This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Syringe Access, Syringe Sharing, and Perceptions of HCV: A Qualitative Study Exploring the HCV Risk Environment in Rural Northern New England, United States
Highlights a study on syringe access for people who inject drugs (PWID), rates of syringe sharing, and perceived hepatitis C (HCV) risk in rural Northern New England. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews and breaks down data by state of residence, age, and drug of choice, among other measures.
Author(s): Eric Romo, Elyse Bianchet, Patrick Dowd, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 16(9), 1364
Date: 08/2024
view details
Predictors of a Positive Attitude Towards Rural Practice in Female Osteopathic Medical Students
Results of a study exploring whether rural background, a plan to practice family medicine, and inclination toward civic duty are associated with positive attitudes toward practice of rural medicine among female osteopathic medical students. Uses data from a survey of 97 students at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Author(s): Dana E. Kahl, Kevin M. Roessger
Citation: Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 124(12), 521-527
Date: 08/2024
view details
Pharmacy Accessibility and Social Vulnerability
Provides information on pharmacy deserts in socially vulnerable communities. Includes county characteristics of pharmacy deserts as well as U.S. maps showing the relationship of social vulnerability and primary care with pharmacy deserts.
Author(s): Giovanni Catalano, Muhammad Muntazir Mehdi Khan, Odysseas P. Chatzipanagiotou, Timothy M. Pawlik
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(8)
Date: 08/2024
view details
Increasing Vaccine Confidence in Rural Communities of South-Central Kentucky
Provides educational resources, data, and advice for community leaders and healthcare professionals to promote vaccine confidence in rural south-central Kentucky. The included toolkit provides in-depth discussion of rural attitudes toward vaccination, strategies for effective communication, and information on rural vaccination disparities.
Additional links: Getting to "YES" for Routine Vaccines: A Toolkit to Increase Vaccine Confidence for Rural Communities in Kentucky
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
view details
Somebody to Lean on: Understanding Self-Stigma and Willingness to Disclose in the Context of Addiction
Presents a study on self-stigma, or the unwillingness to disclose opioid use, and aims to identify factors that predict lower levels of self-stigma. Breaks down data by sex, age, and rural/urban location, among other measures. Discusses strategies for overcoming self-stigma.
Author(s): Qing Ma, Christopher R. Whipple, Övgü Kaynak, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 1044
Date: 08/2024
view details
MN Rational Service Areas: Mental Health Geographic and Low Income HPSA Designations
Provides a Minnesota state map and county list of low-income and geographic mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
MN Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care Geographic & Low Income Designations
Provides a Minnesota state map and county list of low-income and geographic primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
MN Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental Geographic & Low Income Designations
Provides a Minnesota state map and county list of low-income and geographic dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
Changes in Substance Use Diagnoses in the Great Plains during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzed 109,671 patient visits for alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, or stimulant use disorder in 7 Great Plains states between March 2019 and March 2021 to report on demographic and geographic pattern disruptions in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes discussion of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residency on data and policy implications regarding access to care.
Author(s): Ahmed Nahian, Lisa M. McFadden
Citation: Healthcare, 12(16)
Date: 08/2024
view details
How Narrow or Broad are ACA Marketplace Physician Networks?
Examines physician networks and participation in Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and how network size impacts costs and access for patients. Utilizes 2021 physician workforce and provider network data to analyze patient access to physicians in their network, distribution of Marketplace enrollees and plans, availability of specialists, share of physicians included in enrollees' provider networks by rural versus urban location, and more.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Karen Pollitz, Kaye Pestaina, et al.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details