals to community providers, social work services, screening processes, care continuity and more. Includes feedback about access to and availability of SUD services in rural areas.
Author(s): Olivia K. Sugarman, Samantha J. Harris, Lauren Byrne, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 78
Date: 11/2024
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Increasing Vaccine Confidence in Rural Communities of South-Central Kentucky
Provides educational resources, data, and advice for community leaders and healthcare professionals to promote vaccine confidence in rural south-central Kentucky. The included toolkit provides in-depth discussion of rural attitudes toward vaccination, strategies for effective communication, and information on rural vaccination disparities.
Additional links: Getting to "YES" for Routine Vaccines: A Toolkit to Increase Vaccine Confidence for Rural Communities in Kentucky
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
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