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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Families in Crisis: The Human Service Implications of Rural Opioid Misuse
Presents findings and policy recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services' 2016 meeting with rural residents, healthcare providers, and stakeholders regarding the impact and effects of opioid use disorders on rural families. Topics addressed include drug overdose and death, conflict with partners and children, emotional disturbance, adverse health risks, and related impacts on employment and economic sustainability.
Date: 07/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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The Role of Bias by Emergency Department Providers in Care for American Indian Children
Examines implicit and explicit bias by emergency department (ED) caregivers toward American Indian (AI) children and their parental units. Utilizes survey data from 154 providers across 5 Upper Midwest hospitals to determine bias against or preference for White or AI patients. Includes associations of the demographic variables of the caregivers with their Implicit Association Test (IAT) scores, including rural versus urban ED location.
Author(s): Susan E. Puumala, Katherine M. Burgess, Anupam B. Kharbanda, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 54(6), 562–569
Date: 06/2016
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Disparities in Alcohol, Drug Use, and Mental Health Condition Prevalence and Access to Care in Rural, Isolated, and Reservation Areas: Findings From the South Dakota Health Survey
Presents a study comparing disparities in drug and alcohol use and mental health issues in rural and urban areas. Explores data from a cross-sectional survey of people in South Dakota in rural and urban areas, including on American Indian reservations.
Author(s): Melinda M. Davis, Margaret Spurlock, Kristen Dulacki, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 32(3), 287-302
Date: 06/2016
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Medicaid Disenrollment Patterns Among Children Coming into Contact with Child Welfare Agencies
Analyzes Medicaid claims from 36 states over a 4-year period to assess retention of health insurance coverage for children involved with the child welfare system. Identifies associations between insurance loss and sociodemographic factors, such as age, race/ethnicity, rural versus urban residence, and other factors.
Author(s): Ramesh Raghavan, Benjamin Allaire, Derek Brown, Raven Ross
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(6), 1280-1287
Date: 06/2016
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Economic Evaluation of Community Water Fluoridation: A Community Guide Systematic Review
Details a study on the costs and benefits of implementing community water fluoridation (CWF) in a variety of different community types. Highlights some of the challenges to implementing CWF in rural communities.
Author(s): Tao Ran, Sajal Chattopadhyay
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(6), 790-796
Date: 06/2016
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Disparity in Breast Cancer Late Stage at Diagnosis in Missouri: Does Rural Versus Urban Residence Matter?
Analyzes breast cancer incidence data from the Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center from 2003 to 2008 to determine the stage of breast cancer presentation by race and geography for all 115 counties in Missouri. Includes cancer stage diagnosis data by race and metro versus nonmetro status.
Author(s): Faustine Williams, Emmanuel Thompson
Citation: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 3(2), 233-239
Date: 06/2016
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Providing Cardiology Care in Rural Areas Through Visiting Consultant Clinics
Examines impact of cardiology outreach clinics in 96 predominantly rural Iowa cities in 2014. Includes a map showing clinic sites and a table of mean one-way travel times with breakdowns by urban area, large rural city, small rural town, isolated rural town, and all rural census tracts.
Author(s): Thomas S. Gruca, Tae-Hyung Pyo, Gregory C. Nelson
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 5(7)
Date: 06/2016
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Rural-Urban Differences in Chronic Disease and Drug Utilization in Older Oregonians
Provides secondary analysis of 3 longitudinal brain-aging studies of adults 85 years of age or older in Oregon. Compares the results of a study with a rural cohort and 2 studies with urban cohorts to identify the disease burden and medication usage of each elderly population. Analysis uses Modified Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (MCIRS) to measure chronic illness, and medication usage is estimated based on the mean number of total self-reported prescription and non-prescription medications per cohort.
Author(s): Leah M. Goeres, Allison Gille, Jon P. Furuno, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 32(3), 269-279
Date: 06/2016
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Disparities in Adolescents' Residence in Neighborhoods Supportive of Physical Activity — United States, 2011–2012
Discusses the connection between adolescents living in neighborhoods that support physical activity (have sidewalks and walking paths, parks, playgrounds, and/or recreation centers) and overall health. Identifies differences in access to neighborhoods supportive of physical activity by ethnicity and race, income level, parental education level, and rurality. Provides recommendations for community-based projects for improvement.
Author(s): Kathleen B. Watson, Carmen D. Harris, Susan A. Carlson, Joan M. Dorn, Janet E. Fulton
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 65(23), 598-601
Date: 06/2016
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Impact of the Affordable Care Act Coverage Expansion on Rural and Urban Populations
Discusses the advances supported by provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) related to health insurance coverage, premium tax credits, and healthcare access for rural and urban populations with a special focus on rural individuals.
Author(s): Kelsey Avery, Kenneth Finegold, Xiao Xiao
Date: 06/2016
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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