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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Patient-Centered, Nonphysician Led Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure Program in a Rural Federally Qualified Health Center
Evaluated the effectiveness of a self-monitoring blood pressure program (SMBP) involving a nonphysician team for 205 patients with recent hypertension diagnoses in a rural Washington Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Discusses facilitators and barriers to implementation including COVID-19, telehealth, community health workers, working with limited English proficiency populations, reimbursement, and collaborations.
Author(s): Magali Sanchez, KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard, Bárbara Baquero
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30, S3167-S174
Date: 09/2024
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Critical Lessons from a Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Home-Based COVID-19 Testing in Rural Native American and Latino Communities
Examines the impact of utilizing community health workers (CHWs) to provide COVID-19 home testing in rural Latino and Native American communities. Includes data on completion of COVID-19 tests and provides qualitative feedback on accessibility, feasibility, and completion of COVID-19 home testing with CHW assistance.
Author(s): Eliza Webber, Sonia Bishop, Paul K. Drain, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(4), 709-719
Date: 09/2024
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Loneliness and Alcohol Use Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Appalachia
Results of a study exploring the association between loneliness and various levels of alcohol use in 2020-2021 among 310 college students ages 18-25 in a rural, underserved region of Appalachian Tennessee. Features demographics with breakdowns including rural, suburban, or urban background.
Author(s): Manik Ahuja, Rachel Miller-Slough, Esther Adebayo-Abikoye, et al.
Citation: Chronic Stress, 8
Date: 08/2024
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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
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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
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Prioritizing Actions to Improve HPV Vaccination with Rural U.S. Communities
Poster describing the actions of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program to address low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in rural communities. Details priority actions emerging from discussions of 24 subject matter experts, provides data on program engagement, and discusses next steps.
Author(s): Cristóbal Valdebenito, Duha Magzoub, Julia Brown, et al.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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A Qualitative Study Identifying Implementation Strategies Using the i-PARIHS Framework to Increase Access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis at Federally Qualified Health Centers in Mississippi
Examines barriers and facilitators of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Mississippi, utilizing interview data from 19 FQHC staff and 17 PrEP-eligible patients. Identifies implementation strategies to increase PrEP use and improve HIV prevention. Includes discussion of rural-specific factors influencing access.
Author(s): Trisha Arnold, Laura Whiteley, Kayla K. Giorlando, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 5, 92
Date: 08/2024
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Districts Try with Limited Success to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism: Selected Findings from the Spring 2024 American School District Panel Survey and Interviews
Discusses the rise of chronic absenteeism in schools in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the various causes, such as mental health, flexibility of remote learning, and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic challenges. Provides interview and survey data from 190 school district leaders and includes information on the percentage of districts experiencing chronic absenteeism and at what level; the characteristics of districts, including region, size, and urbanicity; and district methods of reducing chronic absenteeism.
Author(s): Melissa Kay Diliberti, Lydia R. Rainey, Lisa Chu, Heather L. Schwartz
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescent Girls Aged 13–17 Years — U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, 2013–2023
Reports trends in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among adolescent girls since the vaccines were introduced in U.S.-affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions.
Author(s): Ashley Tippins, Glodi Mutamba, E.M. Boyd, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(33), 715-721
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The State of Health in Tennessee: 2024 Annual Report to the 113th Tennessee General Assembly
Assesses the health status of Tennesseans across the four areas of the State Health Plan Framework: A Healthy Start, A Healthy Life, a Healthy Environment, and a Healthy System of Care. Includes a section on social determinants of health and features statistics on various populations and aspects of healthcare, including rural hospital closures.
Additional links: A Healthy Environment: Housing, A Healthy Life: Income and Poverty, A Healthy Start: Poverty & Food Insecurity, A Healthy System of Care: Access
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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