Conducting Rural Health Research, Needs Assessment, and Program Evaluation – Resources

Updated ERS County Economic Types Show a Changing Rural Landscape
Identifies nonmetropolitan counties based on the industries driving income and earnings. Includes a national map showing nonmetro counties primarily dependent on farming, mining, manufacturing, recreation, and federal-state government. May be useful to those considering health-related policies or undertaking research projects where the type of industry that is predominant is relevant.
Author(s): Timothy Parker
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Evaluating Tablet Computers as a Survey Tool in Rural Communities
Examines whether two survey methods, paper and pencil versus tablet computers, yield similar survey responses to common health questionnaires in undeserved rural communities. Examines perceptions of usability for each survey method and whether findings could be replicated between the survey methods.
Author(s): Steve M. Newell, Henrietta L. Logan, Yi Guo, John G. Marks, James A. Shepperd
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(1), 108-117
Date: 01/2015
Type: Document
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An Optimization Framework for Measuring Spatial Access over Healthcare Networks
Examines spatial access, a dimension of healthcare access, using an optimization framework involving supply, demand, and network structure. Includes optimization models, maps, and accessibility estimates.
Author(s): Zihao Li, Nicoleta Serban, Julie L. Swann
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 15, 273
Date: 2015
Type: Document
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The Social Determinants of Health of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: A Research Framework
Examines the social determinants of health related to childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes from a Native perspective, considering historical trauma, self-determination, and cultural factors. Looks at currently available information, identifies gaps, and provides a research framework to help build a better understanding of the causes of child obesity among Native Americans.
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Notah Begay III Foundation
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Building the Evaluation Capacity of Local Programs Serving American Indian/Alaska Native Populations: Lessons Learned
Describes technical assistance provided to help tribal communities develop their evaluation capacity so they could show that the substance abuse prevention programs they were undertaking were effective. Includes discussion of facilitators and challenges related to building evaluation capacity.
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Spatial, Temporal and Relational Patterns in Respondent-Driven Sampling: Evidence from a Social Network Study of Rural Drug Users
Reports on a study that used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit participants who were drug users in rural Central Appalachia. Focuses on the patterns of recruitment in this rural setting using RDS, which relies on an initial set of participants who recruit additional participants from their personal networks.
Author(s): April M. Young, Abby E. Rudolph, Deane Quillen, Jennifer R. Havens
Citation: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 68(8), 792-8
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
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Dynamics of Race: Joining, Leaving, and Staying in the American Indian/Alaska Native Race Category between 2000 and 2010
Examines survey response changes for racial reporting among American Indian and Alaska Natives, based on data from the 2000 and 2010 censuses and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey. Looks at characteristics of those who consistently identified as AI/AN, those who joined that category, and those who left it.
Author(s): Carolyn A. Liebler, Renuka Bhaskar, Sonya Rastogi
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Understanding Geographic Relationships: American Indian Areas
Explains the relationships that exist between different types of American Indian Areas that are used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Includes a chart showing the relationships among these legal and statistical boundaries and how they relate to the standard geographic units of states and census blocks.
Author(s): Katy Rossiter
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Building Partnerships in Community-Based Participatory Research: Budgetary and Other Cost Considerations
Explores costs and budget considerations when implementing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework to work with communities to reduce health disparities. Analysis can inform budget discussions and assist with planning CBPR project timelines. Table 1 details budget concerns for CBPR project staff and Table 2 lists opportunity costs associated with community partners for a CBPR project.
Author(s): Theresa J. Hoeft, Wylie Burke, Scarlett E. Hopkins, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion Practice, 15(2), 263-270
Date: 03/2014
Type: Document
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The State of Health Equity Research: Closing Knowledge Gaps to Address Inequities
Reports results of an analysis of health disparities research funded between 2007 and 2011. Finds that certain populations which experience disparities, including rural and Native American populations, are underrepresented in the research. Reports on the health conditions most studied and geographic distribution of studies. Describes a trend to more research on solutions rather than just description of health disparities.
Author(s): AAMC Health Equity Research and Policy Staff
Date: 2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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