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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Poll Finds Rural Residents More Hesitant to Get Vaccinated
Results of a poll conducted from November 30 - Dec 8, 2020, in which approximately 1,700 respondents were asked if they would get a COVID-19 vaccination if it were determined to be safe, effective, and available at no cost. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural location.
Author(s): Tim Marema
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 3(1), 61-65
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Cancer-Related Hospitalizations for Adults, 2017
Examines adult nonmaternal hospital stays involving cancer. Includes hospitalization rates principally for cancer and principally for other causes by location of patient residence for large central metropolitan areas; large fringe metro areas; medium or small metro; and micropolitan or noncore (rural) areas.
Author(s): Marc Roemer
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing: Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Opportunities
Discusses housing supply and affordability challenges and offers recommendations for federal, state, local, and tribal governments to reduce regulatory barriers and address these challenges. Describes rural/urban differences in housing market challenges. Covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing in the U.S.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Physician Density by Specialty Type in Urban and Rural Counties in the US, 2010 to 2017
Examines trends in physician density in rural and urban counties among primary care physicians, medical specialists, surgical specialists, or other specialists. Features statistics with breakdowns by large metropolitan, medium or small metropolitan, or rural counties.
Author(s): Sara R. Machado, Sahan Jayawardana, Elias Mossialos, Muthiah Vaduganathan
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(1)
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Pennsylvania Municipal Officials' Views on COVID-19 Vaccine and Pennsylvania's Response to the Pandemic
Results of an email survey of 1,009 elected officials, to gather information about their attitudes toward vaccines and the Pennsylvania state government's response to COVID-19. Features statistics on the percentages of officials likely to get vaccinated, who felt the state's response had been effective, and who had recently attended municipal meetings in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Fourteenth Broadband Deployment Report
Reports on broadband deployment in the U.S., with information specific to broadband access in rural and tribal communities and the U.S. territories. Includes rural broadband deployment data by state and county.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in the United States: A Rapid National Assessment
Uses nationally representative survey results to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults in the U.S. Features data and statistics on vaccine hesitancy for various groups, including African American, Hispanic, and rural residents, those with children at home, and others.
Author(s): Jagdish Khubchandani, Sushil Sharma, James H. Price, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 46(2), 270-277
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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One in Three Adults Used Telehealth during the First Six Months of the Pandemic, but Unmet Needs for Care Persisted
Examines the use of telehealth among nonelderly adults during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Explores overall telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, wanting telehealth services but not receiving them, the share of patients who went without care, and reasons for not using telehealth. Includes data on race/ethnicity, type of insurance coverage, urban or rural residence, health status, and number of chronic conditions.
Author(s): Laura Barrie Smith, Fredric Blavin
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect
Highlights a study on the correlation between opioid use disorder (OUD) and child maltreatment. Specifically, the effect buprenorphine treatment for OUD has on rates of maltreatment. Discusses challenges and considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Robin Ghertner, Mir M. Ali
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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How to Transform the U.S. Mental Health System: Evidence-based Recommendations
Discusses evidence-based strategies to promote mental healthcare utilization, improve access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Offers 15 recommendations to improve mental healthcare, including policies regarding reimbursement, workforce growth, and digital and telehealth services, among other topics. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report, Research Brief: Transforming Mental Health Care in the United States
Author(s): Ryan K. McBain, Nicole K. Eberhart, Joshua Breslau, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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