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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Rural Health Research Recap: Healthcare Access and Status Among Rural Children
Provides summaries of research on rural children's health status and outcomes. Features statistics from 2011-2012 on children's health status by geography and insurance type, proportion of children with excellent or very good condition of teeth, and maternal smoking behavior, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, or small rural location.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2018
Reports on vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents by age for ages 13 through 17 and overall for 2017 and 2018. Also includes data on vaccination coverage by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residence and by health insurance status. Includes nonmetro data related to the following vaccines: Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis), MenACWY (quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate), HPV (human papillomavirus), MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), hepatitis B, and varicella.
Author(s): Tanja Y. Walker, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, David Yankey, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(33), 718-723
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Have Healthy People 2020 Benchmarks for Leading Causes of Death Been Met in Rural and Urban Areas?
Presentation slides from an August 20, 2019 webinar, with analysis of death rates for 7 major causes of death, in light of Healthy People 2020 benchmarks. Features mortality statistics from 2007-2017 for diabetes, heart disease, suicide, cancer, stroke, unintentional injury, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with breakdowns by gender, race, and region, with 6 levels of population density.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Marvellous Akinlotan, Kristie Primm
Date: 08/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organizations: Southwest Rural Health Research Center, Texas A&M Health Science Center
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Development of a Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index
Findings brief describing the development of a childhood obesogenic environment index using 10 variables related to physical activity and healthy eating. Discusses differences in the childhood obesogenic environment index data by rurality and region of the United States.
Author(s): Andrew T. Kaczynski, Jan M. Eberth, Angela D. Liese, et al.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables
Presents data on use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, trends in substance use disorder and mental health, and access to treatment for youth from age 12-17 and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Additional links: PDF Version
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Use of a Personal Health Record by Veterans Living with HIV
Explores a study on the social and demographic characteristics of veterans with HIV who use My HealtheVet, a web-based personal health record system. Looks at age, race, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Sarah J Javier, Lara K Troszak, Stephanie L Shimada, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 696–702
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Advancing Health Equity and Access Using Telemedicine: A Geospatial Assessment
Highlights a study on the effectiveness of a virtual urgent care (VUC) program in expanding healthcare access and addressing health equity in rural populations in North Carolina. Compares rural versus urban areas and breaks down data by rates of poverty, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, and broadband access, among other measures.
Author(s): Saif Khairat, Timothy Haithcoat, Songzi Liu, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 796–805
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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A Rural Hospital Guide to Improving Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A guide for rural hospital leaders, Rural Health Clinics, and their partners to help them understand rural chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) services and adopt best practices for COPD diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. Addresses rural COPD prevalence and services, clinical diagnosis and treatment, service models, care management, technologies, and community support services. Includes considerations for implementing a pulmonary rehab program, roles and staffing needed, and basic billing and coding.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Stroudwater Associates, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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Effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Coverage and Access to Care in Metropolitan vs. Non-Metropolitan Areas through 2016
Examines the combined effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) insurance provisions versus the effect of the Medicaid expansions, using recent national data to show possible differences between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Features statistics including changes in each of the years between 2013 and 2016, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): George L. Wehby, Wei Lyu, Dan M. Shane
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Perceived Facilitators and Barriers to Rural Nursing Practice
Results of a web-based survey of 435 nurses, examining perceived facilitators and barriers to nursing practice, job satisfaction, and self-identified challenges in nursing work environments and patient care. Features statistics including educational training and work preparation, educational characteristics of ambulatory care nurses, and demographic characteristics of survey participants, with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban location.
Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Selina Hunt McKinney, Whitney Zahnd, Eboni Haynes
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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