The Influence of Rural Versus Urban Residence on Utilization and Receipt of Care for Chronic Low Back Pain

Purpose : (1) To describe demographic and health‐related characteristics among rural/urban residents with chronic low back pain (LBP); (2) To determine if the utilization of diagnostics and treatments differs between rural and urban residents with chronic LBP; and (3) To determine the association between rural/urban residence and health care provider usage and if associations differ by race or gender. Methods : A 2006 cross‐sectional telephone survey of a representative sample of North Carolina residents. Subjects with chronic LBP were questioned regarding their health and health care use. Wald and chi‐square tests were used to determine differences between demographic and health‐related characteristics of rural/urban residents. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between rural/urban residence and health care provider use. Differences in race or gender were explored with stratified analysis with a P < .10. Findings : 588 residents of North Carolina with self‐reported chronic LBP sought care from a provider in the previous year. In bivariate analyses, when compared to urban residents, rural residents were younger, more likely to be uninsured, reported significantly higher levels of disability, and reported more depression/sadness. Rural residents were less likely to receive care from a rheumatologist (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.47 [95% CI, 0.22‐0.99]). Rural blacks were less likely to receive care from a physical therapist when compared to urban blacks (aOR 0.26 [95% CI, 0.07‐0.87]). Conclusion : Despite similarities of high provider use, imaging and therapeutics, when compared to urban residents, rural residents reported higher levels of functional limitation and depression.     

Cognitive appraisals of specialty mental health services and their relation to mental health service utilization in the rural population

Abstract Purpose: Rural individuals utilize specialty mental health services (eg, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers) at lower rates than their urban counterparts. This study explores whether cognitive appraisals (ie, individual perceptions of need for services, outcome expectancies, and value of a positive therapeutic outcome) of help‐seeking for depression symptoms are related to the utilization of specialty mental health services in a rural sample. Methods: Demographic and environmental characteristics, cultural barriers, cognitive appraisals, and depression symptoms were assessed in one model predicting specialty mental health service utilization (MHSU) in a rural sample. Three hypotheses were proposed: (1) a higher number of environmental barriers (eg, lack of insurance or transportation) would predict lower specialty mental health service utilization; (2) an increase in cultural barriers (stigma, stoicism, and lack of anonymity) would predict lower specialty mental health utilization; and (3) higher cognitive appraisals of mental health services would predict specialty mental health care utilization beyond the predictive capacities of psychiatric symptoms, demographic variables, environmental barriers, and cultural barriers. Findings: Current depression symptoms significantly predicted lifetime specialty mental health service utilization. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were not supported: more environmental barriers predicted higher levels of specialty MHSU while cultural barriers did not predict specialty mental health service utilization. Hypothesis 3 was supported: cognitive appraisals significantly predicted specialty mental health service utilization. Conclusions: It will be important to target perceptions and attitudes about mental health services to reduce disparities in specialty MHSU for the rural population.     

2012年新疆农村妇女宫颈癌和乳腺癌筛查项目结果分析

目的：分析2012年度新疆农村妇女宫颈癌和乳腺癌检查结果,探讨新疆“两癌”流行趋势与特点,为在新疆推广筛查工作提供科学依据。方法对筛查项目结果进行描述性分析。结果妇科常见疾病检出患病人数20．1万人（56．10％）,检出率较高依次为塔城地区（74．56％）、阿克苏地区（64．35％）和伊犁州（61．42％）。新疆农村妇女宫颈癌和癌前病变检出率为0．10％,宫颈癌早诊率为85．05％,检出率高的为巴州（0．26％）和博州（0．18％）。妇女乳腺癌检出率为0．05％,检出率高的为吐鲁番地区（0．27％）和克州（0．25％）。结论新疆妇女宫颈癌和乳癌检出率高于全国同期平均水平,加强重点人群“两癌”防治知识健康教育,积极参加“两癌”筛查,是提高“两癌”早诊早治的关键。     

Complementary and alternative medicine in rural communities: current research and future directions

Contexts: The consumption of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in rural areas is a significant contemporary health care issue. An understanding of CAM use in rural health can provide a new perspective on health beliefs and practice as well as on some of the core service delivery issues facing rural health care generally. Purpose: This article presents the first review and synthesis of research findings on CAM use and practice in rural communities. Methods: A comprehensive search of literature from 1998 to 2010 in CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, and CSA Illumina (social sciences) was conducted. The search was confined to peer‐reviewed articles published in English reporting empirical research findings on the use or practice of CAM in rural settings. Findings: Research findings are grouped and examined according to 3 key themes: “prevalence of CAM use and practice,”“user profile and trends of CAM consumption,” and “potential drivers and barriers to CAM use and practice.” Conclusions: Evidence from recent research illustrates the substantial prevalence and complexity of CAM use in rural regions. A number of potential gaps in our understanding of CAM use and practice in rural settings are also identified.     

2014-2019年大连市农村地区宫颈癌筛查数据分析

目的分析2014-2019年大连市农村地区宫颈癌检查项目数据,了解大连市农村地区宫颈癌筛查情况,评价不同初筛方法的检出效果,为进一步做好宫颈癌防治工作提供科学建议。方法数据来源于妇幼重大公共卫生服务项目信息直报系统中2014-2019年大连市农村地区宫颈癌筛查数据,初筛方法包括宫颈细胞学检查(巴氏涂片、液基细胞学检查)和HPV检测,采用χ2检验比较不同初筛方法和不同年份的初筛阳性率、宫颈癌和癌前病变检出率、早诊率等指标。结果2014-2019年共有149918名35~64岁农村妇女进行了免费宫颈癌检查,初筛阳性人数8984人,阳性率为5.99%;共检出宫颈癌前病变799例,检出率为532.96/10万;宫颈癌41例,检出率为27.35/10万;检出早期宫颈癌9例,早诊率为96.19%。两种不同初筛方法比较:HPV检测初筛阳性率(10.13%)、低级别鳞状上皮内病变检出率(713.41/10万)、高级别鳞状上皮内病变检出率(675.02/10万)、宫颈癌前病变检出率(679.82/10万)均高于宫颈细胞学检查相应指标值[细胞学初筛阳性率(3.04%)、低级别鳞状上皮内病变检出率(609.83/10万)、高级别鳞状上皮内病变检出率(424.48/10万)、宫颈癌前病变检出率(427.91/10万)],且差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论2014-2019年大连市农村地区宫颈癌检查成效明显;与宫颈细胞学检查比较,以HPV检测为初筛方法的宫颈癌检查策略可以更好地发现宫颈癌前病变,便于更早进行随访管理。各区县应结合本地实际情况制定科学、高效和可行的宫颈癌检查方案。     

Self‐Reported Cancer Screening Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries: A Rural‐Urban Comparison

Purpose: We examined the rural‐urban disparity of screening for breast cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC) among the elder Medicare beneficiaries and assessed rurality's independent impact on receipt of screening. Methods: Using 2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, we applied weighted logistic regression to estimate the overall rural‐urban disparity and rurality's independent impact on cancer screening, controlling for patient, and area factors. Results: From urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas, the rates for mammogram last year were 53%, 52%, 45%, and 44%, respectively. They were 56%, 50%, 48%, and 43% for CRC screening, respectively. After controlling for patient and area level characteristics, rurality is significantly associated with CRC screening, but not mammogram. Conclusions: We found rural‐urban disparities for both mammogram and CRC screenings. Patient and area factors totally eliminated the rural‐urban disparity for mammogram but not CRC screening. Health promotions to improve cancer screening should focus more on small and isolated rural areas.     

Practicing Preventive Health: The Underlying Culture Among Low-Income Rural Populations

Context: Health disparities on the basis of geographic location, social economic factors and education levels are well documented. However, even when health care services are available, there is no guarantee that all persons will take preventive health measures. Understanding the cultural beliefs, practices, and lifestyle choices that determine utilization of health services is an important factor in combating chronic diseases. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate personal, cultural, and external barriers that interfered with participating in a community-based preventive outreach program that included health screening for obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and hypertension when cost and transportation factors were addressed. Methods: Six focus groups were conducted in a rural community of Louisiana. Focus groups were divided into 2 categories: participants and nonparticipants. Three focus groups were completed with Dubach Health Outreach Project (DUHOP) participants and 3 were completed with nonparticipants. The focus group interviews were moderated by a researcher experienced in focus group interviews; a graduate student assisted with recording and note-taking during the sessions. Findings: Four main themes associated with barriers to participation in preventive services emerged from the discussions: (1) time, (2) low priority, (3) fear of the unknown, and (4) lack of companionship or support. Health concerns, free services, enjoyment, and free food were identified as motivators for participation. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicated that the resulting synergy between low-income status and a lack of motivation regarding health care prevention created a complicated practice of health care procrastination, which resulted in unnecessary emergency care and disease progression. To change this practice to proactive disease prevention and self care, a concerted effort will need to be implemented by policy makers, funding agents, health care providers, and community leaders and members.     

新疆农村居民卫生服务需求与利用状况调查

目的：了解新疆农村居民卫生服务需求利用现状,为制定农村卫生服务策略与计划提供依据。方法：采用随机整群抽样,抽取新疆新源县阿热勒托别镇、呼图壁县方草湖镇、霍城县芦草沟乡、哈密市天山乡4个乡镇的各100名农村居民,由调查员入户对农村居民卫生服务需求与利用现状等进行问卷调查。结果：调查地区农村居民新农合参合率99．5％,两周患病率15．62％,半年内高血压、糖尿病患病率分别为6．31％和1．33％。两周未就诊但自己买药者34．04％。32．6％的高血压患者和36．8％的糖尿病患者在村卫生室有健康档案。结论：新疆农村居民的卫生服务需要量大,但利用率较低,利用主要在村级医疗机构。应继续贯彻、完善新农合制度,加强农村基层医疗卫生机构能力建设与管理,开展健康教育,进一步提高农村基层医疗服务利用率。     

Alcohol consumption among urban, suburban, and rural Veterans Affairs outpatients

Purpose: United States rural residents tend toward poorer health than urban residents. Although alcohol use is associated with multiple medical conditions and can be reduced via brief primary care‐based interventions, it is unknown whether alcohol consumption differs by rurality among primary care patients. We sought to describe alcohol consumption among urban, suburban, and rural Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients. Methods: Outpatients from 7 VA facilities responded to mailed surveys that included the validated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT‐C) screening questionnaire. The ZIP code approximation of the US Department of Agriculture's rural‐urban commuting area (RUCA) codes classified participants into urban, suburban, and rural areas. For each area, adjusted logistic regression models estimated the prevalence of past‐year abstinence among all participants and unhealthy alcohol use (AUDIT‐C ≥ 3 for women and ≥ 4 for men) among drinkers. Findings: Among 33,883 outpatients, 14,967 (44%) reported abstinence. Among 18,916 drinkers, 8,524 (45%) screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use. The adjusted prevalence of abstinence was lowest in urban residents (43%, 95% CI 42%‐43%) with significantly higher rates in both suburban and rural residents [45% (44%‐46%) and 46% (45%‐47%), respectively]. No significant differences were observed in the adjusted prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use among drinkers. Conclusions: Abstinence is slightly more common among rural and suburban than urban VA outpatients, but unhealthy alcohol use does not vary by rurality. As the VA and other health systems implement evidence‐based care for unhealthy alcohol use, more research is needed to identify whether preventive strategies targeted to high‐risk areas are needed.     

我国农村卫生服务存在的质量问题分析及解决对策

随着我国卫生服务水平的发展，农村卫生状况已经有了极大的改善，然而农村卫生服务质量还是存在相当多的问题。本文针对农村卫生的特点，指出农村卫生服务机构中存在的质量问题，并分析其原因，提出解决问题的对策。     

我国农村卫生事业发展中存在的主要问题与对策

改革开放以后,我国农村卫生事业发展的社会环境产生了重大变化,农村原有的合作医疗因失去集体经济的依托而解体。目前农村卫生事业存在一系列问题,绝大多数农村没有建立医疗保障制度。各级政府要从“三个代表”重要思想的高度来认识农村卫生事业改革和发展的重要性。采取必要的措施,加强卫生体制改革,加大财政投入,优化资源配置,提高乡村卫生的医疗水平,建立多种形式的农村医疗保障制度。     

Mapping oncology services in regional and rural Australia

Objective: To map clinical oncology services in regional and rural Australia. Design and setting: A self‐administered survey was sent to 161 regional hospitals administering chemotherapy (RHAC) in Australia. RHAC were categorised by state, Hospital Peer Group and the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas classification. Main outcome measure(s): Survey data provided percentage and aggregate figures about availability of medical, radiation and surgical oncologists, chemotherapy nurses, breast cancer nurses, palliative care physicians and allied health professionals according to remoteness and state. Chemotherapy prescribing practices, adherence to occupational health and safety guidelines and availability of multidisciplinary clinics were also explored. Results: A 98% survey completion rate was achieved. Significant deficiencies in service provision were identified in RHAC. Only 21% of RHAC reported a resident medical oncology service, 7% had a radiation oncology unit, and 6% had a resident surgical oncologist. Only 24% of RHAC reported a dedicated palliative care specialist and 39% identified a dedicated oncology counselling service. Other issues included administration of chemotherapy by nurses outside a recognised facility or by nurses without recognised oncology training, limited availability of funded breast care nurses and lack of multidisciplinary clinics. Conclusion: Survey data highlight marked cancer service deficiencies in rural and regional Australia. It is not unreasonable to conclude that these deficiencies might contribute to poorer outcomes for cancer patients living in these areas. The results suggest the need for short‐ and long‐term measures to improve access to best‐practice cancer services for patients living in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.     

青海省卫Ⅷ项目县与非卫Ⅷ项目县农村卫生服务比较研究

对青海省卫Ⅷ项目县和非卫Ⅷ项目县农村卫生服务提供能力和利用水平进行比较研究，总结项目工作取得的成绩、成功的经验以及存在的问题，为推进农村卫生改革与发展、合理制定农村卫生工作政策提供依据。     

Having a Personal Health Care Provider and Receipt of Colorectal Cancer Testing

PURPOSE We wanted to assess the relationship between having a personal health care provider and receiving colorectal cancer testing.     

农村高血压患者卫生服务利用研究

分析山东省农村地区高血压患者2007年（干预前）和2010年（干预后）卫生服务利用变化情况及其原因。结果显示：干预后农村高血压患者四周就诊率、住院率均高于干预前;但仍有农村高血压患者卫生服务需求不能得到满足,健康意识和经济原因是农村高血压患者卫生服务需求得不到满足的主要原因。     

湖北省宜昌地区农村居民卫生服务需求与利用调查

目的：了解该地区农村居民卫生服务需求和利用的特点，为当地卫生部门制定相应的卫生政策及措施提供依据。方法：采用分层多阶段整群抽样方法，对该地区5县1914例居民进行问卷调查。结果：该地农民两周患病率为12．49％，其中最为严重的是患呼吸系统疾病，其他依次为消化系统疾病，外伤及传染性疾病等；80．70％的患者在村卫生室就诊，年住院率为12．17％，患者在乡卫生院住院次数占总住院次数的30．97％。结论：提高农村卫生人员的素质，对农村初级卫生保健的工作模式也应当作相应的调整，加大农村卫生事业经费的投入，提高该地农民的健康水平。