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: Population health

The Lives of Native Hawaiian Elders and Their Experiences With Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis
Highlights a 5-year study on the experiences of Native Hawaiian elders have had accessing quality healthcare. Discusses barriers to healthcare for Native Hawaiian elders, including those residing in rural areas.
Author(s): Keilyn Leina'ala Kawakami, Shelley Muneoka, Rachel L. Burrage, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health
Date: 02/2022
view details
Case Studies of Communities of Less Than 10,000 People with Bicycle & Pedestrian Infrastructure
Examines the availability of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in rural communities in the U.S. based on a sample of 5 states that represent the different regions of the U.S.: Northeast, North Central, South-Gulf, South-Atlantic, and the West. Discusses the health and community benefits of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, issues of maintaining infrastructure, and ways to engage communities in planning based on survey and interview data.
Author(s): Natalie Villwock-Witte, Karalyn Clouser
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Western Transportation Institute
view details
Evaluation of the Million HeartsĀ® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model: Fourth Annual Report
Evaluates the first four years of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model to determine whether, and how, it reduces first-time strokes, heart attacks, and Medicare spending. Covers participant characteristics, including rural or urban status and organization type; implementation of the model; changes in cardiovascular disease risk scores among high-risk beneficiaries; intermediate- and long-term impacts on beneficiaries; and the relevance of these findings to other research on cardiovascular disease prevention.
Author(s): Greg Peterson, Alli Steiner, Rhea Powell, et al.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
view details
America at a Glance: An Update on Rural-Urban Differences in Disability Rates
Examines data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2015-2019 estimate to describe disability rates in rural communities. Presents data on metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore disability rates by type, age, and race/ethnicity. Describes how these rates have changed since the ACS 2010-2014 estimate.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
view details
Association Between Mental Health and Oral Health Status and Care Utilization
Highlights a study on the correlation between oral and mental health issues. Examines factors that contribute to poor mental and oral health status. Details participants' household income, insurance status, and whether they live in a metro or non-metro area, among other factors.
Author(s): Tamanna Tiwari, Abigail Kelly, Cameron L. Randall, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oral Health, 2, 732882
Date: 02/2022
view details
New Hampshire Baseline Needs Assessment - Practitioners and Community Stakeholders
Identifies barriers to accessing treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) in New Hampshire. Bases conclusions on interview with practitioners and community stakeholders throughout the state. Discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on SUD treatment, beliefs about SUD treatment, and provides resources to assist practitioners.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
view details
Teledentistry Helps Provide the Right Care at the Right Time
Presents a report on the best uses of teledentistry. Discusses the use of teledentistry for dental triage, follow-up care, and in place of in-person visits for patients with less access to care, such as those in rural areas.
Author(s): Lisa J. Heaton, Madhuli Thakkar-Samtani, Caroline D. McLeod, Eric P. Tranby
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
view details
County-Level Variation in Cirrhosis-Related Mortality in the US, 1999-2019
Reviews cirrhosis mortality rates in the U.S. based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database for 1999-2019. Analyzes data according to sex, race and ethnicity, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan categories. Includes discussions of health disparities as related to metro categories.
Author(s): Audrey Y. Ha, Michael H. Le, Linda Henry, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(2)
Date: 02/2022
view details
Strategies and Interventions to Reduce Suicide: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summarizes insights from a two-part virtual public workshop focused on suicide prevention interventions. Includes discussion of suicide trends for specific populations. Addresses a wide range of strategies and approaches to meet the needs of different groups, including rural and tribal populations.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial for a Multi-Level, Clinic-Based Smoking Cessation Program with Women in Appalachian Communities: Study Protocol for the "Break Free" Program
Results of a study to increase smoking cessation among women living in rural Appalachia, by embedding a smoking cessation program within a larger cervical cancer prevention program. Uses data from focus groups comprising 510 women from West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia.
Author(s): Joanne G. Patterson, Tia N. Borger, Jessica L. Burris, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 17(11)
Date: 02/2022
view details