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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

The Association of Crash Response Times and Deaths at the Crash Scene: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using the 2019 National Emergency Medical Service Information System
Compares EMS response times with rates of crash scene deaths by rural and urban region and by rush and non-rush hour periods. Breaks down the demographic characteristics of the people involved in the crash, such as age, sex, substances involved, and injuries, as well as mortality and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Oluwaseun J. Adeyemi, Rajib Paul, Charles DiMaggio, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 1011-1024
Date: 09/2022
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rural and Urban Cancer Patients' Experiences, Health Behaviors, and Perceptions
Study examining the impacts of COVID-19 on rural and urban cancer patients based on a survey of 1,472 adult patients of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Compares rural and urban demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics; experiences with healthcare; health behaviors; and stress factors.
Author(s): Anita R. Peoples, Laura B. Oswald, Jennifer Ose, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 886-899
Date: 09/2022
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National Veteran Health Equity Report
Examines Veterans Affairs (VA) data concerning the sociodemographics, utilization patterns, and rates of diagnosed health conditions among various groups of veterans to monitor, evaluate and act on identified disparities in healthcare access, use, quality, and health outcomes. Chapter 5 developed by the VA Office of Rural Health provides detailed information comparing rural and urban data.
Additional links: American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran Chartbook, Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Veteran Chartbook, Black Veteran Chartbook, Full Report, Hispanic and Latino Veteran Chartbook
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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The Intersection of Disability Status and Rurality in American Indian/Alaskan Native Communities
Presents statistics on American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) disability prevalence rates in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties using 2015-2019 American Community Survey data. Compares AI/AN and White disability prevalence, including comparisons of counties with greater than 5% AI/AN population with those not meeting that threshold.
Author(s): Genna M. Mashinchi, Emily C. Hicks, Arin J. Leopold, Lillie Greiman, Catherine Ipsen
Citation: Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 3, 875979
Date: 08/2022
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Disability and the Household Context: Findings for the United States from the Public Use Microdata Sample of the American Community Survey
Analyzes disability at the household level in rural and urban areas, including data on disability prevalence and composition of households with and without disability. Utilizes 2015-2019 American Community Survey data. Discusses support relationships in the household as a factor affecting the life courses of people with and without disability.
Author(s): Christiane von Reichert
Citation: Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 3, 875966
Date: 08/2022
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Exploring Environmental Measures in Disability: Using Google Earth and Street View to Conduct Remote Assessments of Access and Participation in Urban and Rural Communities
Presents two studies which use digital maps and street-level imagery to investigate physical accessibility in rural and urban communities. Analyzes pathway usability, building access, and community participation of people using personal mobility devices, with comparisons by community population size. Discusses procedures, applications, and limitations of the use of digital street-level imagery for accessibility research.
Author(s): Tom Seekins, Meg A. Traci, Emily C. Hicks
Citation: Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 3, 879193
Date: 08/2022
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Minnesota Chartbook Section 8A Health Care Providers and Service Availability: Hospitals
Provides data on Minnesota hospital capacity, services offered and their utilization, and hospital financials and community benefit. Includes information on hospital location and bed availability by region as well as rural versus urban comparisons of average length of stay, hospital admissions, inpatient days, and sources of revenue.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Coroner/Medical Examiner Services in Pennsylvania
Provides information about Pennsylvania coroner/medical examiners (C/MEs), including office caseloads, funding, facilities, forensic capacity, vehicles and equipment, and staffing and training resources. Assesses how the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic affected county C/ME offices in urban and rural areas. Features statistics including deaths from COVID-19 and drug overdose from 2015-2021, with breakdowns by urban and rural counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Harry D. Holt, Ramona Stone, Christina VandePol
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Association of Rurality, Race and Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status With the Surgical Management of Colon Cancer and Postoperative Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Results of a study of 57,710 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older diagnosed with colon cancer between April 2016, and September 2018, with follow-up until December 2018. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location.
Author(s): Niveditta Ramkumar, Carrie H. Colla, Qianfei Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(8), e2229247
Date: 08/2022
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Family Medicine Residencies: How Rural Training Exposure in GME Is Associated With Subsequent Rural Practice
Results of a study exploring associations between the amount of rural training received by 12,162 physicians during their U.S. accredited family medicine (FM) residencies between 2008-2012 and their practice locations in rural or urban areas as of 2018. Features statistics including characteristics of FM residency programs and graduates, and per cent of FM residency training in rural location, with breakdowns by 2018 urban or rural practice location.
Author(s): Deborah J. Russell, Elizabeth Wilkinson, Stephen Petterson, Candice Chen, Andrew Bazemore
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 14(4), 441–450.
Date: 08/2022
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