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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Academic Achievement and Competency in Rural and Urban Family Medicine Residents
Analyzes differences in the quality of preparation in rural versus urban family medicine (FM) residencies. Examines medical knowledge across 22 core competencies utilizing 2016-2018 American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) data from 11,790 residency graduates. Provides data and discussion on differences between rural and urban programs.
Author(s): Lars Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan, C. Holly A. Andrilla, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 55
Date: 01/2023
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2022 Missouri Nursing Workforce Report
Presents an overview of the nursing workforce in Missouri, using data from nurses who held active licenses in Missouri as of October 1, 2022. Provides demographics and statistics on advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Bridget Murphy, Jill Lucht, Eric McDavid, et al.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Missouri State Board of Nursing, University of Missouri Center for Health Policy
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Access to Oral Health Workforce Report: Part II
Evaluates and discusses patient access to oral healthcare in Pennsylvania. Provides demographic and well-being information, and analysis of variables affecting workforce outcomes and access to care. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Sean G. Boynes, Helen Hawkey, Kelly A. Braun, et al.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health
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Pre-Pandemic Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Telehealth for Cancer Care in the United States
Explores the availability of telehealth and oncology services across geographic and sociodemographic domains before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2019 and 2020 data sources to examine hospital characteristics by telehealth and oncology services, with information on hospital ownership, number of hospital beds, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, presence of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) co-located at hospital, and more. Includes availability of telehealth, oncology, and hospital services broken down by county; HPSA status; income, average age, and race/ethnicity of residents; ratio of population to primary care physicians; rural noncore, rural micropolitan, or urban status; and more.
Author(s): David I. Shalowitz, Peiyin Hung, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan Eberth
Citation: PLoS One, 18(1)
Date: 01/2023
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COVID-19 Impacts on Primary Care Clinic Care Management Processes
Examines the relationship between COVID-19 primary care disruptions and worsened health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. Analyzes 269 primary care clinics in Minnesota in 2017, 2019, and 2021 to observe changes in care management processes (CMPs). Presents rural versus urban clinic data related to CMPs reported on the Physician Practice Connections Readiness Survey (PPC-RS).
Author(s): Leif I. Solberg, Caroline S. Carlin, Kevin A. Peterson
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 21(1), 40-45
Date: 01/2023
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Shorter Time to Treatment Is Associated With Improved Survival in Rural Patients With Breast Cancer Despite Other Adverse Socioeconomic Factors
Analyzes the relationship between time to treatment initiation (TTI) and overall survival (OS) of cancer patients. Examines 1,205,031 women with breast cancer from 2004 to 2012 by socioeconomic and demographic information, with data further broken down by rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Minh-Tri Nguyen, Wei Wei, Gregory Cooper, Alok A. Khorana, Suneel D. Kamath
Citation: Oncology, 37(1), 19-24
Date: 01/2023
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Geographic Access to Pediatric Cancer Care in the US
Examines estimated travel time for various populations to access pediatric cancer care in the United States. Analyzes data from more than 90 million children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs) extracted from 2015-2019 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Includes demographic breakdowns of median travel time by race/ethnicity, age, health insurance status, area deprivation index (ADI), U.S. region, and urban, large town, small town, or rural location. Provides maps that show travel time from population centroids of U.S. ZIP code tabulation areas as well as per capita pediatric oncologist supply by Census division and state.
Author(s): Xiaohui Liu, Mark N. Fluchel, Anne C. Kirchhoff, Haojie Zhu, Tracy Onega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2251524
Date: 01/2023
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The Role of Algorithms in Oral Health Care and Disease Prevention and Management
Report discusses the use of algorithms to customize oral healthcare delivery. Explores algorithm-driven digital tools that can help prevent tooth loss and dental caries by predicting those most at risk based on demographic data. Highlights consumer perceptions of the use of algorithms by a number of demographic factors, such as age, income, employment, and rurality, among others.
Author(s): Lisa J. Heaton, Adrianna Sonnek, Angela Kyomugisa, et al.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Trends and Characteristics of Buprenorphine-Involved Overdose Deaths Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Details a study evaluating the rates of buprenorphine-involved overdose deaths before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic when prescribing regulations were loosened. Compares overdose mortality rates involving buprenorphine in 2019 and 2021 and breaks down data by a number of demographic factors, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Lauren J. Tanz, Christopher M. Jones, Nicole L. Davis, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2251856
Date: 01/2023
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Telemedicine Use and Quality of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study of 1,768 clinicians treating 11,801 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), to examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. Explores medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing and OUD-related clinical events, including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification, and rehabilitation center stay. Features statistics including patient and clinician characteristics, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural location.
Author(s): Ruth Hailu, Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alisa B. Busch, Michael L. Barnett
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1)
Date: 01/2023
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