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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

Update: Rural/Urban Disparities in Pneumococcal Vaccine Service Delivery Among the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2012-2015
Updated report on a study to identify disparities in vaccine provision to people ages 65 and over, and to assess the impact of pharmacies as alternate site providers in rural areas. Revised version specifically assesses the uptake of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in response to the revised vaccination recommendations issued in 2014. Includes statistics on pneumococcal vaccine services provided by fee-for-service pharmacies and primary care providers, with breakdowns by rural and urban frequency, and state-level maps with rate of service delivery per eligible population, using 2014 and 2015 data.
Author(s): Joseph C. Vanghelof, Aric Schadler, Patricia R. Freeman, Jeffery C. Talbert
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Ohio Addiction Policy Inventory and Scorecard: Overdose Reversal and Other Forms of Harm Reduction
Describes changes in Ohio addiction policies related to overdose reversal and harm reduction. Examines the evidence supporting the policy changes and how they will address the needs of Ohio residents. Identifies existing gaps in policy and potential opportunities for improvement. Discusses barriers rural counties face, such as limited access to harm reduction services or healthcare specialists for treatment.
Additional links: Detailed Inventory Tables, Recorded Webinar, Slides
Author(s): Amy Bush Stevens, Hailey Akah
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Mobile Mammography Participation Among Medically Underserved Women: A Systematic Review
Describes the effect of mobile programs in promoting mammographic screening participation among medically underserved women. Examines 4 studies conducted in rural areas and 3 studies conducted in both urban and rural areas, through articles published from 2010-2018.
Author(s): Suzanne Vang, Laurie R. Margolies, Lina Jandorf
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 15
Date: 11/2018
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The Health and Economic Concerns of Rural Americans
Presentation features a discussion on the role social and economic disparities play in the health of people in rural communities. Highlights the effect the opioid crisis has had in rural areas and discusses ways communities can use local resources to combat opioid abuse. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: The Forum, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
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Examining the Association Between Intervention-Related Changes in Diet, Physical Activity, and Weight as Moderated by the Food and Physical Activity Environments among Rural, Southern Adults
Study examining changes in weight, diet, and physical activity in rural adults who took part in a lifestyle intervention in rural Lenoir County, North Carolina. Reports data on self-reported and objectively-measured changes over 6 months, covering access to different kinds of food retailers, gyms, and parks, as well as community walkability, crime, and barriers to physical activity.
Author(s): Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts, Thomas C. Keyserling, Larry F. Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(10), 1618-1627
Date: 10/2018
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Supporting Coös Youth on the Path to Adulthood: A Conference for North Country Professionals and Youth Advocates
Report highlights a conference held to support youth and their families in rural Coös County in New Hampshire. Discusses some of the obstacles to development and methods for supporting young people in Coös County.
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment in a Rural Community
Examines the use of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), an alternative treatment option compared to whole-breast radiation therapy (WBRT), for patients receiving breast-conserving surgery at an academic institution in Iowa. Includes data on patients receiving IORT and WBRT by age, distance traveled to treatment facility, postoperative outcomes, and more.
Author(s): Allison W. Lorenzen, Boris Kiriazov, James P. De Andrade, et al.
Citation: Annals of Surgical Oncology, 25(10), 3004-3010
Date: 10/2018
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Qualitative Case Study of Needle Exchange Programs in the Central Appalachian Region of the United States
Reports on a qualitative study in West Virginia to address barriers and identify supports that may impact the development of needle exchange programs (NEPs) in rural areas of the U.S. Interviews were conducted in West Virginia with program directors, police chiefs, law enforcement members, and people who inject drugs to obtain information on program implementation and operations, and future growth of NEPs.
Author(s): Stephen M. Davis, Danielle Davidov, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson, Keith Zullig, Adam Baus, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 13(10)
Date: 10/2018
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Evaluating a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in Rural Kentucky
Reports on an evaluation of an adapted, shorter "Reducing the Risk" teen pregnancy prevention curriculum delivered in rural Kentucky high schools by local health departments. Evaluated student outcomes using survey data one year and two years after the programs were delivered.
Author(s): Brian Goesling, Joanne Lee, Robert G. Wood, Susan Zief
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Region XI American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start: A Portrait of Children and Families
Details a report on the American Indian and Alaska Native children and families who have participated in a Head Start Program. Highlights demographic and social factors, as well as the occurrence of depressive symptoms in parents. Discusses the health and wellness of the children in the program, specifically rates of obesity and perceived overall health.
Author(s): Meryl Yoches Barofsky, Laura Hoard, the AI/AN FACES 2015 Workgroup
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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