Rural Health

Research Findings

Research Activities, August 2008:
Studies elaborate on the potential use of health information technology to improve care delivery

Research Activities, July 2008:
Hospital and demographic factors influence emergency department triage of patients with mini-strokes

Research Activities, June 2008:
When financially vulnerable rural hospitals become critical access hospitals, patient safety improves in several areas
Telepsychiatrists and in-person therapists deliver similar therapy to veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder

Research Activities, May 2008:
American Indian health advocates can learn to develop multimedia health projects for rural communities
Telepsychiatry can help veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Research Activities, April 2008:
Conference on assisted living reveals its evolution, dearth of research, and quality of life for residents

Research Activities, March 2008:
Rural emergency departments have a high rate of medication errors with the potential to harm children

Research Activities, February 2008:
A combination of maternal, baby, and episiotomy factors contribute to high rates of maternal birth trauma in Iowa
Hospitals serving the uninsured and underserved need help with public reporting and pay-for-performance measures

Research Activities, January 2008:
AHRQ releases toolkits to help providers and patients implement safer health care practices
For patients with melanoma, longer distance to a provider means later stage of diagnosis

Research Activities, November 2007:
Premature infants with chronic lung disease can be safely cared for by community-based providers coordinating with a nurse specialist
Black and white caregivers of rural patients with dementia have different characteristics and coping styles
Mexicans' access to primary care is limited overall, but worse in nonmetropolitan areas
Fewer dentists and different care preferences may contribute to lower use of dental care in rural Kansas

Research Activities, September 2007:
Medication errors are made during care for half of the children seen at rural California emergency departments

Research Activities, July 2007:
Urinary incontinence is common among residents of Southeastern nursing homes, especially among black residents

Research Activities, June 2007:
Certain medical education programs may reinforce physicians' goals to practice in disadvantaged communities

Research Activities, April 2007:
Rural nursing home residents with dementia are less likely than their urban counterparts to undergo intensive end-of-life care
Fewer than half of rural residents in Iowa are screened for colorectal cancer

Research Activities, March 2007:
Studies highlight the interaction between managed care and market forces and their impact on quality of care
Urban influence codes reveal more about children's patterns of health care use and coverage
The financial burden of health care for people under age 65 increased between 1996 and 2003
Regionalization of high-risk surgeries may not result in loss of patients or revenue from small rural hospitals

Research Activities, February 2007:
Primary care patients with pain and psychosocial problems benefit from nurse telephone calls

Research Activities, December 2006:
Journal supplement reviews evidence for the efficacy of telemedicine and telecare
Lack of health care options in rural communities poses substantial barriers to care for rural disabled adults

Research Activities, October 2006:
Rural children with special health care needs are more likely than their urban counterparts to lack needed dental care
Elderly patients whose physicians are white or have urban practices are more likely to use antidepressants
Severity of illness and rural location affect the willingness of elderly people to travel longer distances to the hospital

Research Activities, July 2006:
Greater use of agency nurses in nursing homes may lead to poorer quality of care
Studies examine Federal support and ways to measure available resources for emergency medical services in rural areas

Research Activities, May 2006
Medicaid may reduce racial/ethnic differences in preventable hospitalizations, but Medicaid managed care adds no extra benefit
Researchers examine gender disparities in the quality of preventive care and management of heart disease and diabetes

Research Activities, April 2006
Geographic access to most types of doctors has improved, but some smaller specialties have not spread to the most rural areas

Research Activities, February 2006:
Varied use of physical therapists by people with back and neck pain suggests overuse by some patients and underuse by others

Research Activities, December 2005:
Black women who live in rural areas are less likely than white women to begin mammography screening
Out-of-hospital rescuers receive little practice in performing endotracheal intubation
Caps on malpractice awards increase the State supply of physicians, especially in rural areas

Research Activities, November 2005:
Rural residents lack timely access to trauma centers that could save their lives

Research Activities, September 2005:
Many rural primary care providers seek information to support patient care, but most still prefer print over online sources

Research Activities, July 2005:
Access to transportation substantially influences rural residents' use of health care services

Research Activities, June 2005:
Physician supply increases in States with caps on malpractice lawsuit awards, with the greatest impact in rural areas
Rural hospitals appear to deliver care similar to nonrural hospitals for many common pediatric conditions

Research Activities, March 2005:
Primary care providers miss opportunities during office visits for adult preventive care
Rural workers have less employment-related health insurance for several reasons, including low wages and smaller employers

Research Activities, January 2005:
Shortages of rural generalist physicians may be due to poor recruitment rather than retention problems
Medicaid may be an important key to linking older individuals in rural areas with formal home health care

Research Activities, December 2004:
Improved health insurance coverage may enhance access to care among rural Hispanic elders

Research Activities, November 2004:
About 13 percent of U.S. children and 26 percent of those with disabilities or chronic illness see a specialist in a year

Research Activities, September 2004:
Half of doctors in State-sponsored financial support-for-service programs stay in underserved areas over 8 years, most working happily

Research Activities, August 2004:
Immunization rates in New Mexico have fallen significantly since the introduction of Medicaid managed care

Research Activities, February 2004:
Rural studies examine satisfaction with and cost-effectiveness of telecolposcopy for women with abnormal Pap smears