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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Research methods and resources

Rural Physical Activity Interventions in the United States: A Systematic Review and RE-AIM Evaluation
Using the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, examines the validity and design of rural physical activity intervention studies. Analyzes 40 reports that represent 29 studies of intervention programs. Discusses role of research in developing understandings of rurality, health, and behavior and the role of physical activity programs in addressing health disparities.
Author(s): Nishat Bhuiyan, Pritika Singh, Samantha M. Harden, Scherezade K. Mama
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16, 140
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Study Protocol of Coaching End-of-Life Palliative Care for Advanced Heart Failure Patients and Their Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Describes a clinical trial to study an end-of-life palliative care program for heart failure patients in rural West Virginia. Discusses the prevalence of heart failure in rural Appalachia and the need for palliative care training for family caregivers.
Author(s): Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Trisha Petitte, Angel Smothers, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 18, 119
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Translational Science: Research with Results that Touch Rural Populations
Provides an overview of translational science and the role of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Discusses how NCATS is working to ensure rural communities benefit from translated science. Features a New York telehealth program addressing Parkinson Disease that is helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science: Involving Rural America in Research
Features translational science teams in Arkansas, Florida, and Washington that are helping ensure new scientific findings are being used in rural communities to help patients. Discusses community engagement, the role of the electronic health record in data sharing, and collaboration with cooperative extension.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Evaluating Adaptation of a Cancer Clinical Trials Decision Aid for Rural Cancer Patients: A Mixed Methods Approach
Study examining clinical trial methods for rural cancer patients. Surveys 15 cancer survivors and 31 recently diagnosed patients in two phases to evaluate patient decision aids (DA), which are designed to improve patient knowledge and preparedness so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in a trial. Compares data from rural and urban participants and discusses concerns specific to rural cancer trial participants, including confidence in the healthcare system, willingness to undertake the effort to participate, and access to web-based tools required for participation, among other factors.
Author(s): Swati Pathak, Nerissa George, Denise Monti, Kathy Robinson, Mary C. Politi
Citation: Journal of Cancer Education, 34(4), 803-809
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Dissemination of Rural Health Research: A Toolkit
Offers health services researchers a variety of approaches and products to help communicate research findings to their target audience. Provides general guidelines, as well as advice related to specific product types, such as fact sheets and policy briefs, and to particular methods of communication, including social media.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Selection Biases in Technology-based Intervention Research: Patients' Technology Use Relates to Both Demographic and Health-related Inequities
Details a study on selection bias in health research, specifically the patient characteristics of people with implantable cardioverter defibrillators who were not included in an intervention on the basis of their inability to access the internet or a computer. Looks at patient demographics, such as age, race, education, and rural status, among other measures.
Author(s): Tammy Toscos, Michelle Drouin, Jessica Pater, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 835–839
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Understanding Symptom Burden in Patients with Advanced Cancer Living in Rural Areas
Explores research methods for understanding differences in rural and urban cancer care, treatment, and symptom-based stressors. Discusses challenges in recruiting and retaining rural study participants and capturing differences between rural patients receiving local care and those receiving care in metro areas. Studies the severity of advanced cancer symptoms for 21 rural patients in Iowa, drawing data from patient surveys. Describes disparities in advanced cancer diagnosis and differences in treatment experiences.
Author(s): Stephanie Gilbertson-White, Yelena Perkhounkova, Seyedehtanaz Saeidzadeh, et al.
Citation: Oncology Nursing Forum, 46(4), 428-441
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
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Trends in Clinical Research Including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Participants Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, 1992 to 2018
Study in which data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) system was used to find NIH-funded research focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations. Features statistics including dollar amounts allocated to research, and funding amounts provided to various projects and organizations, with breakdowns by select states plus the District of Columbia and Guam.
Author(s): Lan N. Doan, Yumie Takata, Kari-Lyn K. Sakuma
Citation: JAMA Network Open 2(7)
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
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The Rural-ness of Social Isolation: Information from Recent Public Health Research
Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith, deputy director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, explains how social isolation and loneliness impact rural Americans, based on information from her team's recent studies.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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