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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Occurrence and Outcomes in Rural United States: A Scoping Review
Literature review on racial and ethnic disparities in cancer burden, including discussion of cancer incidence, mortality, screening, access, and knowledge among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in rural areas. Analyzes 30 studies from 2004-2023.
Author(s): Anuli Njoku, Wendemi Sawadogo, Princess Frimpong
Citation: Cancer Control, 31
Date: 06/2024
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Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Recent Trends and Key Challenges
Issue brief presenting data on rates of insurance coverage, Medicaid coverage, and access to healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) using American Community Survey data. Discusses the impacts of health disparities, coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act, and state Medicaid expansions on AI/AN populations.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Improving Access to Affordable and Equitable Health Coverage: A Review from 2010 to 2024
An issue brief that provides commentary and data on how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has impacted access to health insurance coverage. Provides uninsurance rates by demographic groups and discusses the effect of the ACA on rural areas.
Author(s): Thomas Buchmueller, Amelia Whitman, Christie Peters, Nancy De Lew
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Rural Health Disparities in Skin Cancer Amplified Among Skin of Color
Analyzes how geography and the social determinants of health impact skin cancer disparities. Analyzes skin cancer history in rural versus urban populations, with data further broken down by demographics, health plan, healthcare provider access, and income.
Author(s): Rachel R. Lin, Juwon Lee, Andrea D. Maderal, Scott A. Elman
Citation: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 23(6), 480-484
Date: 06/2024
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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 (SU), 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, SU, 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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