Tennessee Resources

A Cross-Sectional Study of Stigma Towards Opioid Users among Rural Law Enforcement and Community Members in Tennessee
Examines stigma toward people who use opioids among 48 law enforcement officers (LEOs) and 393 community members in rural Tennessee. Compares perceptions of opioid use and opioid user demographics among LEOs and community members, including data on attitudes related to dangerousness, blame, social distance, and fatalism. Discusses the effects of stigma on access to harm reduction and treatment for opioid use disorder.
Author(s): Kahler W. Stone, Gabrielle M. Chesak, Angela S. Bowman, Michael Ayalon, Cynthia Chafin
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 195
Date: 11/2024
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Social Isolation and Loneliness Prevention among Rural Older Adults Aging-in-Place: A Needs Assessment
Surveyed 82 rural older adults aging in place in rural Appalachian Tennessee to determined local factors contributing to social isolation and loneliness. Discusses neighborhood conditions, interpersonal relationships and activities, health status, and sociodemographic characteristics. Offers rural-specific strategies for addressing social isolation and loneliness in rural communities.
Author(s): Jodi L. Southerland, Shimin Zheng, Kayla Dodson, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1404869
Date: 10/2024
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Loneliness and Alcohol Use Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Appalachia
Results of a study exploring the association between loneliness and various levels of alcohol use in 2020-2021 among 310 college students ages 18-25 in a rural, underserved region of Appalachian Tennessee. Features demographics with breakdowns including rural, suburban, or urban background.
Author(s): Manik Ahuja, Rachel Miller-Slough, Esther Adebayo-Abikoye, et al.
Citation: Chronic Stress, 8
Date: 08/2024
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The State of Health in Tennessee: 2024 Annual Report to the 113th Tennessee General Assembly
Assesses the health status of Tennesseans across the four areas of the State Health Plan Framework: A Healthy Start, A Healthy Life, a Healthy Environment, and a Healthy System of Care. Includes a section on social determinants of health and features statistics on various populations and aspects of healthcare, including rural hospital closures.
Additional links: A Healthy Environment: Housing, A Healthy Life: Income and Poverty, A Healthy Start: Poverty & Food Insecurity, A Healthy System of Care: Access
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Never Underestimate the Power of Community
Provides an overview of the Tennessee Department of Health's efforts to improve public health and emergency response strategies for extreme heat days in 2 rural Tennessee counties. Discusses planning, implementation, and cooperation with health professionals and community members.
Author(s): Kimberly Harrell
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Improving Pain Self-Management Among Rural Older Adults With Cancer
Results of a study to test the feasibility, acceptability, and changes in pain outcomes from exposure to the Cancer Health Empowerment for Living without Pain, an intervention designed to help patients' communicate effectively with their clinicians. Uses data from interviews with 30 older adults with cancer who were residing in a noninstitutional rural setting and receiving outpatient care at a rural-based clinic in Tennessee in May 2022. Features demographics and statistics on type and stage of cancer.
Author(s): Megan J. Shen, Tammy Stokes, Sarah Yarborough, Jill Harrison
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(7), e2421298
Date: 07/2024
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Fetal Death in Tennessee, 2017-2021: 2024 Report
Describes the characteristics and trends of reportable fetal deaths in Tennessee from 2017-2021. Features statistics including fetal mortality rate with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Health Disparities in Tennessee
Examines health disparities experienced by Tennessee residents. Measures include life expectancy, health equity, healthcare access, mental health and trauma, infectious disease, chronic disease, cancer, reproductive health, and age-specific health. Features statistics with breakdowns by race, ethnicity, sex, and urban or rural location.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Trilogies: Lessons from 50 Years Facilitating Community-Based Health Assessments and Planning in Appalachia
Presents case studies from rural Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia, in which community input was used to encourage organizational change and collaboration when formulating community-based health assessments. Offers tried-and-tested techniques that may help organizations meet their goals.
Author(s): Bruce Behringer
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1):148–162
Date: 04/2024
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Factors Associated With Myocardial Infarction in a Rural Population With Peripheral Arterial Diseases
Examines the association between sociodemographic and clinical risk factors and myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with peripheral arterial diseases (PAD) in Central Appalachia. Uses data from 5,574 patients in 230 counties across Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Features statistics on characteristics of patients with PAD based on presence or absence of MI.
Author(s): Adeola O. Awujoola, Moboni T. Mokikan, Olufeyisayo O. Odebunmi, et al.
Citation: Angiology, 0(0)
Date: 02/2024
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