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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

A Rapid Review of Interventions to Improve Care for People Who Are Medically Underserved with Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Lung Cancer
Literature review on interventions to improve health, promote access to care, and decrease disparities among patients with multiple sclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, and lung cancer. Analyzes 44 studies, highlighting findings related to underserved groups, including people in rural areas, throughout.
Author(s): Sarah Mossburg, Mona Kilany, Kimberly Jinnett, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(5), 529
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Differences in Long-Term Mortality and Readmission Following COVID-19 Hospitalization, 2020 to 2023
Analyzes rural-urban disparities in mortality and hospital readmission among 9,325 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to July 2022, with follow-up data through May 2023. Includes data on demographic and clinical factors associated with rural dwelling.
Author(s): Mohammed Yousufuddin, Maryam Mahmood, Ebrahim Barkoudah, et al.
Citation: Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 11(5)
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Vitamin D Levels and SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Medically Underserved Populations in the Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study
Analyzes associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and vitamin D status among 3187 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients, with comparisons by race and other demographic factors. Discusses COVID-19 disparities among underserved populations. Includes data on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vitamin D deficiency among rural people.
Author(s): Makella S. Coudray, Shantoy Hansel, Salvatore Alesci, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 16(4), 639
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Identifying Priority Geographic Locations for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Services in the Appalachian Region
Examines the relationship among diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services, economic distress, and diabetes prevalence in Appalachia. Includes maps presenting these relationships as well as discussion about providing equitable DSMES services.
Author(s): Jacob T. Wittman, Dayna S. Alexander, Melissa Bing, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Non-Urgent Use of Emergency Departments by Rural and Urban Adults
Examines differences in non-urgent use of emergency departments (EDs) in rural versus urban adults as well as factors associated with non-urgent ED use. Utilizes 2014-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data to show percentage of adults who utilized ED services, with data broken down by age, mental and physical health status, income, health insurance and primary care access status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Carly Milkowski, Zachariah Croll, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Service and Resource Sharing Approaches – Focus on the Public Health Workforce
A recorded webinar that discusses how public health departments can maximize efficiency through service and resource sharing. Focuses on workforce challenges such as capacity, the healthcare pipeline, recruitment, and retention; diversity, equity, and inclusion training; public trust; and more. Includes examples from rural public health systems. Transcript available in tool bar.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Accreditation Board
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Quality in Motion: Acting on the CMS National Quality Strategy
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2022 National Quality Strategy (NQS). Describes actions CMS has taken to meet the eight NQS goals across four priority areas: outcomes and alignment, equity and engagement, safety and resiliency, and interoperability and scientific achievement. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Indian Health Service Health Equity Report
Reports on efforts to advance health equity in the Indian Health Service (IHS). Discusses strategies and funding supporting access to facilities and services, quality of care, cultural appropriateness, wellness and disease prevention, and more.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Demographic Disparities in the Limited Awareness of Alcohol Use as a Breast Cancer Risk Factor: Empirical Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study of U.S. Women
Examines the general awareness of breast cancer risk with alcohol use according to sociodemographic variables. Surveys adult women regarding cancer risk awareness, with data broken down by age, income, education, health status, alcohol use, information sources, U.S. region, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Monica H. Swahn, Priscilla Martinez, Adelaide Balenger, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1076
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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The Influence of Rurality on Melanoma Diagnosis in Indiana: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Compares demographics and disease characteristics of rural and urban patients diagnosed with melanoma in Indiana between January 2017 and September 2022. Discusses rural disparities in access and treatment.
Author(s): Gloria R. Xue, Marie Clark, Claudia Morr, James E. Slaven, Syril Keena T. Que
Citation: Cancer Reports, 7(4), e2072
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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