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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Characteristics of Inpatient Stays Involving Hepatitis C, 2005-2014
Examines adult hospitalizations involving hepatitis C in 2014. Includes data by age group for hepatitis C inpatient stays for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas.
Author(s): Quyen Ngo-Metzger, Iris Mabry-Hernandez, Kevin C. Heslin, et al.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural Long-Term Services and Supports: A Primer
Discusses the basics of rural long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults including system fundamentals, access, and opportunities and limitations of current policy. Includes models for rural LTSS and suggests priority areas for a high-performing rural health delivery system.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, Erin M. Mobley
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Behavioral, Mental, and Physical Health Characteristics and Opioid Medication Misuse among Community Pharmacy Patients: A Latent Class Analysis
Study of opioid misuse risk factors based on mental, behavioral, and physical health characteristics for patients in 2 rural and 2 urban Pennsylvania counties. Uses latent class analysis methodology to identify combinations of indicators that may be visible to pharmacists and that may suggest increased risk of opioid misuse, including age, employment, whether a pharmacy is in a rural area, and education level.
Author(s): Gerald Cochran, Valerie Hruschak, Jennifer L. Bacci, Kenneth C. Hohmeier, Ralph Tarter
Citation: Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 13(6), 1055-1061
Date: 11/2017
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Infrequent Provision of Palliative Care to Patients with Dialysis-Requiring AKI
Explores the use of palliative care among patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who require dialysis. Examines data contained in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 44 states and over 4,000 hospitals. Compares palliative care use across different comorbidities, patient demographics, and hospital types, including urban and rural hospitals.
Author(s): Kelly Chong, Samuel A. Silver, Jin Long, et al.
Citation: Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 12(11), 1744-1752
Date: 11/2017
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Tobacco Use and Health Insurance Literacy Among Vulnerable Populations: Implications for Health Reform
Results of a study examining health insurance literacy among tobacco users, with data collected from 631 lower-income, predominantly minority residents of rural Virginia. Features statistics on insurance choice and cost, age, race, education, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Robert T. Braun, Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 17, 729
Date: 11/2017
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Impact of a Mobile Health Application on User Engagement and Pregnancy Outcomes among Wyoming Medicaid Members
Examines the effects of a mobile health application, Due Date Plus, on user engagement and birth outcomes among pregnant Medicaid members compared to pregnant Medicaid members not using the application in Wyoming. Compares data on four outcomes: 6-month or more prenatal visit, C-section, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care unity (NICU) admission to evaluate the association between Due Date Plus with pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Author(s): James Bush, Dilek E. Barlow, Jennie Echols, Jasmine Wilkerson, Katherine Bellevin
Citation: Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 23(11), 891-898
Date: 11/2017
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Human Intestinal Parasite Burden and Poor Sanitation in Rural Alabama
Reports on the presence of intestinal parasites in Lowndes County, Alabama, a location selected for this study due to high poverty, use of open-sewage systems, and past hookworm burden. Findings based on participant interviews and stool, serum, and soil samples. Includes data on parasite infection, participant gender, raw sewage in the home, asthma or other lung disease, and diarrhea in the past week.
Author(s): Megan L. McKenna, Shannon McAtee, Patricia E. Bryan, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 97(5), 1623-1628
Date: 11/2017
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High Tobacco Use Prevalence with Significant Regional and Sex Differences in Smokeless Tobacco Use among Western Alaska Native People: The WATCH Study
Describes tobacco use patterns for Alaska Natives in two western regions of Alaska to inform tobacco cessation efforts and reduce the prevalence of tobacco use. Includes baseline characteristics and tobacco use statistics for Alaska Native adults.
Author(s): Kathryn R. Koller, Christie A. Flanagan, Gretchen E. Day, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 76(1)
Date: 11/2017
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Store Owners as Potential Agents of Change: Energy Drinks in the Interior of Alaska
Discusses how store workers can act as health advocates by limiting or promoting specific products to improve the health status of their rural Alaskan community members.
Author(s): Janet M. Wojcicki, Peter de Schweinitz
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 76(1)
Date: 11/2017
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Pain in the Nation: The Drug, Alcohol and Suicide Crises and the Need for a National Resilience Strategy
Examines current trends, causes, costs, and potential solutions to the drug, alcohol, and suicide crises in the U.S. Includes rural data and discussion of rural-specific issues.
Author(s): Laura M. Segal, Anne De Biasi, Jennifer L. Mueller, Kendra May, Molly Warren
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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