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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Virginia's Speech-Language Pathology Workforce: 2024
An overview of the speech-language pathologist (SLP) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2024 Speech-Language Pathologist Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of SLPs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Virginia's Audiologist Workforce: 2024
An overview of the audiologist workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2024 Audiologist Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of audiologists in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Assessing SNAP Participants' Fitness for Work: Final Report
Examines how assessments are made and implemented regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements. Discusses variations of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) across 4 case study states: Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and Wisconsin. Includes SNAP applicant characteristics and determinations for work requirements by demographic information and urbanicity of metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural. Provides feedback from rural SNAP staff regarding difficulties assessing SNAP participants' fitness for work.
Additional links: Appendices, Summary
Author(s): Chrissy Steigelman, Irma Castañeda, Jackie Kauff, Katherine Allison-Clark, Johnny Willing
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Health Professional Retention in Underserved Areas: Findings From the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Participants in the United States, 2019–2021
Results of a study to identify National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP) participants' patterns of experiences, and to assess whether these patterns were associated with post-service retention. Features statistics with breakdowns by standard LRP, Substance Use Disorder LRP, and Rural Communities LRP.
Author(s): Kathleen Rowan, Savyasachi V. Shah, Alana Knudson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Policy, 2024
Date: 08/2024
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Predictors of a Positive Attitude Towards Rural Practice in Female Osteopathic Medical Students
Results of a study exploring whether rural background, a plan to practice family medicine, and inclination toward civic duty are associated with positive attitudes toward practice of rural medicine among female osteopathic medical students. Uses data from a survey of 97 students at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Author(s): Dana E. Kahl, Kevin M. Roessger
Citation: Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 124(12), 521-527
Date: 08/2024
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Somebody to Lean on: Understanding Self-Stigma and Willingness to Disclose in the Context of Addiction
Presents a study on self-stigma, or the unwillingness to disclose opioid use, and aims to identify factors that predict lower levels of self-stigma. Breaks down data by sex, age, and rural/urban location, among other measures. Discusses strategies for overcoming self-stigma.
Author(s): Qing Ma, Christopher R. Whipple, Övgü Kaynak, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 1044
Date: 08/2024
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Rurality and Patients' Hospital Experience: A Multisite Analysis from a US Healthcare System
Explores the relationship between the patient experience at a Midwestern hospital system and patients' rurality of residence using data from completed Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys between 2016 and 2019. Analyzes data for global, composite, and individual HCAHPS measures by hospital and patient characteristics.
Author(s): Iman Fawad, Karen M. Fischer, Hanieh Sadat Tabatabaei Yeganeh, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 19(8), e0308564
Date: 08/2024
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The Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in the United States: Patterns and Barriers to Care
Provides an overview of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including related adverse health outcomes, risk factors, and prevention and treatment options. Discusses disparities in CVD burden, barriers patients may face in accessing care, and the economic costs of insufficient CVD prevention and treatment. Presents an analysis of 2019 data on the prevalence of CVD, risk factors, complications, and healthcare utilization and spending among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries by sex, age, race/ethnicity, Medicaid enrollment, and rural/urban residence. Highlights U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiatives to address CVD.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Changes in Substance Use Diagnoses in the Great Plains during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzed 109,671 patient visits for alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, or stimulant use disorder in 7 Great Plains states between March 2019 and March 2021 to report on demographic and geographic pattern disruptions in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes discussion of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residency on data and policy implications regarding access to care.
Author(s): Ahmed Nahian, Lisa M. McFadden
Citation: Healthcare, 12(16)
Date: 08/2024
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How Narrow or Broad are ACA Marketplace Physician Networks?
Examines physician networks and participation in Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and how network size impacts costs and access for patients. Utilizes 2021 physician workforce and provider network data to analyze patient access to physicians in their network, distribution of Marketplace enrollees and plans, availability of specialists, share of physicians included in enrollees' provider networks by rural versus urban location, and more.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Karen Pollitz, Kaye Pestaina, et al.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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