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Rural Health Information Hub

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

A Toolkit for Legislative Reform: Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Mental Illness in Rural States
Toolkit details methods to improve access to mental health treatment in rural communities through the criminal justice system. Presents options for state policy reform, using South Dakota's mental illness intervention law as a case study.
Author(s): Barbara A. Pierce
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: Crime and Justice Institute
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Promoting a Nutritious Diet Inside and Outside the Hospital
Highlights a rural Vermont hospital's efforts to promote healthier eating habits both inside and outside the hospital by locally sourcing food, encouraging participation in their "Ton of Tomatoes" project, and processing produce to help food-insecure community members. Discusses efforts of other hospitals promoting healthy diets, including removing unhealthy cafeteria meal options and promoting community gardens.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Longitudinal Analysis of Nut-Inclusive Diets and Body Mass Index Among Overweight and Obese African American Women Living in Rural Alabama and Mississippi, 2011-2013
Results of a weight loss intervention among 383 overweight women in 8 rural Alabama and Mississippi counties, evaluating the association between intake of nuts and other select food groups with participants' body mass index (BMI) over a 24-month period. Features data on participants' income, education, rates of consumption of various foods, and more.
Author(s): Samara R. Sterling, Brenda Bertrand, Suzanne Judd, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14, 160595
Date: 09/2017
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BRCA Genetic Testing and Receipt of Preventive Interventions Among Women Aged 18-64 Years with Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2009–2014
Reports on rural and urban rates of genetic testing to identify women at increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer, with data by age group and region. Also examines rural and urban post-test preventive interventions, including mastectomy, MRI, mammography, and genetic counseling.
Author(s): Katherine Kolor, Zhuo Chen, Scott D. Grosse, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(15), 1-11
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Promoting Community Conversations about Research to End Suicide: Learning and Behavioural Outcomes of a Training-of-Trainers Model to Facilitate Grassroots Community Health Education to Address Indigenous Youth Suicide Prevention
Discusses the theoretical and practical considerations of Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide (PC CARES), a community health intervention. Assesses the feasibility, behavioral outcomes, and culturally competent, evidence-based multilevel suicide preventive efforts for youth in rural Alaska Native communities.
Author(s): Lisa Wexler, Lucas Trout, Suzanne Rataj, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 76(1)
Date: 08/2017
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An Assessment of Mobile and Portable Dentistry Programs to Improve Population Oral Health
Describes configurations of portable and mobile dental programs including models and applications, discusses targeted populations, details variations in regulations by state, and examines outcomes of preventive interventions in rural areas. Includes case studies of 7 programs initiated to improve access in rural areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Jean Moore, Rachel Carter, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Hospital-Community Partnerships to Build a Culture of Health: A Compendium of Case Studies
Presents insights from nine communities across the U.S. that have successful hospital-community partnerships. Each case study provides a description of the community, background information on the partner organizations, and an overview of the impacts and lessons learned. Several case studies include rural communities, rural populations, and/or rural partner organizations.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Health Research & Educational Trust
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A Community-Based Marketing Campaign at Farmers Markets to Encourage Fruit and Vegetable Purchases in Rural Counties With High Rates of Obesity, Kentucky, 2015-2016
Examines effectiveness of the Plate it Up Kentucky Proud program, targeting farmers market shoppers in 6 rural Kentucky counties in the Delta and Appalachian regions, from September 2014-September 2016. Features statistics including age, sex, income, and rate of consumption of fruit, salad, and other vegetables.
Author(s): Emily DeWitt, Margaret McGladrey, Emily Liu, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14
Date: 08/2017
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National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years — United States, 2016
Reports on adolescent vaccination coverage in the United States, based on data from the 2016 National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS-Teen). Includes data for nonmetropolitan areas. Vaccination coverage estimates are provided for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap); meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY); human papillomavirus (HPV); hepatitis B; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); and varicella.
Author(s): Tanja Y. Walker, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, James A. Singleton, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(33), 874-882
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Using Practice Facilitation to Increase Rates of Colorectal Cancer Screening in Community Health Centers, North Carolina, 2012–2013: Feasibility, Facilitators, and Barriers
Pilot study exploring practice facilitation in 3 Federally Qualified Health Centers as a way to promote universal colorectal cancer screening. Features statistics on clinic staffing, number of patients and average age, and number and duration of visits, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Bryan J. Weiner, Catherine L. Rohweder, Jennifer E. Scott, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14
Date: 08/2017
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