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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health

Patient Satisfaction with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment via Telemedicine: Brief Literature Review and Development of a New Assessment
Study assessing patient satisfaction with telemedicine-delivered medications for opioid use disorder (tMOUD). Discusses barriers to delivery of medications for opioid use disorder in rural areas. Offers a literature review and pilot survey data from 65 patients at a treatment clinic on Maryland's Eastern Shore, addressing future directions for telemedicine use in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment programs.
Author(s): Thomas O. Cole, Darlene Robinson, Andrea Kelley-Freeman, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 557275
Date: 01/2021
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Telemedicine for Tobacco Cessation and Prevention to Combat COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality in Rural Areas
Discusses the use of telehealth to initiate tobacco cessation programs in rural areas as a means of limiting comorbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the rates of tobacco use in rural areas by type and compares rates to urban areas. Explores several examples of programs using telemedicine to implement successful models of tobacco cessation treatment in the U.S. and in Hong Kong.
Author(s): Ashley L. Merianos, Bradley Fevrier, E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 598905
Date: 01/2021
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Ensuring Contact: Calling Rural Appalachian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Epidemic
Presents a study on the well-being and healthcare needs of socially isolated adults 75 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural West Virginia. Bases conclusions on telephone interviews with seniors from April 1-22, 2020. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, mental and physical health conditions, and comfort with different forms of communication technology, among other factors.
Author(s): Robert B Walker, Michael Grome, William Rollyson, Adam D Baus
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(1), 6122
Date: 01/2021
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Maine Health Access Foundation: Reaching Out to Organizations to Provide Directed Grants
An interview with Barbara Leonard and Ruta Kadonoff of the Maine Health Access Foundation. Discusses how the foundation provided unrestricted COVID-19 grants and open competitive grants and partnered with other philanthropies pooling together COVID-19 response funds. Describes the foundation's support for EMS, telehealth, tribal communities, behavioral health, and other concerns important to rural Maine.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Report details the a comprehensive national strategy for suicide prevention for individuals, families, and communities. Outlines 6 plans of actions to address suicide across the country, such as a broad-based public health response, crisis care and care transitions, and evidence-base care, among other factors.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
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Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan for the United States: A Roadmap to Elimination 2021-2025
Functions as a comprehensive roadmap for federal and other stakeholders to decrease and ultimately eliminate viral hepatitis cases, prevent new infections, and enhance treatment and care in the U.S. Provides information on Hepatitis A, B, and C, including the number of reported and estimated cases from 2010-2018, current challenges, priority populations, and more.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect
Highlights a study on the correlation between opioid use disorder (OUD) and child maltreatment. Specifically, the effect buprenorphine treatment for OUD has on rates of maltreatment. Discusses challenges and considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Robin Ghertner, Mir M. Ali
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Mental Health Systems Solutions Explorer
Interactive tool offering evidence-based solutions to increase mental healthcare utilization, increase access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Contains examples of each solution in practice. Solutions can be filtered to view those specifically of interest to rural communities.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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How to Transform the U.S. Mental Health System: Evidence-based Recommendations
Discusses evidence-based strategies to promote mental healthcare utilization, improve access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Offers 15 recommendations to improve mental healthcare, including policies regarding reimbursement, workforce growth, and digital and telehealth services, among other topics. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report, Research Brief: Transforming Mental Health Care in the United States
Author(s): Ryan K. McBain, Nicole K. Eberhart, Joshua Breslau, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Lessons Learned: Pediatric Tele-Mental Health in a Rural Medical Center in the Age of SARS-CoV-2
Explores a study on the use of telemedicine to expand mental healthcare access to rural children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses implementation concerns such as a need to protect patient privacy and expand internet-based infrastructure.
Author(s): Komal Satti, Olutosin Ojugbele
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 260-262
Date: 01/2021
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