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Rural Health Information Hub

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

Rural Initiatives Addressing Community Social Needs
Describes the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in improving population health and addressing social needs in their communities. Profiles two Critical Access Hospital social needs programs: Lakewood Health System's food access initiatives in Minnesota, and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital's NEK Prosper. Provides an overview of both programs and highlights best practices of each.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rural and Urban Differences in COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors
Examines the influence of political ideology, demographic factors, and COVID-19 experiences on COVID-19-related preventive health behaviors in rural and urban communities, based on a survey of 5,009 adults. Features demographics and statistics on various behaviors and attitudes, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Timothy Callaghan, Jennifer A. Lueck, Kristen Lunz Trujillo, Alva O. Ferdinand
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(2), 287-295
Date: 03/2021
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Primary Care in the United States: A Chartbook of Facts and Statistics
Examines aspects of primary care in the United States, including facts and figures on patient contact with primary care, frequency and range of conditions seen in primary care, care coordination, scope of practice, payment models, and preventive care visit utilization. Features statistics on percentage of primary care physicians by geography, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural location.
Author(s): Brian Antono, Andrew Bazemore, Irene Dankwa-Mullan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
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Integrating Family and Friend Support, Information Technology, and Diabetes Education in Community-Centric Diabetes Self-Management
Study examining the impacts of community support on diabetes self-management in a rural island community in Hawaii based on a pilot program with 7 participants over a 9 month period. Describes the challenges of implementing diabetes self-management education programs in rural areas, access to dietitians and endocrinologists, and the potential for telehealth and health information technology to facilitate diabetes self-management.
Author(s): Christina Higa, Elizabeth J. Davidson, Joanne R. Loos
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(2), 261-275
Date: 02/2021
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Relationships between Physical and Mental Health in Adolescents from Low-Income, Rural Communities: Univariate and Multivariate Analyses
Highlights a study on the relationship between physical and mental health among 10th and 11th graders in rural Alabama. Explores the role socioeconomic status and rural versus urban location play in the mental and physical health of teenagers. Breaks down data by sex, age, and household income, among other factors.
Author(s): Robyn Feiss, Melissa M. Pangelinan
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1372
Date: 02/2021
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Opioid and Substance Use Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid use disorders (OUDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of OUD and SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Social Isolation and Loneliness in Rural Communities and the Role of Cross-Sector Partnerships
Discussion with Carrie Henning-Smith around social isolation and loneliness in rural communities and obstacles to address these issues. Profiles how two Minnesota communities took steps to improve accessibility and social cohesion. Describes how cross-sector partnerships can promote recovery of rural communities after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Build Healthy Places Network
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Addressing Higher Risk of Suicide Among Farmers in Rural America
Policy brief highlighting factors contributing to the higher risk of suicide among farmers, including financial pressures, social pressures, and access to care. Offers policy recommendations to promote and improve farmers' mental health.
Author(s): Rosalie Eisenreich, Carolyn Pollari
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural HIV Prevalence and Service Availability in the United States: A Chartbook
Examines state- and county-level human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in 2016 as well as availability of HIV-related prevention, testing, and treatment services in 2019. Includes data breakdowns by rural/urban status.
Author(s): Katherine Ahrens, Amanda Burgess, Louisa Munk, Erika Ziller
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Capacity of Rural Counties to Address an HIV or Hepatitis C Outbreak
Examines data from 20 states potentially at risk of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreak to determine which services local health departments (LHDs) provide to help identify or address HIV or HCV. Examples of relevant services include HIV testing, substance use services, and infectious disease surveillance, among others. Includes rural/urban differences in LHD services and staff, LHD partnerships and collaboration, and demographic characteristics of at-risk counties.
Author(s): Jennifer Lenardson, Jaclyn Janis, Amanda Burgess, Karen Pearson, Martha Elbaum
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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