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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Quantifying Rural Disparity in Healthcare Utilization in the United States: Analysis of a Large Midwestern Healthcare System
Analyzes patient utilization of rural versus urban outpatient clinics. Explores electronic health record data from 474,674 adult patients from June 2018 to March 2019 across variables such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, smoking status, and health status. Includes statistics and discussion of clinic utilization in relation to rural healthcare disparities.
Author(s): Akua Nuako, Jingxia Liu, Giang Pham, et al.
Citation: PLoS ONE, 17(2)
Date: 02/2022
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Social Determinants of Mortality of COVID-19 and Opioid Overdose in American Rural and Urban Counties
Highlights a study on the social determinants of health that correlate with high COVID-19 and opioid overdose mortality in rural and urban counties. Breaks down county data by median income, unemployment, and healthcare workforce, among other factors.
Author(s): Yuhui Zhu, Zhe Fei, Larissa J. Mooney, et al.
Citation: Journal of Addiction Medicine, 16(1), e52-e55
Date: 02/2022
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Colorectal Cancer Community Engagement: A Qualitative Exploration of American Indian Voices from North Dakota
Presents a study on the barriers and facilitators of colorectal cancer screening for American Indian (AI) communities in North Dakota. Bases conclusions on interviews with AI adults between 30 and 75 years of age.
Author(s): Nicole Redvers, Mia Wilkinson, Courtney Fischer
Citation: BMC Cancer, 22, 158
Date: 02/2022
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Estimating Mortality from Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Pneumoconiosis Using Binary Regressions for Spatially Sparse Data
Results of a study to estimate the excess risk associated with mortality from various pneumoconioses among Medicare beneficiaries and to assess how the combined individual and county‐level factors contribute to the increased mortality risk of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Uses data from 2011-2014 and features statistics with breakdowns by rural and non-rural locations.
Author(s): Rajib Paul, Oluwaseun Adeyemi, Ahmed A. Arif
Citation: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2022, 1-6
Date: 02/2022
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Pandemic Increases Pressure on Rural Hospitals & Communities: Vulnerability, Health Inequity and Staffing Crisis Amplified in Pandemic's Third Year
Examines the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Discusses disparities between rural and urban communities and communities with hospitals vulnerable to closure. Describes the benefits of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospitals and how scheduled reimbursement cuts and staffing shortages could impact hospitals' financial stability. Also discusses how staffing shortages impact access to obstetrics and chemotherapy care in rural areas.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: First Responders
Report highlights a the results of a baseline needs assessment identifying substance use disorder (SUD) treatment needs and barriers for rural first responders in Maine. Breaks down data by county, substances used, and rural versus non-rural areas.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Maine Baseline Needs Assessment: Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Barriers and Beliefs
Shares the results of a survey of healthcare providers in rural Maine regarding practitioner-related barriers, patient-related barriers, and practitioner beliefs about treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Rural Working-Age Adults Report Worse Health Than Their Urban Peers
Examines differences in self-rated physical health among residents of large urban counties, medium/small urban counties, metro-adjacent counties, and remote rural counties. Uses data from a survey of approximately 4,000 U.S. adults ages 18-64, conducted in February-March 2021.
Author(s): Shannon M. Monnat, Danielle C. Rhubart
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
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Racial Disparities in Cancer Outcomes, Screening, and Treatment
Presents an overview of data on cancer incidence and mortality, risk factors, screening, treatment, and outcomes by race and ethnicity. Discusses factors contributing to racial cancer disparities, including inequities in health coverage and access to care, and social and economic factors, among others. Includes data on cancer disparities in rural communities.
Author(s): Michelle Tong, Latoya Hill, Samantha Artiga
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Self-Rated Physical Health Among Working-Aged Adults Along the Rural-Urban Continuum — United States, 2021
Reports on differences in self-rated physical health among adults aged 18-64 in large urban, medium/small urban, metro-adjacent rural, and remote rural counties.
Author(s): Danielle C. Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(5), 161-166
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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