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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

Rural Health Literacy: Understanding Skills and Demands is Key to Improvement
Provides an overview of the health literacy concerns in rural areas, with insights from researchers and other health literacy experts. Discusses both the skills and demands sides of health literacy and how rural healthcare providers can help their patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Preparing Family Physicians to Care for Underserved Populations: A Historical Perspective
Overview of family medicine residency models geared toward practice in rural and underserved urban areas. Also includes examination of behavioral science training and programs for the care of people with HIV and AIDS.
Author(s): Denise V. Rodgers, Andrea L. Wendling, George W. Saba, Megan Ruth Mahoney, Joedrecka S. Brown Speights
Citation: Family Medicine, 49(4), 304-310
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
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The Association of Health Literacy and Blood Pressure Reduction in a Cohort of Patients with Hypertension: The Heart Healthy Lenoir Trial
Analyzes the impact of a multi-level quality improvement (QI) intervention, the Heart Healthy Lenoir (HHL) Study, with a focus on health literacy to improve systolic blood pressure (SBP) control in patients being treated in rural primary clinics of Eastern North Carolina. Discusses the components of the health literacy practice and patient level activities of the QI intervention. Offers a detailed table identifying the change in SBP by literacy level.
Author(s): Jacqueline R. Halladay, Katrina E. Donahue, Crystal W. Cené, et al.
Citation: Patient Education and Counseling, 100(3), 542-549
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
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Oral Health and Medical Conditions among Amish Children
Study of oral health among Amish children in Geauga County, Ohio. Data taken from a questionnaire completed by parents whose children received care at a mobile dental unit. Discusses oral health in relation to other health disparities for Amish children, including bleeding disorder and asthma.
Author(s): Masahiro Heima, Marc-Allen Harrison, Peter Milgrom
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, 9(3), e338-e343
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
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"We Need Help in the Delta": Barriers to Health Promotion Among Older African American Men in the Mississippi Delta
Studies the challenges of promoting health in the rural Mississippi Delta, focusing on older African American men who participated in a small study group. Describes interviews with individuals and focus groups, emphasizing different understandings of the term "health" and structural concerns about health disparities that create barriers for health promotion.
Author(s): Sherry Wang, LaShaundrea Crook, Carol Connell, Kathy Yadrick
Citation: American Journal of Men's Health, 11(2), 414-425
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
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2017 County Health Rankings Key Findings Report
Provides information on county-level health disparities by analyzing health factors and outcomes throughout the U.S. Covers risk factors for premature death, including drug overdose and other injury fatalities, and discusses opportunities for youth and young adults. Includes data breakdowns by rurality and race/ethnicity.
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Sleep Quality in an Adult American Indian Community Sample
Highlights a study on the sleep quality of American Indians and Alaska Natives and the factors contributing negatively to sleep. Analyzes data by age, academic attainment, and substance use among other factors.
Author(s): Cindy L. Ehlers, Derek N. Wills, Philip Lau, David A. Gilder
Citation: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(3), 385-391
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
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Thinking "Bigger" About Smaller Places: Why Rural Health Planning is Critical to Successful Rural Collective Impact Approaches
Video of a speech by the president and CEO of the Rural Policy Research Institute. Presented as part of the Rural Health Lecture Series at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina and co-sponsored by the South Carolina Office of Rural Health. Explores how rural health is affected by social determinants of health, such as availability of safe housing, employment opportunities, and healthy food.
Author(s): Charles W. Fluharty
Date: 03/2017
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, South Carolina Office of Rural Health
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What's Killing Our Children? Child and Infant Mortality among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Examines social, behavioral, and environmental factors to determine the root causes behind significant disparities in infant and childhood mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Addresses domestic violence, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, environmental degradation, unintentional injuries, and more. Provides policy recommendations to tribal and public health agencies.
Author(s): Teshia G. Arambula Solomon, Felina M. Cordova, Francisco Garcia
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Disparities in Supports for Student Wellness Promotion Efforts among Secondary Schools in Minnesota
Examines student wellness promotion in rural, urban, and suburban secondary schools in Minnesota using National Center for Education Statistics Common Core and 2012 Minnesota School Health Profiles survey data on 309 schools. Discusses school characteristics, prevalence of dietary and weight management issues among secondary students, and disparities between rural and urban populations.
Author(s): Nicole Larson, Michael O'Connell, Cynthia S. Davey, et al.
Citation: Journal of School Health, 87(2), 90-97
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
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