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Resources by Topic: Rural definitions

The Utility of Rural and Underserved Designations in Geospatial Assessments of Distance Traveled to Healthcare Services: Implications for Public Health Research and Practice
Reviews different definitions and designations of rurality in relation to resident characteristics in a sample of 8 central Texas counties. Discusses the impact that rural definitions can have on research findings and health policy.
Author(s): Matthew Lee Smith, Justin B. Dickerson, Monica L. Wendel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2013, 960157
Date: 06/2013
Type: Document
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Report on the Definition of "Rural"
Discusses the various definitions of the term "rural" and "rural area" that are used to describe programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. Describes the effects of various definitions on USDA Rural Development programs. Recommends ways to better target funds provided through rural development programs.
Date: 02/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Frontier/Remote, Island, and Rural Literature Review
Highlights the evolution of the term frontier as it applies to remote, sparsely settled territory in the U.S. Discusses related definitions of rural relevant to creating a national frontier/remote and island geographic taxonomy.
Author(s): L. Gary Hart
Date: 08/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Town-level Comparisons May be an Effective Alternative in Comparing Rural and Urban Differences: A Look at Accidental Traumatic Brain Injuries in North Texas Children
Summarizes the results of examined data on North Texas pediatric traumatic brain injury among four levels of rurality: urban city, large town, small town, and isolated town.
Author(s): Brian Robertson, Charles McConnell
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 11(1), 1521
Date: 01/2011
Type: Document
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VAMC Facility Rurality: Comparison of Three Classification Approaches
Compares the VA Medical Center rural classification system to other alternative rural classification systems.
Author(s): Peter J. Kaboli, Justin M. Glasgow
Date: 2011
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers
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Why Definitions Matter: Rural Definitions and State Poverty Rankings
Illustrates the importance of understanding the various definitions of rural and examines the differences in state poverty rates when the two definitions of rural are employed.
Author(s): Kathleen Miller
Date: 03/2010
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Choosing Rural Definitions: Implications for Health Policy
Provides an overview of rural definitions and their policy implications. Discusses the factors that should be considered in selecting among rural definitions.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, et al.
Date: 03/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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The Consensus Definition: 2007 Update
Update on a definition of frontier developed in 1997 that uses a weighted matrix to determine which areas are considered frontier. Discusses the use of the matrix in cooperation with the states.
Date: 2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Frontier Communities
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Defining the Term "Frontier Area" for Programs Implemented through the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
An expert panel report to the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Provides an overview of current frontier definitions and describes the process used to develop a new frontier area definition that could be applied to telehealth programs.
Date: 05/2006
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Rural Definitions for Health Policy and Research
Compares several rural definitions and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. Also addresses the issues related to using these geographic definitions in policy and research.
Author(s): L. Gary Hart, Eric H. Larson, Denise M. Lishner
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 95(7), 1149-1152
Date: 07/2005
Type: Document
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