Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention
Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up
Report examining the effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are common in well water in rural areas and have been linked to adverse health effects including cancer, thyroid dysfunction, changes in cholesterol, and reductions in birth weight. Recommends that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health departments support clinicians in communities where PFAS contamination has been identified, by creating educational materials on PFAS exposure, potential health effects, the limitations of testing, and the benefits and harms of testing.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Report examining the effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are common in well water in rural areas and have been linked to adverse health effects including cancer, thyroid dysfunction, changes in cholesterol, and reductions in birth weight. Recommends that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health departments support clinicians in communities where PFAS contamination has been identified, by creating educational materials on PFAS exposure, potential health effects, the limitations of testing, and the benefits and harms of testing.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Achieving Excellence in Cancer Diagnosis Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief
Highlights discussions from a virtual workshop focused on improving cancer diagnosis. Includes information on addressing disparities in diagnosis and access to care, including disparities for rural populations. Features a cancer screening and diagnosis program serving rural Appalachia, describing the challenges faced and strategies used, including the use of a mobile screening unit.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Highlights discussions from a virtual workshop focused on improving cancer diagnosis. Includes information on addressing disparities in diagnosis and access to care, including disparities for rural populations. Features a cancer screening and diagnosis program serving rural Appalachia, describing the challenges faced and strategies used, including the use of a mobile screening unit.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Community-Based Medication Disposal Pilot Initiative in Southwest Tribal Communities
Describes a public health pilot project testing a community-based prescription drug disposal system in tribal communities to increase awareness about the dangers of prescription drug accumulation in the home resulting in misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, and to improve drug disposal practices. Project provided drug deactivation bags for in-home use, and medication drop boxes were available in 29 healthcare facilities in mostly rural areas of Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada and Oklahoma.
Author(s): Isaac Ampadu, Robert Morones, Andrea Tsatoke, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 8(Suppl 2), 67
Date: 12/2021
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Describes a public health pilot project testing a community-based prescription drug disposal system in tribal communities to increase awareness about the dangers of prescription drug accumulation in the home resulting in misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, and to improve drug disposal practices. Project provided drug deactivation bags for in-home use, and medication drop boxes were available in 29 healthcare facilities in mostly rural areas of Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada and Oklahoma.
Author(s): Isaac Ampadu, Robert Morones, Andrea Tsatoke, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 8(Suppl 2), 67
Date: 12/2021
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Alaska Native Health Status Report
Provides an overview of Alaskan Native health, with a focus on sociodemographics and social determinants of health (SDOH); mortality; morbidity; maternal, infant, and child health; adolescent health; adult health; preventive care; and environmental health. Includes data and maps on health issues in Alaskan regions. Discusses advocacy, program planning, policy development, and evaluation related to Alaskan Native public health.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
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Provides an overview of Alaskan Native health, with a focus on sociodemographics and social determinants of health (SDOH); mortality; morbidity; maternal, infant, and child health; adolescent health; adult health; preventive care; and environmental health. Includes data and maps on health issues in Alaskan regions. Discusses advocacy, program planning, policy development, and evaluation related to Alaskan Native public health.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
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Environmental Scan of Evidence-Based Promising Practices & Strategies to Improve Vaccine Acceptance Among Racial and Ethnic Minority, Rural and other Underserved Groups
Offers evaluations and recommendations for evidence-based, promising practices and strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among rural and underserved groups. Uses information from a rapid environmental scan and analysis of published literature including peer-reviewed journal articles, commentary articles, and impact reports.
Author(s): Ankit Sanghavi, Afrida Faria, Cody Price, Aila Prieto
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health Institute
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Offers evaluations and recommendations for evidence-based, promising practices and strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among rural and underserved groups. Uses information from a rapid environmental scan and analysis of published literature including peer-reviewed journal articles, commentary articles, and impact reports.
Author(s): Ankit Sanghavi, Afrida Faria, Cody Price, Aila Prieto
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health Institute
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Successful Implementation of the Healthy Diné Nation Act in Stores on the Navajo Nation
Highlights a study evaluating the implementation of the Healthy Diné Nation Act (HDNA), which adds a 2% tax on unhealthy foods and a 5% tax waiver for healthy foods in the grocery stores, training posts, and convenience stores across the Navajo Nation. Breaks down a timeline of the implementation process and the results from Navajo Nation stores.
Author(s): Carmen George, Carolyn Bancroft, Shine Salt, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 24, 101573
Date: 12/2021
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Highlights a study evaluating the implementation of the Healthy Diné Nation Act (HDNA), which adds a 2% tax on unhealthy foods and a 5% tax waiver for healthy foods in the grocery stores, training posts, and convenience stores across the Navajo Nation. Breaks down a timeline of the implementation process and the results from Navajo Nation stores.
Author(s): Carmen George, Carolyn Bancroft, Shine Salt, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 24, 101573
Date: 12/2021
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Through the Lens: Youth Experiences with Cancer in Rural Appalachian Kentucky Using Photovoice
Study examining a group of Appalachian Kentucky youth's recognition of cancer disparities in their communities through photography. Analyzes visual themes in participant submissions, including risk factors related to cancer-causing substances, products, or diets, community awareness and support, and healthcare, among other themes.
Author(s): Katie Gaines, Courtney Martin, Chris Prichard, Nathan L. Vanderford
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 205
Date: 12/2021
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Study examining a group of Appalachian Kentucky youth's recognition of cancer disparities in their communities through photography. Analyzes visual themes in participant submissions, including risk factors related to cancer-causing substances, products, or diets, community awareness and support, and healthcare, among other themes.
Author(s): Katie Gaines, Courtney Martin, Chris Prichard, Nathan L. Vanderford
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 205
Date: 12/2021
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Opioid Use Disorder: Opportunities to Improve Assessments of State Opioid Response Grant Program
Provides an overview of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program and examines how SAMHSA assesses the program. Offers recommendations to SAMHSA to identify potential limitations in its analyses and provide a more comprehensive assessment of the program to identify opportunities for improvement. Includes SOR grant funding awards by state for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program and examines how SAMHSA assesses the program. Offers recommendations to SAMHSA to identify potential limitations in its analyses and provide a more comprehensive assessment of the program to identify opportunities for improvement. Includes SOR grant funding awards by state for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Quantifying the Food and Physical Activity Environments in Rural, High Obesity Communities
Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
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Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
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Feasibility of Promoting Physical Activity Using mHealth Technology in Rural Women: The Step-2-It Study
Describes a pilot study that examined the potential of text-messaging and utilization of a pedometer to promote walking among rural women age 40 and over in Illinois. Discusses efforts to increase physical activity through rural-specific interventions and assesses the pilot program's feasibility by analyzing participant data.
Author(s): Manorama M. Khare, Kristine Zimmermann, Rebecca Lyons, Cara Locklin, Ben S. Gerber
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 21, 415
Date: 12/2021
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Describes a pilot study that examined the potential of text-messaging and utilization of a pedometer to promote walking among rural women age 40 and over in Illinois. Discusses efforts to increase physical activity through rural-specific interventions and assesses the pilot program's feasibility by analyzing participant data.
Author(s): Manorama M. Khare, Kristine Zimmermann, Rebecca Lyons, Cara Locklin, Ben S. Gerber
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 21, 415
Date: 12/2021
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