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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Social Determinants of Health in the Age of COVID: Effects of Social Isolation Among Adults 62+ in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study analyzing the extent of social isolation among rural Pennsylvanians aged 62 or older during the pandemic, evaluating determinants of social isolation, identifying programs and services that minimize social isolation, and assessing potential replicability in Pennsylvania. Includes sections on factors such as mental health access, faith-based organizations, transportation, technology use, and housing options.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Christopher Harris, FangHsun Wei, Mary Rita Weller, Kelly Smith
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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An Analysis of Pennsylvania's Children
Report examining trends from 2010-2019 pertaining to Pennsylvania children ages 0-17, comparing and contrasting the profiles of rural and urban children. Provides statistics on dimensions including economic circumstances, education, foster care, insurance, access to healthcare, health, mortality, and use of alcohol and illicit drugs.
Author(s): Rhoda C. Joseph
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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COVID-19 Stakeholder Experiences in the Commonwealth of Kentucky - 2022
Results of surveys taken from October-December 2021 by 145 Kentucky school leaders, community health workers and their clients, rural community members, and healthcare providers. Includes statistics on satisfaction with telehealth, testing locations and vaccines, barriers faced during stay-at-home orders, and impact of COVID on medical care.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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Is Being There Enough? Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner Residencies in Rural Primary Care
Examines the characteristics of rural and rural-serving postgraduate nurse practitioner (NP) residency programs, and the practices they use to determine if and how they enable recruitment, transition, and retention of NPs in rural primary care practice. Interviews were conducted with residency program directors, clinic personnel, and current and former NP residents, and analyzed to identify key themes and variations in program structure.
Author(s): Louise Kaplan, Samantha W. Pollock, Susan M. Skillman, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 529-534
Date: 11/2022
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Interest in Using Over-the-Counter Oral Contraceptive Pills: Findings from the 2022 KFF Women's Health Survey
Presents findings from the national 2022 KFF Women's Health Survey about the preferences of reproductive age females for an over the counter (OTC) contraceptive pill. Offers data demonstrating their preferences and reasons for their preferences, and compares data by race/ethnicity, income, insurance status, and rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michelle Long, Brittni Frederiksen, Usha Ranji, Karen Diep, Alina Salganicoff
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Indiana's Behavioral Health Workforce Report Series: Psychiatrists and Psychiatric APRNs
Information on 2021 demographics, education and practice characteristics, and distribution of Indiana physicians and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who report having a practice specialty in psychiatry. Includes a county-level map showing geographic distribution of psychiatrists, with shadings indicating counties that are Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 11/2022
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Rural-Urban Disparities in U.S. Cigarette Smoking Quit Ratios
Compares the rates of smoking cessation in rural and urban areas. Details the rate smokers quit smoking from 2010-2020 according to the National Survey on Drug Use.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Responding to One Rural Community's Primary Care Needs: Investing in Workforce and Broad Community Stakeholder Engagement
Commentary describing a model in which an academic health system in Rockingham County, North Carolina made targeted primary care investments to address rural health disparities while working to ensure sustainability within the health workforce. Examines challenges to improving rural health outcomes and offers suggestions for health systems seeking to replicate the Rockingham model.
Author(s): Sherry Hay, Emily M. Hawes, Alyssa Zamierowski, Stokes Ann Hunt, Cristen P. Page
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(6), 435-439
Date: 11/2022
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Trends and Disparities in Firearm Fatalities in the United States, 1990-2021
Results of a study of 1,110,421 firearm fatalities from 1990-2021, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Features statistics including age- and year-specific firearm homicide and suicide fatality rates with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and county-level maps showing geographic distribution of firearm fatalities.
Author(s): Chris A. Rees, Michael C. Monuteaux, Isabella Steidley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(11)
Date: 11/2022
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Seeking Solutions: Dental Health and Disabilities in Indiana
Assesses needs of Indianans related to dental health and disabilities utilizing information gained from secondary research as well as interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Includes statistics on those with healthcare needs, explanation of report framework, and literature review covering availability, accessibility, accommodation, acceptability, and affordability of services. Includes case studies focused on rural areas.
Author(s): Megan Wilkinson, Angel Winchester, Alysia Marshall-Seslar, Lettie Haver, Barbie Vartanian
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: AWS Foundation, Delta Dental Foundation, McMillen Health
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