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Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.

Rural-Urban Disparities in Hospital Services and Outcomes for Children With Medical Complexity
Examines differences in availability of hospital pediatric services for rural and urban children with medical complexity requiring hospitalization, and analyzes whether hospitals' availability of pediatric services influences rural-urban health outcome disparities. Utilizes 2012-2017 claims data of 36,943 children with medical complexity. Includes data on hospitalization patterns, service availability, quality measures, and mortality.
Author(s): JoAnna K. Leyenaar, Seneca D. Freyleue, Mary Arakelyan, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(9), e2435187
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Residence and Life Expectancies With and Without Pain
Analyzes disparities in life expectancy and pain-free years of life remaining among rural, suburban, and urban upper-middle aged and older adults with and without chronic pain. Utilizes U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data for 18,160 individuals from 2000-2018. Includes data breakdowns by region, age group, sex, and severity of pain.
Author(s): Feinuo Sun, Zachary Zimmer, Nicolas Brouard
Citation: Health & Place, 89, 103305
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
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The COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Declines in Cancer Incidence by Race/Ethnicity and Census-Tract Level SES, Rurality, and Persistent Poverty Status
Examines the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening, treatment, incidence, and disparities among different population groups. Utilizes U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to compare 2020 and 2015-2019 incidence rates at 13 different cancer sites. Analyzes various cancer types across sociodemographic variables, including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, persistent poverty (PP), and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Benmei Liu, Mandi Yu, Jeffrey Byrne, Katheen A. Cronin, Eric J. Feuer
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 13(17)
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
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Drivers of Mental Health Disparities for Diverse, Rural, LGBTQ+ Communities
Webinar recording on factors influencing mental health disparities for rural LGBTQ+ people. Discusses minority stress frameworks for sexual and gender minority people, key factors influencing mental health outcomes in rural areas, and recruitment and research practices to reflect community diversity in sexuality, gender, age, race, and ethnicity. Features the perspectives of teams of researchers from the John Hopkins University School of Public Health and Emory University School of Public Health.
Additional links: Transcript
Author(s): Savannah Winter, Marian Graves-Valentine, Shoshanna Fine, Kirsten F. Siebach, Sarah Murray
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Institute of Mental Health
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Appalachian Diseases of Despair
Provides information on Appalachian mortality disparities due to overdose, suicide, and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis among people ages 15-64. Utilizes data from the 2022 Multiple Cause of Death database broken down by Appalachian state, region, gender, and metropolitan or nonmetropolitan status.
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health Research, NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Place-Based, Intersectional Variation in Caregiving Patterns and Health Outcomes Among Informal Caregivers in the United States
Examines the correlation between informal caregivers' health and well-being and race/ethnicity, sex, and rural-urban status. Utilizes 2021-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to analyze rural versus urban differences in informal caregiver demographics, type and time spent caregiving, and health status.
Author(s): Steven A. Cohen, Caitlin C. Nash, Mary L. Greaney
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Examining Rurality and Social Determinants of Health among Women with GDM: A 15-Year Comprehensive Population Analysis
Examines maternal demographic characteristics, including rurality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development over time. Utilizes birth record vital statistics of 589,605 women with live births in Kansas from 2005 to 2019. Compares rural and urban trends in maternal overweight, obesity, and GDM.
Author(s): Umama Ali, Laila Cure, Rhonda K. Lewis, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 24, 467
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Discharge Disposition for Home Health Care Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia: The Role of Living Arrangements and Rural Living
Examines rural versus urban differences in living arrangements and their impact on discharge disposition of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). Analyzes 531,269 Medicare fee-for-service patient records with data breakdowns for living arrangement, such as living alone, living at home with others, or living in a congregate setting, as well as sociodemographic and health condition variables. Discusses rural versus urban disparities when a patient discharges to their community or an institution and the impact of social support on ADRD patients.
Author(s): Daniel Jung, Jeong Ha (Steph) Choi, Kerstin Gerst Emerson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Disparities Impact Statement
Guidance for healthcare providers and other healthcare focused organizations to identify and address health disparities among various people groups including rural and tribal communities. Offers a 5 step process for developing an action plan by identifying disparities, defining health equity goals, establishing a health equity strategy, determining organizational needs, and tracking progress.
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Trends in Pancreatic Cancer Mortality in the United States 1999–2020: A CDC Database Population-Based Study
Examines trends in pancreatic cancer mortality by age, sex, race, level of rurality, and geographic region. Utilizes 1999-2020 CDC WONDER data. Compares mortality over time among rural, suburban, and urban populations, with additional data on Black rural, Black urban, White rural, and White urban populations.
Author(s): Alexander J. Didier, Swamroop Nandwani, Alan M. Fahoury, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 2024
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 10/1/2024