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Rural Health Information Hub

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

The Motivations and Needs of Rural, Low-Income Household Food Gardeners
Results of a study using surveys, interviews, and garden visits to households in rural, western Pennsylvania to explore behavior and motivations of rural food gardeners, and the challenges they face. Discusses the financial, spiritual, and ecological value of gardening, and opportunities for community support.
Author(s): Kate J. Darby, Taylor Hinton, Joaquin Torre
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(2), 55-69
Date: 01/2020
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A Public Health Emergency: State Efforts to Curb the Opioid Crisis
Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the outcomes of public health efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Rural Community Action Guide: Building Stronger, Healthy, Drug-Free Rural Communities
Provides an overview of challenges rural communities face related to substance use disorder (SUD), including prescription opioid misuse. Identifies action steps rural communities can take related to prevention, treatment, recovery, and SUD-related issues such as stigma, transportation barriers, and lack of employment opportunities. Features programs that are working to address these issues in rural communities.
Additional links: Promising Practices Supplement
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience: A Guide for Extension Educational Programming
A guide for educators focused on programming to reduce risk and increase resilience for farms and farm families. Includes a risk and resilience framework, logic models for programming with three different audiences, tools for assessment and teaching, and teaching resources. Part of the Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Toolkit.
Additional links: Creating a Thriving Farm Visuals, Descriptions and Stacking Game, Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Logic Models, Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Program Planning Tool
Author(s): Bonnie Braun, Maria Pippidis
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organizations: University of Cooperative Delaware Extension, University of Maryland Extension
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Special Diabetes Program for Indians 2020 Report to Congress - Changing the Course of Diabetes: Charting Remarkable Progress
Highlights the advancements and improvements in diabetes care and health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) due to the implementation of evidence-based treatments and local community strategies focused on prevention and treatment of diabetes, and with support from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). Presents statistics demonstrating reductions in mortality and complications from diabetes.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Does a Rural Community-Based Intervention Improve Knowledge and Attitudes of Opioid Use Disorder and Medication-Assisted Treatment? A Report From the IT MATTTRs Study
Details a study on the effect of a community-based intervention on a rural Colorado community's perception and knowledge of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Bases findings on surveys of community members both before and after the intervention. Breaks down participant data by age and affiliation to the study, among other measures.
Author(s): Kristen Curcija, Linda Zittleman, Mary Fisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(1), 120-128
Date: 2020
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Development of a National Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index in the United States: Differences by Region and Rurality
Details the formation of a childhood obesogenic environment index (COEI), which was used to identify rural, urban, and other geographic differences in environmental factors associated with obesity. Variables used to calculate COEI scores include availability of fast-food restaurants, farmers markets, grocery stores, and other related facilities; access to exercise opportunities; violent crime; walkability; and more. Includes county-level data on COEI scores across the U.S.
Author(s): Andrew Kaczynski, Jan Eberth, Ellen Stowe, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(83)
Date: 2020
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Imported Infections in Rural Mid-West United States - A Report from a Tertiary Care Center
Analyzes data on imported infections that were seen, diagnosed, and/or treated from 2001-2018 within the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics to inform rural Midwest healthcare professionals about the importance of travel medicine. Includes a focused list of imported infectious diseases, information on the geographic origin of various diseases, and on the reasons for travel.
Author(s): Amy Meyer, Hariharan Regunath, Christian Rojas-Moreno, William Salzer, Gordon Christensen
Citation: Missouri Medicine, 117(2), 89–94
Date: 2020
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The Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program: Avera St. Mary's Completing the Circle Project
Describes and examines the impact of a care coordination program developed by Avera St. Mary's located in Pierre, South Dakota. Used a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, providing services to patients with type 2 diabetes. The program's care team connected patients to resources and coordinated the patient's primary care providers, medications, specialists, other health care services, and a variety of social services. Funded under the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Grant Program from 2015-2018.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program: Chautauqua County Health Hospital Network
Describes and examines the impact of a care coordination program developed by the Chautauqua County Health Network in New York. Offers well-coordinated preventive health services and links to community-based services to patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who need regular support but are not medically frail. Funded under the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Grant Program from 2015-2018.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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