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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations

Veterans Health Care: Opportunities Exist to Improve Assessment of Network Adequacy for Mental Health
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Networks (CCN) program and how the VA and contractors develop and maintain mental health provider networks. Describes how the VA assesses the adequacy of the CCN mental health provider networks. Examines the extent to which the VA collects information on the factors that contribute to scheduling timeliness challenges for community care appointments, including for mental health appointments. Presents data on the percentage of CCN mental health claims that were within drive-time and appointment-availability standards between April 2022 and March 2023 by CCN region, rurality, and care setting.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Unlocking Potential: A Call to Action: Collaborative Strategies for Rural Health and Economic Prosperities
Reports results of discussions with economic and community development practitioners in rural and Indigenous communities on the relationship between development, racial equity, and health equity. Identifies strategies related to program implementation and evaluation, cooperation, goal setting, communication, and more.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Voices of Experience: Lay Perspectives on Severe Maternal Morbidity in Appalachia
Highlights the perspectives of 10 rural Appalachian women interviewed about their experiences with severe maternal morbidity, social determinants of health, the healthcare system, and access to quality healthcare. Offers potential interventions based on interview themes.
Author(s): Anna Hansen, Cassidy Carter, Nancy Schoenberg, Carrie Oser
Citation: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 5, 100410
Date: 06/2024
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Rural and Urban Differences in Disparities in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sexual Minority Populations
Examines substance use, substance use disorders (SUD), and SUD treatment in heterosexual and sexual minority populations. Analyzes 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data with information broken down by demographics, substance use, and large metro, small metro, or nonmetro location.
Author(s): Christina Dyar, Ethan Morgan
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 542-556
Date: 06/2024
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Healthcare Use and Out-of-Pocket Costs for Rural Family Caregivers and Care Recipients in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluates the effect of a transitional palliative care intervention on healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket spending for 282 groups of rural family caregivers and their care recipients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Author(s): Brystana G. Kaufman, Ro W. Huang, Diane E. Holland, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 72(8), 2523-2531
Date: 05/2024
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Exploring Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youths' E-Cigarette Resistance Strategies: Implications for Tobacco Product Use Prevention
Examines strategies to resist e-cigarette use and vaping among predominantly Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) youth attending elementary, middle/intermediate, and multi-level schools in low-income, rural communities on the Island of Hawaii. Provides results of interviews with 69 youths, detailing strategies including overt refusal, explanation, avoidance, leaving, and more.
Author(s): Scott K. Okamoto, Andrew M. Subica, Katlyn J. An, et al.
Citation: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(2), 692-706
Date: 05/2024
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Funding Rural Futures: A Call to Action: Four Principles for Equitable, Flexible Grantmaking
Discusses best practices for funders seeking to address persistent poverty in rural communities and tribal nations, utilizing feedback from economic and community development practitioners working in persistent poverty areas. Summarizes discussion results and provides perspectives from participants on topics including grant planning and administration, project- and trust-based philanthropy, partnerships and relationship-building, and funding outcomes.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Effectiveness of Trained Community Lay Workers on Glycemic Control, Knowledge, and Self-Efficacy Among Agricultural Workers with Diabetes in the Texas Panhandle
Describes a 2 phase study that created a diabetes coaching program and evaluated implementation among agricultural workers with diabetes in the Texas panhandle. Evaluated patient A1C levels and diabetes knowledge to determine the effectiveness of using community health workers to improve diabetes outcomes. Discusses the importance of culturally relevant content and addressing barriers to healthcare access.
Author(s): Anabel Rodriguez, Lus Chavez, Teresa Wagner, Carol Howe
Citation: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 26, 841-849
Date: 05/2024
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Leading the Way on the Journey to Health Equity and Wellness for American Indians/Alaska Natives
Recording of a May 30, 2024, conference session on addressing tribal health as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Includes presentations from the National Indian Health Board on priorities for initiatives aimed at improving health and healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives and from CMS on improving and using demographic data to improve health, with a focus on Medicaid and CHIP data.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Study Protocol: Examining Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy in Mexican American Young Women Using a Positive Deviance Approach
Describes a study protocol that aims to analyze the factors associated with health literacy in traditionally underrepresented groups. Focuses on Mexican American women aged 18-29, living in rural New York, who have accessed sexual and reproductive healthcare within the past year.
Author(s): Lindsay M. Batek, Natalie M. Leblanc, Amina P. Alio, James M. McMahon
Citation: PLoS One, 19(5)
Date: 05/2024
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