Kentucky Resources
Lung and Colorectal Cancer Disparities in Appalachian Kentucky: Spatial Analysis on the Influence of Education and Literacy
Results of a study to explore educational attainment as a risk factor for increased colorectal and lung cancer incidence and mortality in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties. Features county-level maps with shadings indicating prevalence of these cancers and literacy and educational levels.
Author(s): Nicole M. Robertson, Todd Burus, Lauren Hudson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6363
Date: 07/2023
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Results of a study to explore educational attainment as a risk factor for increased colorectal and lung cancer incidence and mortality in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties. Features county-level maps with shadings indicating prevalence of these cancers and literacy and educational levels.
Author(s): Nicole M. Robertson, Todd Burus, Lauren Hudson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6363
Date: 07/2023
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Telehealth Adoption in Kentucky Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports statistics and data on the adoption of telehealth, including remote patient monitoring, in Kentucky before the COVID-19 pandemic. Compares rural and urban areas with U.S. averages, and highlights adoption rates in Critical Access and short-term acute care hospitals. Discusses the implications of pre-pandemic telehealth adoption for COVID-19 response in Kentucky.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Blueprint Kentucky
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Reports statistics and data on the adoption of telehealth, including remote patient monitoring, in Kentucky before the COVID-19 pandemic. Compares rural and urban areas with U.S. averages, and highlights adoption rates in Critical Access and short-term acute care hospitals. Discusses the implications of pre-pandemic telehealth adoption for COVID-19 response in Kentucky.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Blueprint Kentucky
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Factors Associated with Lengths-of-Stay for Inpatients with Substance Use Disorders
Policy brief identifying factors associated with inpatient length-of-stay (LOS) for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and exploring whether there are systematic differences in LOS for rural and urban residents. Includes statistics on characteristics of stays for a primary SUD diagnosis in Kentucky, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington in 2018, with breakdowns by Mental Health Professional Shortage Area and rural or urban location, and selected factors on LOS for an SUD diagnosis, with breakdowns by mental diagnoses, chronic conditions, and sociodemographic measures.
Author(s): Curt Mueller, Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Alana Knudson
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief identifying factors associated with inpatient length-of-stay (LOS) for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and exploring whether there are systematic differences in LOS for rural and urban residents. Includes statistics on characteristics of stays for a primary SUD diagnosis in Kentucky, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington in 2018, with breakdowns by Mental Health Professional Shortage Area and rural or urban location, and selected factors on LOS for an SUD diagnosis, with breakdowns by mental diagnoses, chronic conditions, and sociodemographic measures.
Author(s): Curt Mueller, Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Alana Knudson
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Over the Hills and Through the Hollers: How One Program is Assisting Residents of Appalachia with Opioid Use Recovery
Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
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Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
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Association of First Primary Cancer with Risk of Subsequent Primary Cancer among Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancers in Kentucky and Appalachian Kentucky
Evaluated 148,509 Kentucky first primary cancer survivors to determine risk of subsequent primary cancers. Compared outcomes for rural Appalachian residents with urban non-Appalachian residents as well as other variables such as cancer type, sex, and more.
Author(s): Quan Chen, Bin Huang, Abigail M. Anderson, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 13
Date: 2023
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Evaluated 148,509 Kentucky first primary cancer survivors to determine risk of subsequent primary cancers. Compared outcomes for rural Appalachian residents with urban non-Appalachian residents as well as other variables such as cancer type, sex, and more.
Author(s): Quan Chen, Bin Huang, Abigail M. Anderson, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 13
Date: 2023
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Consumer Finances in Rural Appalachia
Describes the financial needs and challenges of consumers in rural Appalachia. Features sections on consumer finance profiles, including a section on medical debt, and consumer distress and delinquencies. Appendix A includes state-level statistics for the 13 Appalachian states, including percent of rural people with medical debt in the state.
Author(s): Matthew Liu, Cooper Luce, Michael Orevba, Shawn Sebastian, Cortnie Shupe
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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Describes the financial needs and challenges of consumers in rural Appalachia. Features sections on consumer finance profiles, including a section on medical debt, and consumer distress and delinquencies. Appendix A includes state-level statistics for the 13 Appalachian states, including percent of rural people with medical debt in the state.
Author(s): Matthew Liu, Cooper Luce, Michael Orevba, Shawn Sebastian, Cortnie Shupe
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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Preparing for and Rebuilding from a Natural Disaster in Graves County, KY
Case study discussing how Jackson Purchase Medical Center (JPMC) and the West Kentucky Healthcare Coalition (WKYHCC) implemented an emergency response plan in the aftermath of a December 2021 tornado. Discusses the regional emergency preparedness plan and its effectiveness, as well as JPMC's expansion of employee assistance and behavioral health services to meet community needs.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Case study discussing how Jackson Purchase Medical Center (JPMC) and the West Kentucky Healthcare Coalition (WKYHCC) implemented an emergency response plan in the aftermath of a December 2021 tornado. Discusses the regional emergency preparedness plan and its effectiveness, as well as JPMC's expansion of employee assistance and behavioral health services to meet community needs.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Farm Dinner Theater: Farmers Helping Farmers
Video highlighting a Cooperative Extension-led program where community members take part in dinner theater productions that focus on issues related to farm health. Transcript available below description.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Video highlighting a Cooperative Extension-led program where community members take part in dinner theater productions that focus on issues related to farm health. Transcript available below description.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Geocoding Precision of Birth Records From 2008 to 2017 in Kentucky, USA
Examines geocoding precision of birth records in Kentucky from 2008 to 2017 according to metro, nonmetro, and rural location. Provides demographic data comparisons by rurality and mother and father's demographics. Discusses disparities in geocoding precision by race and ethnicity, education, and income.
Author(s): Courtney J. Walker, Steven R. Browning, Jeffrey E. Levy, W. Jay Christian
Citation: Geospatial Health, 17, 1020
Date: 05/2022
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Examines geocoding precision of birth records in Kentucky from 2008 to 2017 according to metro, nonmetro, and rural location. Provides demographic data comparisons by rurality and mother and father's demographics. Discusses disparities in geocoding precision by race and ethnicity, education, and income.
Author(s): Courtney J. Walker, Steven R. Browning, Jeffrey E. Levy, W. Jay Christian
Citation: Geospatial Health, 17, 1020
Date: 05/2022
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A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial for a Multi-Level, Clinic-Based Smoking Cessation Program with Women in Appalachian Communities: Study Protocol for the "Break Free" Program
Results of a study to increase smoking cessation among women living in rural Appalachia, by embedding a smoking cessation program within a larger cervical cancer prevention program. Uses data from focus groups comprising 510 women from West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia.
Author(s): Joanne G. Patterson, Tia N. Borger, Jessica L. Burris, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 17(11)
Date: 02/2022
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Results of a study to increase smoking cessation among women living in rural Appalachia, by embedding a smoking cessation program within a larger cervical cancer prevention program. Uses data from focus groups comprising 510 women from West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia.
Author(s): Joanne G. Patterson, Tia N. Borger, Jessica L. Burris, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 17(11)
Date: 02/2022
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Additional resources are available. See a full list of Kentucky Resources.

