Sarah Laditka, PhD

Completed Projects - (2)
Publications - (13)

Completed Projects - (2)

Impact of Medicaid Managed Care, Race/Ethnicity, and Rural/Urban Residence on Avoidable Maternity Complications: A Five-State Multi-level Analysis
This project will examine differences in access to care for pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) and Medicaid fee-for-service, and examine differences in the impact of MMC on access among rural and minority persons.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Maternal health, Medicaid and CHIP, Minority health, Women
Mode of Travel and Actual Distance Traveled for Medical or Dental Care by Rural Residents
This project examined the influence of race and rural isolation on distance traveled to receive medical or dental care, and how the potential interaction of these factors might exacerbate disparities in access to care.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Minority health, Oral health, Transportation

Publications - (13)

2023

Psychological Distress Is More Common in Some Occupations and Increases With Job Tenure: A Thirty-Seven Year Panel Study in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 03/2023
This study used 1981–2017 data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (Kessler K6) to identify occupations with low and high risks of mental health problems in the United States.

2021

Suicide Mortality Rates in Farm-Related Occupations and the Agriculture Industry in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 09/2021
This article examines suicide mortality among agricultural workers comparing rural and urban residents using pooled data from the Mortality‐Linked National Health Interview Survey, 1986–2014.

2009

Community Health Center and Rural Health Clinic Presence Associated With Lower County-Level Hospitalization Rates for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (Full Report)
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2009
Using data from eight states, this report examines the effect of the presence of a federally qualified community health center or rural health clinic within a county on population rates of hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

2006

Rural-Urban Differences in Depression Prevalence: Implications for Family Medicine
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 10/2006
Examined the prevalence of depression in rural vs. urban areas. An estimated 2.6 million rural adults suffer from depression. The unadjusted prevalence of depression was significantly higher among rural than urban populations. After adjusting for rural/urban population characteristics, the odds of depression did not differ by residence.
Mode of Travel and Actual Distance Traveled For Medical or Dental Care By Rural and Urban Residents
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 05/2006
This report discusses the cost and difficulty associated with travel for medical or dental care, which may serve as a barrier for rural populations.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Potentially Avoidable Delivery Complications Among Pregnant Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2006
Within groups defined by race or ethnicity, unadjusted rates for potentially avoidable maternity complications did not differ significantly by hospital location. Potentially avoidable maternity complications in rural hospitals, African Americans had higher risk for complications than did non-Hispanic whites.

2005

Barriers Associated With the Delivery of Medicare Reimbursed Diabetes Self-Management Education
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2005
Explores the barriers that practitioners face in providing diabetes self-management education to Medicare beneficiaries. Barriers identified for rural providers include costs, the shortage of designated specialists, fewer resources, amount of Medicare reimbursement, transportation and more.
Disability Burdens Among Older Americans Associated With Gender and Race/Ethnicity in Rural and Urban Areas
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 09/2005
No prior research has investigated differences in disability-free and disabled life expectancy associated with rural or urban residence. This report addresses this gap and identifies differences in healthy life expectancy that may signal important policy needs.
Depression in Rural Populations: Prevalence, Effects on Life Quality, and Treatment-Seeking Behavior
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 05/2005
The authors found the prevalence of major depression was higher among rural than among urban populations. Nearly all individuals scoring positive for depression reported their symptoms interfered with their life/activities. Persons without health insurance were less likely to have talked with a physician than were the privately/publicly insured.
Delivery Complications Associated With Prenatal Care Access for Medicaid-Insured Mothers in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2005
Examined access to healthcare during pregnancy for mothers insured by Medicaid as well as the risks of potentially avoidable maternity complications among rural and urban hospital deliveries for groups of mothers defined by race or ethnicity.
More May Be Better: Evidence of a Negative Relationship Between Physician Supply and Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2005
The authors conducted an empirical test of the relationship between physician supply and hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

2004

Impact of Medicaid Managed Care, Race/Ethnicity, and Rural/Urban Residence on Potentially Avoidable Maternity Complications: A Five-State Multi-Level Analysis
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 12/2004
This study examines pregnancy-related complications using Potentially Avoidable Maternity Complications as an indicator of access.
Assessment of Barriers to the Delivery of Medicare Reimbursed Diabetes Self-Management Education in Rural Areas
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 09/2004
This report explores the barriers that rural practitioners face in providing diabetes education services to Medicare beneficiaries.