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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer

Rural-Urban Differences in Financial Burden among Cancer Survivors: An Analysis of a Nationally Representative Survey
Analyzes 2012, 2014, and 2017 data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information and National Trends Survey to determine differences in reported financial problems due to cancer in rural and urban populations. Table 1 provides a rural and urban comparison on several demographic and cancer characteristics, including gender, age, marital status, race and ethnicity, income, insurance status, and several factors related to cancer treatment.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Melinda M. Davis, Jason S. Rotter, et al.
Citation: Supportive Care in Cancer, 27(12), 4779-4786
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Challenges of Using Nationally Representative, Population-Based Surveys to Assess Rural Cancer Disparities
Examines research methods in studies of rural cancer-related health behaviors and disparities, exploring the definition of "rural" in population-based national surveys, complications for rural cancer studies, and possible solutions to improve survey accuracy. Discusses prominent data sources, including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), and the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), and examines use of these data sources in 68 published studies.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Natoshia Askelson, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Preventative Medicine, 129 Supplement, 105812
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Mortality-to-Incidence Ratios by U.S. Congressional District: Implications for Epidemiologic, Dissemination and Implementation Research, and Public Health Policy
Analyzes congressional district-specific mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) between 2011 and 2015 for all cancers and for cancers of breast, cervix, colorectal, esophagus, lung, oral, pancreas, and prostate cancers. Compares MIRs across regions, state Medicaid expansion status, race, and rurality. Discusses implications for policymakers and researchers.
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Whitney E. Zahnd, Swann Arp Adams, et al.
Citation: Preventative Medicine, 129(S), 105849
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Understanding Primary Care Providers' Perceptions of Cancer Prevention and Screening in a Predominantly Rural Healthcare System in the Upper Midwest
Study examining primary care provider experiences and perceptions of using electronic medical record (EMR) systems for cancer prevention. Discusses survey data from 36 primary care clinics to evaluate EMR systems as prevention tools.
Author(s): Daniel M. Saman, Kayla M. Walton, Melissa L. Harry, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1019
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Achieving Health Equity in Preventive Services: Evidence Summary
Summarizes research on achieving health equity in preventive services including screening, counseling, medication, and management for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in adult patients by identifying the effects of impediments and barriers that create disparities, and the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to reduce them. Study reports barriers that resulted in or explained a disparity in preventive service, and the effectiveness of the clinician-patient relationship, health information technology, and health system intervention. Studies included African American, Hispanic, Korean and Chinese American, and rural and low-income patients.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Opioid-Related Hospitalization and Its Association With Chronic Diseases: Findings From the National Inpatient Sample, 2011-2015
Results of a study examining whether opioid-related hospitalization is associated with cancer, stroke, obesity, asthma, liver or spinal disease, and arthritis. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Donglan Zhang, Heather M. Padilla, Sae Rom Chung
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
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Differences in Preventive Care Among Rural Residents by Race and Ethnicity
Explores race and ethnicity as a factor in rural preventive care delivery. Breaks down vaccination rates and cancer screening rates by race/ethnicity and discusses potential implications of the findings.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Marizen R. Ramirez, Ashley Hernandez, Rachel Hardeman, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Lung Cancer Incidence in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Counties — United States, 2007–2016
Reports on lung cancer incidence rates in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties, with data by sex and by age at diagnosis. Includes data for 2007 and 2016, as well as the change in rate from 2007 to 2016. Discusses strategies to reduce exposure to lung cancer risk factors and how those strategies might be targeted to decrease disparities.
Author(s): Mary Elizabeth O'Neil, S. Jane Henley, Elizabeth A. Rohan, Taylor D. Ellington, M. Shayne Gallaway
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(44), 993-998
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Potentially Excess Deaths from the Five Leading Causes of Death in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties — United States, 2010–2017
Reports on the rural-urban disparities regarding potentially preventable deaths caused by heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD), and stroke for populations less than 80 years of age. Updates a January 2017 report on the same topic, with the new report using a 6-level urban-rural classification scheme and adding additional years and annual percentage change information.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 1: Number of Potentially Excess Deaths, by HHS Region and Urban-Rural Classification, Supplementary Table 2: Percentage of Potentially Excess Deaths, by HHS Region and Urban-Rural Classification, Supplementary Table 3: Number of Potentially Excess Deaths, by State for Metro and Nonmetro, Supplementary Table 4: Percentage of Potentially Excess Deaths, by State for Metro and Nonmetro
Author(s): Macarena C. Garcia, Lauren M. Rossen, Brigham Bastian, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 68(10), 1-11
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Disparities in Cancer Incidence and Trends among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 2010–2015
Reports on cancer trends and incidence rates from 2010 to 2015 for American Indian and Alaska Native populations compared to non-Hispanic White populations living in Indian Health Service (IHS) or purchased/referred care delivery areas (PRCDA) counties.
Author(s): Stephanie C. Melkonian, Melissa A. Jim, Donald Haverkamp, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 28(10), 1604-1611
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
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