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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

Impact of Presence of Children on Indoor Tobacco Restrictions in Households of Urban and Rural Adult Tobacco Users
Highlights a study on indoor tobacco use around children among rural and urban tobacco users in Ohio. Breaks down data by the tobacco users age and sex, as well as number of children in the household, among other factors.
Author(s): Benjamin T. Kopp, Alice Hinton, Rong Lu, et al.
Citation: Academic Pediatrics, 18(8), 920-927
Date: 2018
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Indian Health Service Vision Care 2018 Edition
Report details the Indian Health Services Vision Care services. Features clinical, diagnostic, and population data. Highlights the prevalence of eye diseases and the frequency of surgical procedures provided and medications prescribed.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Mental Health Disparities: Appalachian People
Breaks down the mental health disparities across Appalachia. Looks at behavioral health indicators, such as rates of depression, excessive drinking, and suicide, among others, as well as social determinants indicators, such as median household income, poverty, and education, among others.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: American Psychiatric Association
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Assessment of Dietary Patterns, Physical Activity and Obesity from a National Survey: Rural-Urban Health Disparities in Older Adults
Examines the association between rural-urban status, physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and obesity prevalence in older adults by analyzing data derived from respondents aged 65 and above from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Author(s): Steven A. Cohen, Mary L. Greaney, Natalie J. Sabik
Citation: PLoS One, 13(12)
Date: 2018
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Understanding Disparities in Access to Genomic Medicine: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop regarding healthcare disparities in precision health and genetics-based services, which can be used to customize patient treatment, diagnoses, and disease prevention strategies. Includes a section focused on challenges for rural communities starting on page 19.
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy, Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Improving Native American Elder Access to and Use of Health Care Through Effective Health System Navigation
Examines the experiences of American Indian elders (AIEs) in New Mexico related to healthcare and seeking help. Aims to develop evaluation tools and interventions to expand the knowledge of, access to, and use of insurance, in addition to supporting other available health services to reduce health disparities.
Author(s): Cathleen E. Willging, David H. Sommerfeld, Elise Trott Jaramillo, Erik Lujan, Roxane Spruce Bly, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 18, 464
Date: 2018
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Patient-Centered Medical Home Implementation in Indian Health Service Direct Service Facilities
Report explores implementation strategies for patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) via Indian Health Service (IHS) clinics in tribal communities. Details obstacles to implementation and steps to overcoming them, such as staff retraining, team-based care, and using health information technology, among others.
Author(s): Justin W. Timbie, Ammarah Mahmud, Christine Buttorff, Erika Meza
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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The Differential Effects of Rural Health Care Access on Race-Specific Mortality
Investigates the association between race-specific rural mortality and the health infrastructure of rural counties using data from the National Center for Health Statistics Compressed Mortality File (2008-2012); county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare indicators from Health Resources and Services Administration's Area Health Resource File; and the U.S. Census. Covers the rural public health infrastructure index that indicates the presence or absence of 4 types of healthcare measures: public health employees, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) or rural referral centers, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and emergency departments within counties.
Author(s): Jeralynn Cossman, Wesley James, Julia Kay Wolf
Citation: SSM Population Health, 3, 618-623
Date: 12/2017
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Examining Substance Use Disorder Treatment Demand and Provider Capacity in a Changing Health Care System: Final Report
Assesses demand and capacity for substance use disorder treatment, with comparisons between years 2013 and 2016. Features statistics including numbers of clients, staff hours, percentage of facilities offering pharmacotherapies and accepting various insurance types, and distribution of specialty treatments, with breakdowns by urban and rural locations.
Additional links: In Focus Brief, May 2018
Author(s): Ellen Bouchery
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Addressing Health Inequities in New Mexico: The Role of the New Mexico Public Health Institute
Examines contributors to rural/urban and racial health disparities in New Mexico and identifies priorities for addressing them. Discusses demographics, socioeconomic factors, infrastructure, health disparities, and the physical environment. Reports on current population health efforts and identifies gaps.
Author(s): Renee T. Despres
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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