People in rural communities face cultural, structural and individual barriers to health care

People in Rural Communities Face Cultural, Structural and Individual Barriers to Health Care

Rural residents in the U.S. face immense challenges to accessing health care services for chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cancer. These and other chronic conditions are not only more prevalent in rural communities compared to urban and suburban areas, but also are associated with higher rates of disease-attributable mortality. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, reviewed 62 studies involving 1,354 unique participants. The greatest proportion of studies (24.2%) was focused on the experience of patients with cancer, followed by behavioral health (16.1%); HIV (14.5%); and diabetes (12.9%).

Golembiewski et al identified four primary themes associated with the experience of accessing health care services in rural areas: (1) navigating the rural environment, (2) navigating the health care system, (3) financing chronic disease management, and (4) rural life (i.e., common elements of a distinct “rural” way of thinking and behaving). The researchers found that important cultural, structural, and individual factors influence the rural patient experience of health care access and utilization, and that their findings can inform policies and programs that improve access to care through culturally appropriate interventions.

Rural Patient Experiences of Accessing Care for Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Elizabeth H. Golembiewski, PhD, MPH, et al
Knowledge and Evaluation Research (KER) Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

https://www.annfammed.org/content/20/3/266