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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Access to Specialty Healthcare in Urban Versus Rural US Populations: A Systematic Literature Review
Surveys research between January 2013 – August 2018 on healthcare access, seeking clear definition and understanding of barriers to specialty care. Draws data from 67 peer-reviewed articles, presenting a conceptual framework based on common themes. Discusses issues of availability, perception, policy, stigma, and other access factors.
Author(s): Melissa E. Cyr, Anna G. Etchin, Barbara J. Guthrie, James C. Benneyan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 974
Date: 12/2019
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School-based Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Program for Increasing Vaccine Uptake in an Underserved Area in Texas
Study comparing community-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) education with school-based vaccination paired with education in a rural area in Texas. Draws data from 2,307 middle school students between August 2016 – April 2018. Discusses the impact of having onsite vaccination events in addition to community-based education.
Author(s): Sapna Kaul, Thuy Quynh N. Do, Enshuo Hsu, et al.
Citation: Papillomavirus Research, 8, 100189
Date: 12/2019
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Study Protocol of Coaching End-of-Life Palliative Care for Advanced Heart Failure Patients and Their Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Describes a clinical trial to study an end-of-life palliative care program for heart failure patients in rural West Virginia. Discusses the prevalence of heart failure in rural Appalachia and the need for palliative care training for family caregivers.
Author(s): Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Trisha Petitte, Angel Smothers, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 18, 119
Date: 12/2019
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Health Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on St Thomas and St John, US Virgin Islands, 2017–2018
Assesses the impacts of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria on the healthcare infrastructure and record keeping systems of St. Thomas and St. John, Virgin Islands. Discusses interviews and data drawn from emergency department records before, between, and after the hurricanes, including statistics on patient demographics and healthcare service usage by health condition. Describes the significant damage to the Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC) hospital, the only emergency hospital on the island, during and after the hurricanes, and the impact of that damage on healthcare services.
Author(s): Muhammad Abdul Baker Chowdhury, Andrew Fiore, Scott Cohen, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(12), 1725-1732
Date: 12/2019
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An Innovative Approach to Care: Integrating Mental Health Services Through Telemedicine in Rural School-Based Health Centers
Presents a study on the use of telemedicine to provide behavioral healthcare to rural children and adolescents through school-based health centers. Discusses the West Virginia Children's Access Network (WVCAN) and evaluates the successes and shortcomings of both the school-based health center model and telemedicine at providing behavioral healthcare to rural children.
Author(s): Taniya Pradhan, E. Ashley Six-Workman, Kari-Beth Law
Citation: Psychiatric Services, 70(3), 239-242
Date: 12/2019
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Migration to the US among Rural Puerto Ricans Who Inject Drugs: Influential Factors, Sources of Support, and Challenges for Harm Reduction Interventions
Details a study of the migration patterns of rural people who inject drugs (PWID) from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Breaks down data by age, sex, and HIV and HCV status among other measures.
Author(s): R. Abadie, P. Habecker, C. Gelpi-Acosta, K. Dombrowski
Citation: BMC Public Health, 19, 1710
Date: 12/2019
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A Systematic Review of Rural-Specific Barriers to Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in the United States
Analyzes a number of studies looking at medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in rural areas. Explores barriers to accessing MAT in rural areas and makes rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): Jamey J. Lister, Addie Weaver, Jennifer D. Ellis, Joseph A. Himle, David M. Ledgerwood
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Date: 12/2019
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Challenges in Managing Acute Cardiovascular Diseases and Follow Up Care in Rural Areas: A Narrative Review
Explores the challenges of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management and follow-up care in rural areas. Details access and workforce issues that make ACS care challenging in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Sandra C. Thompson, Lee Nedkoff, Judith Katzenellenbogen, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(24), 5126
Date: 12/2019
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The Strong African American Families Program Improves Lives of Rural African American Youth
Video with transcript, describing a program developed by the Center for Family Research at the University of Georgia, designed to foster well-being and improve outcomes for rural African American young people ages 10-14. Describes challenges they face, and explores ways in which the program strengthens parenting, promotes youth protective factors, and decreases the likelihood that participants will engage in high-risk behaviors, including substance abuse.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Institute on Drug Abuse
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Opioid Prescribing Among Adults With Disabilities in the United States After the 2014 Federal Hydrocodone Rescheduling Regulation
Examines the impact of the 2014 federal rescheduling regulation regarding hydrocodone-combination products on Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. Provides maps of prolonged opioid use by Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities by state before and after the regulation was implemented. Includes data analysis of beneficiaries in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Victor Law, Yong-Fang Kuo, Mukaila A. Raji, Jacques Baillargeon
Citation: Public Health Reports, 135(1), 114-123
Date: 12/2019
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