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Rural Health Information Hub

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

Factors Impacting Implementation of Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies in Rural Schools
Examines school policies and implementation related to nutrition and physical activity (PA) to understand the disproportionate rates of obesity in rural Latino children. Analyzes perceptions of policies and barriers from 20 interviews with stakeholders in Lower Yakima Valley of Eastern Washington State K-12 school districts. Discusses themes such as knowledge of school PA and nutrition policies as well as barriers and facilitators to policy implementation.
Author(s): Caryn Ausenhus, Joshua M. Gold, Cynthia K. Perry, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 23, 308
Date: 02/2023
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VA Mental Health: Additional Action Needed to Assess Rural Veterans' Access to Intensive Care
Report examines the rate at which the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Intensive Mental Health Care programs were being utilized in rural areas. Highlights the difference in the utilization rate of the inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health programs for both rural and urban veterans. Makes suggestions for how the VHA can improve these rates going forward.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Facing Unique Challenges, Rural Communities Find Unique Solutions to Protect Against Wildfire Smoke Exposure
Discusses the impact of wildfire smoke on health and describes efforts in rural Idaho, Nevada, and Washington to address air quality concerns.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Wisconsin State Health Improvement Plan: 2023-2027 Summary
Provides an overview on the collaboration and partnerships to create the state health improvement plan, with a focus on social and community conditions, safety, social belonging and wellness, and mental health. Includes strategies specific to rural areas as well as tribal and local health departments.
Additional links: Implementation Guide
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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Tooth Loss and Dental Visits by Indigenous American Indian/Alaska Native Adults in the USA
Presents a study comparing rates of dental visits and missing teeth among rural and urban American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Breaks down data by demographic factors, such as age, income, and health insurance, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 23, 7679
Date: 02/2023
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Feeding the Residents of Hardeman County Tennessee
Profiles Healthy Hardeman Outreach for Healthy Weight (H2O), a partnership between the Healthcare Bolivar General Hospital (BGH), the Hardeman County Health Department, and Hardeman County Community Health Center to improve access to healthy foods and reduce obesity in the Tennessee county.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The Doorway at Cheshire Medical Center Leads to Healing
Profiles the Doorway at Cheshire Medical Center, a program at Cheshire Medical Center, a rural hospital in Keene, New Hampshire. Describes how the Doorway uses evidence-based assessment tools to refer clients to the appropriate services in the community and serves as a connection point between multiple substance use disorder (SUD) services.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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"Ancestral Recipes": A Mixed-Methods Analysis of MyPlate-Based Recipe Dissemination for Latinos in Rural Communities
Examines the adoption of a MyPlate-informed cookbook culturally tailored toward Latinx communities to improve nutrition, healthy lifestyles, and knowledge related to chronic diseases such as diabetes. Discusses results of holding 20 cooking demonstrations with pre- and post-test surveys as well as focus group interviews with 19 participants.
Author(s): Ann Marie Cheney, William J. McCarthy, MarĂ­a Pozar, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 23, 216
Date: 02/2023
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After Action Review/Improvement Plan: Strategic Planning Toolkit - Behavioral Health Edition
Toolkit provides guidance for completing an after action review of a post-behavioral health intervention. Toolkit is aimed at tribal leaders, public health practitioners, and other healthcare stakeholders in tribal communities. Provides the tools for designing, planning, preparing, and conducting an after action review.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, American Indian Research Center for Health
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Designing Home-Based Physical Activity Programs for Rural Cancer Survivors: A Survey of Technology Access and Preferences
Results of a survey of 298 adults with cancer on demographics, cancer characteristics, technology use and access, current physical activity, and preferred home-based physical activity program characteristics. Includes rural versus nonrural comparisons.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Salerno, Rohana Gao, Jason Fanning, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 13, 1061641
Date: 01/2023
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