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Rural Health Information Hub

Chronic Disease in Rural America – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Chronic Disease in Rural America.

Assessing Diabetes and Factors Associated with Foregoing Medical Care among Persons with Diabetes: Disparities Facing American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, Low Income, and Southern Adults in the U.S. (2011-2015)
Identifies trends in care of and prevalence of diabetes in terms of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and explores individual and community factors related to diabetes and diabetics' unmet medical needs. Features statistics on percentages of adults diagnosed with diabetes from 2011-2015 and distribution of diabetes and foregone medical care, with breakdowns including race or ethnicity, income, and levels of rurality.
Author(s): Samuel D. Towne, Jr., Jane Bolin, Alva Ferdinand, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 464
Date: 05/2017
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Prevalence of Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2015
Provides detailed data on prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation for six urban-rural categories. Includes urban-rural data by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, employment, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, self-rated health, and functionally disabled status.
Author(s): Michael A. Boring, Jennifer M. Hootman, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(20), 527-532
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Association of Health Literacy and Blood Pressure Reduction in a Cohort of Patients with Hypertension: The Heart Healthy Lenoir Trial
Analyzes the impact of a multi-level quality improvement (QI) intervention, the Heart Healthy Lenoir (HHL) Study, with a focus on health literacy to improve systolic blood pressure (SBP) control in patients being treated in rural primary clinics of Eastern North Carolina. Discusses the components of the health literacy practice and patient level activities of the QI intervention. Offers a detailed table identifying the change in SBP by literacy level.
Author(s): Jacqueline R. Halladay, Katrina E. Donahue, Crystal W. Cené, et al.
Citation: Patient Education and Counseling, 100(3), 542-549
Date: 03/2017
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Health-Related Behaviors by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2013
Provides data on five self-reported health-related behaviors for residents of rural and urban areas. Behaviors include sufficient sleep, current nonsmoking, nondrinking or moderate drinking, maintaining normal body weight, and meeting aerobic leisure time physical activity recommendations. Includes data for each behavior for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas, as well as prevalence of 4-5 health behaviors by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Based on 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Kevin A. Matthews, Janet B. Croft, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(5), 1-8
Date: 02/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Geographic Accessibility of Pulmonologists for Adults with COPD
Examines county-level geographic access to pulmonologists for adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Includes statistics describing the distance in miles to a pulmonologist or primary care physician for adults living in rural areas. Figure 1 overlays locations of pulmonologists with county estimates of adults with COPD. Figure 2 overlays the locations of primary care physician locations with county estimates of adults with COPD.
Author(s): Janet B. Croft, Hua Lu, Xingyou Zhang, James B. Holt
Citation: Chest, 150(3), 544-553
Date: 09/2016
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Home-Based Cardiac Care for Rural Veterans
Video describing the Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Focuses on individualized care for rural veterans through cardiac telehealth. This program allows for one-on-one care for patients who cannot come for traditional clinic rehab appointments due to geographic isolation, transportation challenges, or other impediments.
Date: 08/2016
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Offering Chronic Disease Self-Management Education in Rural Areas
Identifies challenges rural areas face in implementing evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME). Recommends strategies and resources rural communities can use to implement CDSME programs. Includes examples of successful programs.
Date: 07/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Aging
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Potentially Preventable Pediatric Hospital Inpatient Stays for Asthma and Diabetes, 2003-2012
Reports on potentially preventable hospitalizations for asthma and diabetes with short-term complications among children aged 0-17 years. Figure 4 includes data by location of residence for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Kathryn Fingar, Raynard Washington
Date: 06/2015
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Assessing Shifts in Outpatient Visits to Physicians of Other Specialties in Rural Areas with Shortages of Cardiologists and Gastroenterologists: A Preliminary Analysis
Examines "service shifting" in rural communities, a practice by which local physicians in medical shortage areas may adapt their services to meet needs that would normally be addressed by non-primary care specialists. Includes statistics with breakdowns by level of availability of cardiologists and gastroenterologists, and number of outpatient visits, using Medicare data from 2011.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, G. Mark Holmes, Samuel Berchuck, James W. Terry, Jr.
Date: 04/2015
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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HIV/AIDS in Rural America: Disproportionate Impact on Minority and Multicultural Populations
Overview of the impact of AIDS and HIV in rural areas. Summarizes the epidemiology of AIDS/HIV, including its impact on rural minority groups. Discusses the challenges rural areas face in preventing and treating AIDS. Includes policy recommendations.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Last Updated: 7/31/2024