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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

A Pandemic of Body, Mind, and Spirit: The Burden of "Social Distancing" in Rural Communities During an Era of Heightened Suicide Risk
Discusses the potentially heightened risk of suicide in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines how decreased access to mental healthcare, economic stress, stigma, and social isolation could increase the risk of suicide in rural areas.
Author(s): Natalie B. Riblet, Susan P. Stevens, Bradley V. Watts, Brian Shiner
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 207-210
Date: 01/2021
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Treating COVID‐19 in Rural America
Explores the challenges of treating COVID-19 in rural hospitals. Highlights the difficulty of conducting clinical trials to identify an effective treatment for COVID-19 in small rural hospitals.
Author(s): Dima Dandachi, Rebecca Reece, Elizabeth W. Wang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 205-206
Date: 01/2021
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Susceptibility of Southwestern American Indian Tribes to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Discusses the susceptibility of the Navajo Nation, Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, and Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma to COVID-19. Examines historical and immunological factors, as well as ongoing and suggested interventions.
Author(s): Monika Kakol, Dona Upson, Akshay Sood
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 197-199
Date: 01/2021
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Caring for Miners During the Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) Pandemic
Highlights the particular susceptibility of miners in the Southwestern U.S. to COVID-19. Discusses preexisting conditions, such as COPD, as well as issues related to access to care.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, Charles Pollard, Kyla Le Suer, Kevin Vlahovich, Jolene Walker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 165-168
Date: 01/2021
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COVID-19 During the Opioid Epidemic – Exacerbation of Stigma and Vulnerabilities
Explores how the lack of healthcare infrastructure in rural areas and the COVID-19 pandemic create particular challenges for people who use drugs (PWUDs). Discusses the stigma of seeking care during a pandemic and the difficulty of accessing living resources, among other issues affecting PWUDs in rural areas.
Author(s): Wiley D. Jenkins, Rebecca Bolinski, John Bresett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 172-174
Date: 01/2021
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A Primary Care Response to COVID‐19 for Patients with an Opioid Use Disorder
Discusses the challenges of treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights decisions made by primary care physicians regarding harm reduction related to COVID-19 that may have detrimental effects for OUD patient.
Author(s): Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Melinda Ramage, E. Blake Fagan
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 169-171
Date: 01/2021
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Ethics and Economic Growth in the Age of COVID-19: What is a Just Society to Do?
Explores the differences between public health and economic decision-making approaches. Discusses how rural communities and rural healthcare infrastructure will benefit from funding increases in response to COVID-19.
Author(s): Peter E. Hilsenrath
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 146-147
Date: 01/2021
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Strategies for Disseminating and Implementing COVID-19 Public Health Prevention Practices in Rural Areas
Describes strategies to communicate public health information about COVID-19 in rural areas. Outlines three areas important in tailoring messages to rural audiences: explaining COVID-19 risk and prevention in a rural context, involving community leaders, and utilizing strengths-based messaging.
Author(s): Beth Prusaczyk
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 142-144
Date: 01/2021
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Using Technology-Based Therapeutic Tools in Behavioral Health Services
Report discusses the use of telehealth to provide behavioral health services. Explores the benefits of telehealth as a bridge to accessing behavioral healthcare and presents implementation guidance, such as state and licensing regulations and reimbursement considerations.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Promoting Physical Activity in Rural Settings: Effectiveness and Potential Strategies
Evaluates the effectiveness of a BEAT Cancer, a physical activity intervention for female cancer survivors, utilizing data from 16 program participants in a rural, community setting. Includes data on outcomes related to physical activity, mental health, quality of life, and barriers to physical activity of 16 participants. Includes program implementation and design feedback from participants.
Author(s): Whitney J. Smith, Michelle Y. Martin, Maria Pisu, et al.
Citation: Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 6(4), e000180
Date: 2021
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