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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Contextual Factors Associated With County-Level Suicide Rates in the United States, 1999 to 2016
Explores a study of the demographic variables associated with suicides, such as age, sex, and social capital. Details how the variables and rates vary based on rural or urban status.
Author(s): Danielle L. Steelesmith, Cynthia A. Fontanella, John V. Campo, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 2(9)
Date: 09/2019
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Characteristics of Inpatient Hospital Stays Involving Sickle Cell Disease, 2000–2016
Examines inpatient stays among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), with trends by patient age from 2000-2016. Also reports on characteristics of inpatient stays in 2016, including data on the location of patient residence for metropolitan, rural metro-adjacent, and rural remote areas. Includes data by patient location for Black patients with SCD-related stays compared to Black U.S. residents as a whole. Also reports on SCD-related stays by hospital location for metropolitan, rural metro-adjacent, and rural remote areas.
Author(s): Kathryn R. Fingar, Pamela L. Owens, Lawrence D. Reid, et al.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Household Food Security in the United States in 2018
Reports on household food security, food expenditures, and the use of federal food and nutrition assistance programs in 2018. Includes food insecurity statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Additional links: Report Summary, Statistical Supplement
Author(s): Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, Anita Singh
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Impact of Geographic Isolation on Mental Disability in the United States
Examines the association between geographic isolation and mental disability using the 2000 decennial census and supplementary county-level data from other sources. Analyzes factors including social isolation, socioeconomic status, and income inequality.
Author(s): Christopher G. Hudson, Nathan J. Doogan
Citation: SSM - Population Health, 8, 100437
Date: 08/2019
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Utah's Mental Health System - A Collaborative Endeavor of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the Utah Hospital Association
Report details the mental health status in Utah. Highlights rates of mental health treatment among adults, youth depression and suicide indicators, and total student suicide risk by year. Features county level data and compares rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Laura Summers, Dianne Meppen, Samantha Ball
Date: 08/2019
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Implementation Challenges and Opportunities Related to HPV Vaccination Quality Improvement in Primary Care Clinics in a Rural State
Examines quality improvement interventions to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in a rural Midwestern state. Describes the disparity in HPV vaccination rates between rural and urban areas. Discusses the roles of providers, clinics, and health systems in implementing interventions.
Author(s): Natoshia M. Askelson, Grace Ryan, Laura Seegmiller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 44(4), 790-795
Date: 08/2019
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Transformation Support Provided Remotely to a National Cohort of Optometry Practices
Describes the results of a practice transformation and quality improvement project for optometry practices. Compares cost-savings and emergency department avoidance data between rural and urban practices.
Author(s): Ronald N. Adler, Warren J. Ferguson, Hussein Antar, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 17(Suppl 1), S33-S39
Date: 08/2019
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Evaluating Adaptation of a Cancer Clinical Trials Decision Aid for Rural Cancer Patients: A Mixed Methods Approach
Study examining clinical trial methods for rural cancer patients. Surveys 15 cancer survivors and 31 recently diagnosed patients in two phases to evaluate patient decision aids (DA), which are designed to improve patient knowledge and preparedness so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in a trial. Compares data from rural and urban participants and discusses concerns specific to rural cancer trial participants, including confidence in the healthcare system, willingness to undertake the effort to participate, and access to web-based tools required for participation, among other factors.
Author(s): Swati Pathak, Nerissa George, Denise Monti, Kathy Robinson, Mary C. Politi
Citation: Journal of Cancer Education, 34(4), 803-809
Date: 08/2019
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Doctor Hopping and Doctor Shopping for Prescription Opioids Associated with Increased Odds of High‐Risk Use
Presents a study on doctor hopping by people with opioid use disorder. Defines doctor hopping, a variant of doctor shopping, and uses data from the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to illustrate the behavior and its outcomes. Compares doctor hopping and doctor shopping in both rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Sean G. Young, Corey J. Hayes, Jonathan Aram, Mark A. Tait
Citation: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 28(8), 1117–1124
Date: 08/2019
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2019 Physician Assistant Telehealth Survey
Discusses survey results of 95 physician assistants (PAs) across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma regarding their use and perceptions of telehealth. Examines survey results across a variety of geographic and practice settings. Presents a brief overview of some federal and state-level policies about PA reimbursement and their ability to provide telehealth services.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
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