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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Notes from the Field: Support for Wastewater Monitoring and Influence on Protective Behavioral Intentions Among Adults — United States, July 2024
Reports findings from a survey on public support for wastewater monitoring to identify infectious diseases and intentions for related protective health behaviors. Includes data by community type for rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Rieza H. Soelaeman, Danielle Kleven, Jena Losch, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(37), 825-827
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Declines in Cancer Incidence by Race/Ethnicity and Census-Tract Level SES, Rurality, and Persistent Poverty Status
Examines the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening, treatment, incidence, and disparities among different population groups. Utilizes U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to compare 2020 and 2015-2019 incidence rates at 13 different cancer sites. Analyzes various cancer types across sociodemographic variables, including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, persistent poverty (PP), and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Benmei Liu, Mandi Yu, Jeffrey Byrne, Katheen A. Cronin, Eric J. Feuer
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 13(17)
Date: 09/2024
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Lessons for Future Pandemics: Temporal Evolution and Rural-Urban Variations in the Impacts of the COVID-19 on Opioid Use Treatment
Presents a study highlighting the lessons learned from opioid use treatment programs operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explores the impact of the pandemic on treatment services. Discusses the use of telehealth for both counseling and medication prescribing, as well as the challenges faced by patients trying to obtain treatment during the pandemic.
Author(s): Zhongyang He, Jonathan M. Heess, Travis Young, Zhen Lei
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(9), e0310386
Date: 09/2024
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AHRQ Report to Congress: An Assessment of Sepsis in the United States and its Burden on Hospital Care
Offers an assessment of hospital care for sepsis between 2016 and 2021 including trends in hospital utilization, morbidity, in-hospital mortality, and disparities related to various patient demographics and geographic factors. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Nursing Home Certificate of Need Moratoria During the COVID-19 Pandemic Had Little Impact on Access
Analyzes certificate of need (CON) moratoria and healthcare supply of skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2015-2021 SNF cost report data to provide information on states that implemented CON moratoria, differences by rural versus urban counties, and impact on SNF bed supply.
Author(s): Anthony Yu, Christopher Whaley
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 61
Date: 09/2024
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Improving HPV Vaccination Coverage in The Last Frontier Takes a Community-Centered Approach
Discusses the Alaska Cancer Partnership's efforts to support human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination through community partnerships and the Alaska HPV Vaccination Month campaign. Details initiatives focused on rural, tribal, and youth vaccination access and awareness.
Author(s): Jessica Quinn
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Medical Visits and Mortality among Dementia Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to Rates Predicted from 2019
Evaluates actual versus predicted changes in medical visits and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults aged 66 and older with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Utilizes 2019-2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data. See table 3 for a bar graph displaying differences in COVID-related and COVID-unrelated excess mortality for selected sociodemographic factors, including level of rurality, during the pandemic.
Author(s): Kaushik Ghosh, Susan T. Stewart, Trivellore Raghunathan, David M. Cutler
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 24, 727
Date: 09/2024
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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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Rural Versus Urban Health Disparities in the COVID-19 Era Among Veterans With COPD
Surveyed 100 rural and urban Minnesota veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) between March 2021 and February 2022 to identify differences in perception and practices of COVID-19 mitigation, access to healthcare, and health disparities.
Author(s): Camille Robichaux, Alexander Zanotto, Chris H. Wendt, et al.
Citation: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, 11(5), 538
Date: 08/2024
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