'Guangxi's rural health insurance scheme: evidence from an ethnic minority region in China' China's New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme was designed to provide affordable health care for rural residents who faced potential impoverishment due to medical expenses. This policy report describes the wide-ranging scheme's 2003 roll-out in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where the high ethnic minority population posed special policy challenges. Rural and Remote Health Journal, April 2013

'Dementia knowledge transfer project in a rural area' In common with many countries, rural Scotland's ageing population has a rising incidence of dementia. This project report describes the successful partnership of NHS Highland and a specialist university department to translate a dementia strategy into services for rural and remote elders in need in Scotland's islands, small towns, villages and isolated hamlets. Rural and Remote Health Journal , Jan 2013

'Audit report from Greenland on nurses' tasks and perceived competency' Ever wondered about nursing in remote Greenland? This short report on Greenland's nurses' scope of practice and self-perceived competency over a range of patient encounters was part of a countrywide audit. Rural and remote Health Journal, Dec 2012

'A poststructural glimpse at the World Health Organization's palliative care discourse in rural South Africa' Much has been published about access to rural palliative care (PC) in the developed world. This unusual qualitative study considered the experience of a small number of specialist healthcare participants who provide community PC in remote, isolated areas of rural South Africa, where a patient's prognosis and even diagnosis may not be known, and people follow traditional ways of caring. Rural and remote Helath Journal, Oct 2012

'Rural Mental Health Workforce Needs Assessment - a national survey' Mental health professional deficits are common across the United States, but what about rural areas or more isolated rural areas? Studies of mental health workforce must include consideration of rural access, rather than just focusing on psychiatry. In this study hospital leaders were surveyed for information about local healthcare workforce. Rural and Remote Health Journal, Oct 2012

'Institutional care versus home care for the elderly in a rural area: cost comparison in rural Japan' Throughout the developed world, an ageing population is increasing governmental health expenditure, especially on institutional care. This is so for Japan where the rural population is ageing most rapidly. In a shifting public-policy environment, these authors investigated whether providing home-care support for disabled elderly people is a cost-effective option. Rural and Remote Health Journal, Oct 2012

'Main challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector in Buchanan County, Virginia: a pilot study' There are great changes and challenges in the American nation's pharmacies. This article moves beyond simplistic newspaper headlines to the challenges facing the pharmaceutical component of rural community health care. It is also a model article for those planning to address various abuses at the local and individual level, rather than waiting for government assistance. Rural and Remote Health Journal, Nov 2012

'Qualitative needs assessment: healthcare experiences of underserved populations in Montgomery County, Virginia, USA' Community assessment is an unfamiliar road that must be traveled, with cultural perceptions, barriers to care, and coping strategies represent the roadmap to improved health for rural communities. Rural and Remote Health Journal, July 2012

'Fly in/fly out health services: the panacea or the problem?' Fly in/fly out services are increasingly being proposed for remote health services. Are they the answer? What does the evidence say? Rural and Remote Health Journal, July 2012

'Reducing barriers associated with delivering health care services to migratory agricultural workers' Much attention has been paid to patient aspects of care, but this is often focused on cost savings or marketing services. It is refreshing to see a study that interviews the patients and populations in most need of care - migratory agricultural workforces. More studies focused on better understanding and improved awareness just might improve access, improve quality, and decrease costs. Rural and Remote Health Journal, July 2012

'Psychogeriatric care: building rural community capacity' Specialized health services are not always available in remote locations. This article focuses on the integration of psychogeriatric care in northern British Columbia, Canada and presents the findings from an examination of this process. Rural and Remote Helath Journal, June 2012

'Voices from the bush: remote area nurses prioritise hazards that contribute to violence in their workplace' The 'voices from the bush' of expert Australian remote area nurses report alarmingly high levels of workplace violence. The variety of hazards and contributing factors indentified say loudly that expert, urgent action is required to manage the workplace risk of this highly skilled but highly vulnerable group. Rural and Remote Health Journal, May 2012

'Extending the paramedic role in rural Australia: a story of flexibility and innovation. Due to chronic rural health worker shortages, in small-town Australia paramedics may now provide first-line primary care. As a result of broad consultation in south-eastern Australia and supported by multiple case-study methodology, this article puts the case for a 'rural expanded scope of practice' model for paramedics. Rural and Remote Health Journal, April 2012

'Health care provider challenges for reaching Hispanic immigrants with HPV vaccination in rural Georgia. Rural, minority populations with language and healthcare coverage issues can face great barriers, especially in areas such as the prevention of disease. This is captured in Hispanic rural populations in Georgia via a study of HPV vaccine utilization. The article is an outstanding example of "how to do" such studies and "why" qualitative approaches are important contributors to the development of better healthcare delivery. April 2012

'Developing dietetic positions in rural areas: what are the key lessons?' Why are Australian rural and remote communities underserved by dietitians - and what can be done about it? The data from dietitians and their managers from 6 rural New South Wales sites contributes to a solution. Rural and Remote Helath Journal, April 2012

 

'Performance of rural health clinics: an examination of efficiency and Medicare beneficiary outcomes Fee for service has been unable to keep up with the rapidly rising costs of delivering primary care in the United States. Rural Health Clinics have grown rapidly over recent decades, in no small part because the funding is based on 'reasonable and allowable costs'. Studies such as this are greatly needed to examine performance areas such as the efficiency and effectiveness of Rural Health Clinics.
Rural and Remote Helath Journal, Febr 2012

'Using technology to deliver healthcare education to rural patients In the 'information age' we should all be able to obtain more and better health information. How does the new technology of the internet compare with traditional methods of obtaining health education, such as the personal provision of information directly from a nurse educator? Rural and Remote Health Journal, Oct 2011

'Does rural residence limit access to mental health services? Does rural living limit access to mental health services? This thought-provoking article analyzed the Canadian Community Health Survey, Mental Health & Well-being data cycle to find out. Rural and Remote Helath Journal, Oct 2011

'Adapting and implementing evidence-based cancer education interventions in rural Appalachia: real world experiences and challenges' Better health outcomes require a balance between research-tested interventions and population-specific application, along with adaptation, implementation and evaluation playing key roles. Appalachia is an appropriate testing ground for assessing adaptation to evidence based interventions. Rural and Remote Health Journal , Oct 2011

'Application of geographic information systems to the analysis of private dental practices distribution in Western Australia' Question: What can geographic methods tell us about rural health? Answer: A surprising amount! This high acuity GIS mapping approach to analysing access to dental care in Western Australia is not only fascinating reading, but also contributes to equity in workforce and service planning for the widely dispersed WA rural population. Rural and Remote Helath Journal, Aug 2011

'Creating a sustainable and effective mental health workforce for Gippsland, Victoria: solutions and directions for strategic planning This study from Gippsland, Australia, sought the views of mental health service leaders about the global human resources isssue - recruiting and retaining rural mental health workers. The reflections and creative solutions reported, grounded as they are in day-to-day management work, bring a new voice to the literature of rural health human resources.
Rural and Remote Health Journal, Jan 2011

Factors of primary care demand: a case study What factors influence patients' choice of primary care facility? This question was asked in a bid to understand - and ease - the pressure on primary care in many parts of Canada. In a microcosm of the larger picture, the researchers analysed the pattern of medical visits to 6 primary care facilities in a rural area of Quebec. The results provide a first insight into the influence of patients' location, age and sex. Rural and remote Health Journal, Nov 2010 

Evolution of primary care in China 1997-2009 En grundig gjennomgang av helsepolitikken i Kina presenteres med hensyn til satsning i primærhelsetjenesten. "Primary health care, once the cornerstone of China's health system, has been neglected in the country's market-oriented system. Recent primary care reform was designed to improve access, quality and efficiency of health service use, but the results are unclear." Sciencedirect.no, Dec 2010

Rural mental health workforce difficulties: a management perspective In common with other countries, the recruitment, retention and training of rural mental health workers is a major concern in Australia. What are the views and perspectives of their managers? The information provided by this research complements studies of the clinicians themselves, and so offers a unique contribution to achieving a sustainable and effective rural mental health workforce. Rural and Remote Health Joural, Oct 2010

Understanding rural practice: implications for occupational therapy education in Canada. Studies of rural health professionals have been dominated by centralized urban academic perspectives for decades. Not surprisingly studies about rural practice have focused on areas such as lack of health care resources, lack of professional resources, and isolation. Some of these may represent differences in perception as few studies attempt to capture the nature of practice for rural health professionals. There are indications that some of these perceptions are changing. Even definitions of resources, support, isolation, and appropriate training may be changing due to improvements in communication. Occupational therapists in rural Canadian locations may not consider themselves isolated, may not indicate a lack of professional resources, and may not even believe themselves rural or isolated enough to fit study criteria. New studies are needed as rural and remote locations enjoy improved communication technologies and social support. Some therapists indicated potential mismatches of urban-based support and education. Indeed rural providers have had to retool continuing education to fit rural practice needs. Others listed rural advantages related to autonomy, flexible work schedules, teamwork, and the types of patients and problems encountered. Researchers would do well to assume less based on past studies and to focus more on the current Brave New World. Rural and Remote Health Journal, sept 2010 

Analysis of enhanced pharmacy services in rural community pharmacies in Western Australia Pharmacists are a potentially underutilised source of expertise in rural and remote areas. This article from Western Australia describes the additional activities undertaken by pharmacists, asks if these have increased and identifies on-going barriers to expanding services. Rural and Remote Health Journal, August 2010

Retention policies for allied health professionals in rural areas: a survey of private practitioners. Public or private, the grass always appears greener on the other side - the Australian rural healthcare system wouldn't survive without both. This article gives an insight into some of the issues and perceptions of rural allied health professionals working in private practice. Rural and Remote Health Journal, May 2010
 

Flere pasienter enn forventet til lokalsykehus Et lokalsykehus i Australia talte opp hvor stort pasientgrunnlag de hadde og hvor mange de tok imot i sitt akuttmottak. Det var flere enn de forventet! Rural and Remote Health Journal

Svensk omorganisering i primärvården; markedskreftene skal styre
Bengt Åhgren ved Nordiska högskolan för folkhälsovetenskap i Gjøteborg forklarer fordeler og ulemper ved det nye systemet, som bl.a.innebærer større rett for pasienter til å velge behandler innen førstelinjetjenestene. Åhgren ser dette sammen med oppbyggingen av intermediære tilbud. Rural and Remote Healt Journal, febr 2010

Bruk av båt i helseoppdrag i Norge Student Ingebjørg Hermstad-Pedersen, ved det medisinsk-odontologiske universitet i Bergen, har sammen med Nasjonalt kompetansesenter for legevaktmedisin publisert en rapport om bruk av båt i helseoppdrag i Norge. Desember 2009

Commonwealth Fund-undersøkelsen i 2009 blant allmennleger: Resultater fra en komparativ undersøkelse i 11 land Kunnskapssenteret november 2009

 Bygdas helsepersonell er sosiale entrepenører
"Health professionals use contextual knowledge to envisage and grow activities, indicating that, as social entrepreneurs, they do not explicitly choose a social mission, rather they act within their known world-view. Policymakers could consider ways to engage rural health professionals as social entrepreneurs, in helping to produce resilient communities." En artikkel i Social Science & Medicine september 2009 baserer sine konklusjoner på intervjuer av 38 ulike helsearbeidere i distrikt, både i Tasmania og i Skottland

Exploring factors that affect hospital referral in rural settings: a case study from Norway Conclusions: Only one significant difference in hospital referrals related to ICD-diagnoses groups were found between the studied rural PHC centres, but the LD-run PHC differed from the total norm. These differences could neither be explained from the district’s consumption of somatic hospital care nor the demographical differences, but were related to staffing at the PHC, that is LDs or RGPs. The analysis also revealed that possible under- and/or over-diagnosing of certain diseases occurred, both having potential medical consequences for the patient, as well as increasing healthcare expenditure.Studie fra Helgeland av Gjessing K, Faresjö T, svenske forskere. Rural and Remote Health Journal, februar 2009