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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

2022 National Profile of Local Health Departments
Provides a study of local health department infrastructure and practice. Discusses topics including leadership, workforce, emergency preparedness and response, public health policy, information technology, financing, and more. Includes analysis by degree of urbanization throughout.
Author(s): Margaret Cunningham, Krishna Patel, Timothy C. McCall, et al.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Modeling Early Detection and Geographic Variation in Health System Capacity for Alzheimer's Disease–Modifying Therapies
Examines the impact of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to slow the progression of early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the availability of DMTs across the U.S. Discusses wait times for DMTs in rural versus urban areas and provides U.S. maps showing demographic and healthcare workforce supply data by county.
Author(s): Jodi L. Liu, Lawrence Baker, Annie Chen, Jessie Wang, Federico Girosi
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Effects of Rurality and Distance to Care on Perinatal Outcomes over a 1-Year Period During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how rurality and/or distance to care impacts perinatal outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, neonatal intensive care, birth weight, and more. Analyzes outcomes from 2,497 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic period of May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, with results broken down by distance to care and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural location.
Author(s): Pratyusha V. Bujimalla, Kimberly A. Kenne, Haley A. Steffen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 520-530
Date: 2024
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The Role of Comorbidities, Medications, and Social Determinants of Health in Understanding Urban-Rural Outcome Differences among Patients with Heart Failure
Analyzes health outcomes for patients with heart failure and mitigating factors such as comorbidities, guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes data from Medicare beneficiaries who had a heart failure hospitalization between 2008 to 2017 to observe mortality rates within 30 days or 1 year, hospital readmission rates, and emergency room (ER) admissions. Discusses health outcome disparities that correlate to patient location.
Author(s): Emily P. Zeitler, Joanna Joly, Christopher G. Leggett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 386-393
Date: 2024
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Rural-Urban Differences in Social and Emotional Protective Factors and Their Association with Child Health and Flourishing
Examines differences in childhood protective factors in rural and urban communities that correlate with childhood health and wellness. Utilizes 2018-2021 data from the National Survey of Children's Health to analyze protective factors such as caregiver emotional and social support, caregiver mental and physical health, family resilience and connectedness, neighborhood and school safety, and more. Includes rural versus urban comparisons with data further broken down by race/ethnicity, sex, age, health status, and marriage status of caregiver.
Author(s): Rose Y. Hardy, Samantha J. Boch, Mattina A. Davenport, Laura J. Chavez, Kelly J. Kelleher
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 314-325
Date: 2024
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Rural/Urban Differences in Receipt of Governmental Rental Assistance: Relationship to Health and Disability
Examines the relationship of housing to health and disability. Utilizes 2021 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze home ownership and rental assistance by rural versus urban location, with further breakdowns by demographics, marital status, education and employment status, self-rated health, region, and disability status.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Alexis Swendener, Katie Rydberg, Megan Lahr, Hawking Yam
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 394-400
Date: 2024
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The Breast-Imaging Operations, Practices and Systems Inventory: A Framework to Examine Mammography Facility Effects on Screening in Rural Communities
Examines how mammogram facility resources, policies, and practices in metro versus nonmetro Appalachia are related to breast cancer burden and outcomes. Analyzes survey data from 192 sites to observe catchment area mammography services such as levels of staffing and available technology, practices and policies that promote screening, and quality review processes.
Author(s): Roger T. Anderson, Marianne M. Hillemeier, Fabian T. Camacho, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 282-291
Date: 2024
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Gestational Weight Gain Among Urban and Rural Pregnant Individuals Who Smoke or Quit Smoking
Examines the relationship between smoking cessation and gestational weight gain (GWG). Utilizes 2009-2020 Virginia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data to analyze GWG and smoking in rural versus urban pregnant women.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Asal Pilehvari, Rebecca A Krukowski, Melissa A Little
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 66(5), 888-893
Date: 12/2023
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2023 Graduate Medical Education Exit Survey Report: Indiana University School of Medicine
Results of a survey of 447 individuals completing graduate medical education programs at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2023. Data include demographic characteristics, reactions to residency training, and plans after graduation, including where the physicians intended to practice and why they chose that location. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Komal Kochhar, Monling Ho
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University School of Medicine
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Tennessee Health Equity Plan, 2023-2028
Outlines strategies, timelines, and the steps to be taken to ensure equitable health services, meaningful partnerships, engaged communities, and a diverse, skilled workforce in Tennessee. Includes statistics on obesity with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and maternal care and food deserts.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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