scholarly journals Society of behavioral medicine statement on COVID-19 and rural health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Behrman ◽  
Marian L Fitzgibbon ◽  
Akilah Dulin ◽  
Monica L Wang ◽  
Monica Baskin
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Behavioral Medicine ◽  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Rural Healthcare ◽  
Broadband Internet

Abstract This position statement provides researchers, practitioners, and policymakers an overview of pre-existing and COVID-related rural health inequities in the United States (U.S.) and how they have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Health deserts,” defined as “large areas with inadequate or nonexistent medical and trauma facilities,” are common in rural regions of the U.S. While telehealth could address some of these health-related inequities, significant gaps in broadband Internet availability are also common in these more remote areas. The Society of Behavioral Medicine urges Congress to authorize increased funding to rural healthcare facilities and staffing, along with the development of enhanced broadband Internet infrastructure. In addition, incentivizing rural healthcare systems to deliver value-based care could enhance their capacity to implement population health and behavioral health strategies. To stem the spread of COVID-19 in higher-risk rural-based industries (e.g., food processing plants), SBM urges Congress to require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to routinely inspect for and enforce COVID-19 mitigation procedures, such as provision of effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all front-line workers and consistent implementation of standardized testing and social distancing advisories. The context of rural communities underscores the importance of tailored approaches to mitigate rural health inequities and promote the well-being of rural residents.

Cooperative Extension as a Force for Healthy, Rural Communities: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (9) ◽  
pp. 1300-1303
Author(s):  
David R. Buys ◽  
Roger Rennekamp
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Cooperative Extension ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Second Century ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Historical Perspectives ◽  
Faculty And Staff ◽  
Policy Systems

Cooperative Extension (Extension), part of the land-grant university system, has been engaged in rural communities for more than a century. While the focus of Extension’s efforts has largely centered on agriculture, there is an important thread of work that has similarities to public health. As Extension settles into its second century, we are working to be even more engaged in efforts that improve the health and well-being of rural communities in particular. Extension faculty and staff are accomplishing this through direct-to-the-population education and through partnerships with more classically oriented public health organizations able to leverage Extension’s networks and positive reputation in communities to engage them and improve their health. A component of these partnerships includes Extension faculty and staff increasingly engaging in policy, systems, and environment work and other initiatives that help ensure longer-term, systemic changes more likely to improve health outcomes. In short, Extension clearly changed the agricultural system of the United States, and because of its reach into rural communities, it has the capacity to do for health in rural communities in this second century what it did for agriculture in the first century.

scholarly journals ORAL CANCER SCREENING IN NON-INSTITUTIONALIZED OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S883-S884
Author(s):  
Swaha Pattanaik ◽  
Bettye Apenteng ◽  
Adrienne L Cohen ◽  
Georgia Dounis ◽  
Raymona Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Oral Cancer ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Oral Diseases ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Oral Cancer Screening ◽  
Common Sign

Abstract The older population in the United States is growing at an unprecedented rate. Oral diseases such as oral cancer can affect physical, psychological, and social well-being in older adults. Oral cancer screening can prevent development of the disease in high-risk individuals. The purpose of this research was to assess determinants of preventive oral health behavior including oral cancer screening in noninstitutionalized older adults living in rural/medically underserved communities of southeast Georgia. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design was used. Surveys were administered to 206 individuals aged 50 and older. Phone interviews were conducted with 22 individuals from the survey sample and 11 key informants. The majority of the participants (83.01%) said they had never been examined for oral cancer by a doctor or a dentist. Those who correctly recognized the most common sign of oral cancer were about three times more likely (OR=3.75; 95% CI: 1.04 – 13.50) to have had an exam for oral cancer (p=0.04). The survey participants who lived alone were more likely (OR = 4.39; 95% CI = 0.95 – 20.26) to have been examined for oral cancer (p = 0.05). During the interview, older adult participants rarely mentioned oral cancer with regards to an unhealthy mouth. The interview participants revealed that living alone gave them more time to pay attention to their health. For the older adults, prevention of oral diseases was grounded in the autonomy in their own behaviors, while the key informants saw more macro community and systems- level factors as the solution.

scholarly journals Willingness to Pay for Broadband Access by Kentucky Farmers

2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Jeffcoat ◽  
Alison F. Davis ◽  
Wuyang Hu
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Property Taxes ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Broadband Access ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Infrastructure Investments ◽  
E Mail

Since the Internet's inception its impact has been felt across the United States, but the distribution and adoption of the Internet has not necessarily been uniform geographically. As more consumers and businesses rely on the Internet to access information, the data transmission requirements have also increased. Consequently, access to broadband has become increasingly more important since dial-up cannot realistically handle the increased requirements. The use of broadband in agriculture can provide better access to price, weather, and management information while also opening new markets. However, many rural communities lag behind urban areas in broadband access and adoption rates. This study evaluates, through the use of a producer survey, the level of broadband Internet use, motivations for its use, degree of access to broadband, and willingness-to-pay (WTP) to fund broadband infrastructure investments. Results from the producer survey suggested farmers utilize the Internet primarily for accessing weather reports, e-mail, market reports, and agricultural news. Notably, the survey's WTP questions allowed for the use of an interval regression to calculate producer WTP for varying demographics. The results suggested that producers who were younger, farmed larger farms, and those who currently use the Internet but do not have broadband access were WTP more in property taxes to support broadband infrastructure investments than those of a differing demographic. Because WTP levels varied drastically depending on the underlying demographics, it becomes difficult to pinpoint a WTP level for a one-time payment in property taxes that would be acceptable from a policy standpoint.

Predictors of Children’s Subjective Well-Being in Rural Communities of the United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa A. Newland ◽  
Michael J. Lawler ◽  
Jarod T. Giger ◽  
Soonhee Roh ◽  
Eliann R. Carr
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Subjective Well Being

scholarly journals Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1816-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A Hirko ◽  
Jean M Kerver ◽  
Sabrina Ford ◽  
Chelsea Szafranski ◽  
John Beckett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Disparities ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Rural Healthcare ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Hospital Systems

Abstract Telehealth programs have long held promise for addressing rural health disparities perpetuated by inadequate healthcare access. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and accompanying social distancing measures have hastened the implementation of telehealth programs in hospital systems around the globe. Here, we provide specific examples of telehealth efforts that have been implemented in a large rural healthcare system in response to the pandemic, and further describe how the massive shift to telehealth and reliance on virtual connections in these times of social isolation may impact rural health disparities for those without access to necessary broadband to deploy digital technologies. Finally, we provide recommendations for researchers and policymakers to ensure that telehealth initiatives do not amplify existing health disparities experienced by those living in rural communities.

Reimagining Rural: Shifting Paradigms About Health and Well-Being in the Rural United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Afifi ◽  
E.A. Parker ◽  
G. Dino ◽  
D.M. Hall ◽  
B. Ulin
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Rural Places ◽  
Health And Well Being

Rural health disparities have attracted increased national attention, compelling an expanded focus on rural health research. In this manuscript, we deconstruct the definitions and narratives of “rural” communities and suggest that a paradigm shift is needed that centers the complexity and strength of rural places. We discuss the relevance of health equity frameworks, implementation science, and community-engaged approaches to promote rural well-being. Focusing on rural in its own right will lead to intervention innovations and reinvention with implications beyond rural areas. We conclude with suggestions for research and practice to inspire renewed interest in partnering with rural communities to promote health equity. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Playing Chicken with People: The Occupational Safety and Health Consequences of Throughput über Alles

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Linder
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Safety And Health

The political-economic and legal analysis of regulation in this article argues that the speed of work on disassembly lines in poultry processing plants, the fastest growing factory employment in the United States, is de facto regulated not by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency charged with protecting workers, but, perversely, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In arrogating to itself the power to set line speeds in connection with its inspection of processed carcasses, the Department of Agriculture has one-sidedly promoted chicken oligopolies' interests by accommodating their drive to produce as much product as quickly and cheaply as possible (throughput über alles) and especially without regard to the incidence of repetitive stress disorders associated with high-speed machine-paced manual production. In contrast, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has failed either to assert its statutory authority over this vital determinant of workers' well-being or to persuade any administrative or judicial tribunal that it possesses such authority. Consequently, the article concludes, the health and safety of 200,000 low-paid and largely unorganized, female, and non-white workers continue to be held hostage to the self-valorization needs of capital and the state's cheap food policy.

Children's subjective well-being in rural communities of South Korea and the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 158-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Lawler ◽  
Changyong Choi ◽  
Joan Yoo ◽  
Juyeon Lee ◽  
Soonhee Roh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Subjective Well Being

Pathways to Change in Rural America

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-58
Author(s):  
Alonzo L. Plough
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Rural America ◽  
Rural Living ◽  
Local Resources ◽  
Health And Well Being

This chapter explores the reputation and reality of the nation's less populated regions, which one in every five people in the United States call home. Too often, the rural designation implies an environment in which poor health and diminished opportunities are the norm. Though the chapter contributors acknowledge the enduring economic, social, and educational inequities that pervade these regions, they are equally invested in capitalizing on the inherent strengths of the rural heritage. Using examples from several Southern, rural communities that are among the poorest in the country, yet also offer pockets of hope, the contributors show that it is possible to reshape the narrative of rural living. To enhance health and well-being in rural America, policymakers and advocates must build on the unique challenges, strengths, and opportunities in rural populations. Changes that leverage local resources and strengths to better serve residents are vital, and some of them are surprisingly simple and often community-driven.

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