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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

Impact of COVID-19 on Clinical Trials Costs to Patients
Examines the direct and indirect costs of COVID-19 clinical trial participation to patients and the impact of utilizing remote technologies. Presents an environmental scan of articles published between 2010 and 2023 and discusses barriers to clinical trial participation experienced by underrepresented and rural populations.
Author(s): Keri Calkins, Emily Crabtree, Emily Harrison, Nyna Williams, Kirsten Barrett
Date: 06/2025
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Tailored Approach to Participant Recruitment and Retention to Maximize Health Equity in Pediatric Cancer Research
Analyzes methods to improve recruitment and retention strategies to promote equity in pediatric cancer research studies. Focuses on using pre-approach, initial connection, building connection, and follow-up strategies to increase participation from Black or African American, Latino/Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, those with low socioeconomic status, and rural populations.
Author(s): Carolyn R. Bates, Renee M. Gilbert, Kelsey M. Dean, et al.
Citation: BMC Medical Research Methodology, 24, 161
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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The Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions Was on the Rise Before the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Pandemic Had a Negative Effect on Mental Health
Data spotlight on mental illness, depression, and suicide among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes disparities and discusses barriers to care related to a variety of sociodemographic factors including geography. See Figures 3, 7, and 8 for data on health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), mental health-related emergency department visits, and suicide deaths by level of rurality.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural Veteran Perception of Healthcare Access in South Carolina and Florida: A Qualitative Study
Presents a study on the perceptions of healthcare access for rural veterans and their families in South Carolina and Florida. Bases findings on interviews with veterans and their spouses on barriers to accessing physical and mental healthcare in their rural communities.
Author(s): Maria Mercedes Rossi, Heidi L. Radunovich, Michelle A. Parisi
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 24, 826
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2022 Data: Rural/Urban Traffic Fatalities
Reports 2022 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data describing fatal motor vehicle crashes. Provides rural versus urban statistics for fatal motor vehicle crashes by light condition, roadway departure and intersection, age group, speeding, alcohol use, seat belt use, and rollover crashes. Includes statistics on ratio of rural to urban fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, by state, as of 2022.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Implementing Policy and Practice Changes to Support Breastfeeding Duration in New York State Communities
Analyzes the effectiveness of the Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities program to reduce disparities in breastfeeding. Examines the breastfeeding supports in place between 2017 and 2023 at selected worksites with breakdowns according to worksite size, social vulnerability, and rurality.
Author(s): Ann Lowenfels, Megan Murphy, Abbie Archibald, Sarah Avellino, Katie Potestio
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Urban–Rural Disparities in Food Insecurity and Weight Status Among Children in the United States
Analyzes urban versus rural place of residence and its association with childhood food insecurity and weight status. Utilizes 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and provides breakdowns of urban versus rural food insecurity by child's age and weight status, according to underweight/normal weight, overweight, and obese designations.
Author(s): Jayna M. Dave, Tzuan A. Chen, Alexandra N. Castro, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 16(13), 2132
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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The Uneven Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Rural and Urban Black, Latino/a, and White Mortality
Examines mortality rates and the corresponding impact of Medicaid expansion on Black, Latino/a, and White populations, broken down by rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2009-2019 data of Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATET) estimates to provide statistical breakdowns and graphic representation of how Medicaid expansion has impacted mortality rates for varying populations.
Author(s): J. Tom Mueller, Regina S. Baker, Matthew M. Brooks
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Patterns and Trends in Melanoma Mortality in the United States, 1999–2020
Analyzes melanoma mortality utilizing 1999-2020 data from Centers for Disease Control Wide Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). Provides mortality trends broken down by sex, race/ethnicity, age, state, and rural, suburban, or urban location.
Author(s): Alexander J. Didier, Swamroop V. Nandwani, Dean Watkins, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 24, 790
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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The Impact of Regional Disparities on the Availability of Meningococcal Vaccines in the US
Analyzes the relationship among meningococcal vaccines, area-level socioeconomic status (SES), and state policies. Provides data on variables correlated with stocking rate, such as SES, social vulnerability, healthcare access, vaccine policies, and rural or micropolitan area, as well as public versus private proportion of doses. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing variations in meningococcal vaccine stocking rates.
Author(s): Katharina Schley, Eva Jodar, Jessica V. Presa, Sarah J. Willis, Christopher G. Prener
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1771
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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