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Rural and Underserved Health Research Center

Completed Projects

Listed by project completion date. You can also view these projects alphabetically.

2024

  • Rural and Urban Cancer Survivors' Follow-Up Care Experiences
    This project examined rural vs. urban differences in cancer survivors' follow-up care experiences using the 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
    Topics: Cancer, Care management, Health services, Healthcare access, Physicians, Post-acute care, Quality
  • Rural/Urban Variations in Cancer Screening During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Using the National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey, we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the receipt of recommended screenings for common cancers. Findings informed policymakers about potential widening of rural/urban disparities in the receipt of cancer preventive services and the potential need to target these services toward rural residents.
    Topics: Cancer, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Healthcare access

2023

  • Diabetes Management in Urban and Rural Areas of the U.S.
    This project used the IBM MarketScan database to examine differences in type 2 diabetes prevalence and monitoring for a commercially insured sample. It also employed definitions from the Health Effectiveness Data and Information Set guidelines for comprehensive diabetes care to determine if rural residents are more or less likely to meet recommended standards for type 2 diabetes monitoring and control.
    Topics: Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Healthcare access, Private health insurance, Quality
  • Rural and Urban Primary Care Physicians' Colorectal Screening Performance
    The objectives of this project were to profile, compare, and further understand rural versus urban differences in colorectal screening performance among primary care physicians nationally.
    Topics: Cancer, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention, Healthcare access, Physicians
  • Rural Family Physicians' Ability to Address Patients' Social Determinants of Health Needs
    This project examines how practice-level and community-level characteristics are associated with a family physician's assessment of their practice's ability to address patients' social needs.
    Topics: Physicians, Poverty, Social determinants of health

2022

2021

  • Lung Diseases Among Coal Miners
    Coal miners are at increased risk of lung diseases. Using secondary datasets, we will assess the distribution of lung diseases across regions, identify patterns of healthcare utilization among miners relative to HRSA-funded Black Lung Clinics, and compare healthcare utilization patterns, behaviors, and comorbidities among miners and non-miners.
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Environmental and agricultural health, Health services
  • Rural Variation in Access to Naloxone for Opioid Overdose Prevention
    This project examined variability in access to naloxone-based metropolitan/nonmetropolitan dispensing counts from a representative sample of outpatient pharmacies across the U.S.
    Topics: Healthcare access, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Substance use and treatment
  • The Association of Occupation with Mental Illnesses and Death by Suicide
    This study examined the association of occupational risk factors with mental illnesses, all-cause mortality, and suicide.
    Topics: Mental and behavioral health, Social determinants of health

2020

2019

2018

2017

  • Exploring the Impact of Rural Hospital Closures on Use of Emergency Medical Services
    Using a unique national database, The Enterprise Data Trust, we will explore pre- and post-closure hospital emergency department use with specific emphasis on those who used public emergency medical transportation, testing for significant changes. This study will be the first to look at the impacts of rural hospital closure at the patient level.
    Topics: Emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma, Health services, Transportation