Abstract: Rural Health Disparities: The Interface of Research, Policy, and Public Trust
Rural populations have poorer health outcomes than their urban counterparts. Disparities and inequities in health are pronounced for rural populations in general and among rural African Americans, Latino and American Indian/Alaska Natives. Contributing factors include inadequate transportation, lower educational opportunities, poverty, lack of primary and specialty healthcare workforce and hospitals, exposure to pesticides, other environmental toxins, and farm accidents in areas where the agriculture industry is prominent.
Approximately one in five Americans resides in nonmetropolitan areas. Rural dwelling communities are older and poorer than urban communities. Rural areas have higher chronic disease rates and use less preventive health care services. Minorities comprise 15 percent of the total U.S. rural population and 30 percent of the rural poor. In rural communities in the Southeastern U.S., many minorities face chronic poverty, lack stable medical care for migrant workers, and are limited by language barriers among new immigrants.
Approximately one in five Americans resides in nonmetropolitan areas. Rural dwelling communities are older and poorer than urban communities. Rural areas have higher chronic disease rates and use less preventive health care services. Minorities comprise 15 percent of the total U.S. rural population and 30 percent of the rural poor. In rural communities in the Southeastern U.S., many minorities face chronic poverty, lack stable medical care for migrant workers, and are limited by language barriers among new immigrants.
Sustainable solutions to address rural health disparities and inequities in these communities require rigorous research which engages the affected communities and research translation and dissemination of research results which can inform policy formulation and policy research. Engagement of communities in health disparities research, advocacy, and policy as a translation tool is essential. Bridging these areas is critical. Building public trust in research and participation by rural communities is necessary to achieve sustainable improvements in low resource rural communities.
This presentation will discuss a replicable model for addressing rural health disparities. This model incorporates: (1) sustainable community partnered research on rural health disparities, (2) community engagement in research, advocacy, policy and (3) community adopted and driven programs informed by rural disparities research on chronic diseases and telehealth, education on health disparities, clinical trials, research ethics and bioethics. These integrated domains are the interface that lead to greater public trust in research.
