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Research

An Analysis of the Financial Conditions of Health Care Institutions in the Appalachian Region and their Economic Impacts
by Jeffrey Stensland, Curt Mueller, and Janet Sutton of Project HOPE, December 2002. This report describes the availability of health care services in Appalachia, the financial stability of Appalachian health care institutions, and the effect of hospital closures on Appalachian counties. It compares data on the current state of Appalachia's health care infrastructure to historical data and national benchmarks. After evaluating the current financial condition of Appalachian health care institutions, the importance of these institutions to the local economy is discussed.
Executive Summary | Main report in PDF (approx. 1 MB) | Technical Appendix in PDF (approx. 5 MB) | Full Report in HTML

Heart Disease in Appalachia: An Atlas of County Economic Conditions, Mortality, and Medical Care Resources. Prevention Research Center, West Virginia University, June 1998.
This study examines coronary heart disease mortality trends among Caucasian and African-American adults in Appalachian counties from 1980 to 1993. It also assesses social and economic conditions, as well as medical-care resources, within the Appalachian Region. For additional information or copies of the study, contact the Office for Social Environment and Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506-9190; telephone (304) 293-0757.

Rural Healthy People 2010: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2010
Report Highlights Health Priorities and Best Practices
This great new resource for rural researchers and practitioners is now available through the Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, according to the National Rural Health Association. This document identifies the top rural health priorities facing rural America and includes brief overviews of priority areas and models for practice. It also includes in-depth literature reviews on each of the priority topics.

Priority issue areas highlighted in Rural Healthy People 2010 include:

Access to Quality Health Services in Rural Areas
Cancer in Rural Areas
Diabetes in Rural America
Heart Disease and Stroke in Rural America
Maternal, Infant, and Child Health in Rural Areas
Nutrition and Overweight Concerns in Rural Areas
The State of Rural Oral Health
Substance Abuse-Trends in Rural Areas
Tobacco Use in Rural Areas

View the document online or call (979) 458-0653 to obtain a paper copy.

Youth Substance Abuse is Highest in Rural Areas
Rates of illicit drug use ranged from 14.4 percent in rural non-metropolitan counties to 10.4 percent in large metropolitan areas, according to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, recently released by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Read the report for complete information on substance abuse statistics and similar topics.

Data

Cancer Control PLANET, a Web Portal for Cancer Information
This site has links to cancer data, risk factor statistics, research-tested programs and products, evidence-based intervention approaches, and partners in comprehensive cancer control in every U.S. state. The portal is sponsored by The National Cancer Institute (NCI) in collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Cancer Mortality Maps and Graphs
Detailed U.S. demographic details for all types of cancer, from the National Cancer Institute. You can select mortality rates based on state—down to the county level—or by type of cancer; data is based on specified five-year periods. Multiple file formats are available.

Combined Health Information Database
CHID is a bibliographic database compiled and produced by health-related federal government agencies. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources.

Youth Risk Behaviors
Data from the biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey provides information on youth risk behaviors in six categories: injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, dietary behaviors, and physical activity. Results from national, state, territorial, and local surveys may be compared. Information source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.