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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer

Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Changes in Patterns of Cancer-Related Mortality in the United States
Analyzes the cancer mortality rate during the 2020 year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic years. Utilizes the 2015-2020 Multiple Cause of Death database to examine mortality by sex, race/ethnicity, urban versus rural residence, and place of death.
Author(s): Jingxuan Zhao, Xuesong Han, Kimberly D. Miller, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 19(7), 501-508
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Informal and Formal Financial Assistance to Rural Women During Cancer Treatment
Interviews 36 rural women with cancer to explore their methods for handling financial hardship stemming from the costs of cancer. Discusses both informal assistance from the patients' support systems and formal assistance from healthcare systems and organizations. Highlights areas for potential financial disparities within existing inequalities.
Author(s): Emily Hallgren, Tess Thompson, Ramey Moore, et al.
Citation: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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U.S. Cancer Statistics: Highlights from 2020 Mortality and Incidence with Comparison to 2019 Incidence to Assess the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic
A data brief that presents cancer mortality and incidence in 2020 compared to previous years. Includes breakdowns by sex, race, age, cancer type, Census region, and county-level urbanicity. Discusses impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening, diagnosis, and reporting.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Video Brochures in a Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Test Outreach Program Provide Cancer Screening Information in a User-friendly Format for Rural Appalachian Community Members
Presents a study on the efficacy of using a video brochure to provide colorectal cancer (CRC) screening information and instructions for a fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) sent out to rural patients in Appalachian Ohio. Explores the barriers to CRC screening, including the low rates of returning FITs, and discusses the effect the video brochure had on this process.
Author(s): Mira L. Katz, Abigail B. Shoben, Sabrina Newell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural and Urban Primary Care Practices Amid Implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act
Analyzes the rate of colorectal cancer screening in 139 primary care practices between 2016 and 2020, following the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which provides financial incentives for screening. Includes colorectal cancer screening rates by year and quarter, social deprivation, age, race, region, and rurality, with comparisons between rural and urban primary care practices.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Zachary J. Morgan, Lars E. Peterson
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 14
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patients in Western Pennsylvania: Rural–Urban Disparities
Examines the impact of COVID-19 and related concerns on cancer patients in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Analyzes a sample of 1,980 patient surveys from August-December 2020 and March 2021 by patient perception of pandemic-related distress, cancer care, COVID-19 impact on personal health, and more. Includes rural versus urban data on COVID-19 concerns related to cancer care as well as demographic breakdowns.
Author(s): Kathryn Demanelis, Margaret Rosenzweig, Linda B. Robertson, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 34(7), 595-609
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Rural Healthy People 2030: Common Challenges, Rural Nuances
Policy brief focused on Rural Healthy People 2030, a companion piece to the Healthy People 2030 initiative with a focus on health priorities of rural populations. Features rural stakeholder perspectives on the top 20 Rural Healthy People priorities with breakdowns by census region, Medicaid expansion status, gender, age, race, and field of employment.
Author(s): Morgan Kassabian, Aakriti Shrestha, Timothy Callaghan, et al.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Cancer Survival in the United States 2007–2016: Results from the National Program of Cancer Registries
Examines one-year and five-year cancer survival rates by metropolitan and non-metropolitan county, further broken down by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and cancer type. Utilizes 2007-2016 Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) survival data to discuss cancer survival health disparities.
Author(s): Taylor D. Ellington, S. Jane Henley, Reda J. Wilson, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 18(5)
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Preventive Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women With Early-Onset Dementia
Results of a study examining the differences in use of preventive cancer screenings between patients with or without early-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), and comparing use of the screenings in rural versus urban areas. Features statistics on rates of preventive Pap smears and mammograms, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wendy Y. Xu1, Eli Raver, Jeah Jung, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 23, 255
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Effect of Rurality and Travel Distance on Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy for Unilateral Breast Cancer
Analyzes the relationship between travel time and rurality for breast cancer patients seeking contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Utilizes 2007-2017 National Cancer Database data to examine demographic factors, patient rurality, surgery characteristics, and more.
Author(s): Madison M. Wahlen, Ingrid M. Lizarraga, Amanda R. Kahl, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
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