TY - JOUR
T1 - Rural/Urban differences in uptake of preventive healthcare services
T2 - Variability in observed relationships across measures of rurality
AU - Calatayud, Brittney M.
AU - Moss, Jennifer L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - Rural residents are generally less likely to receive preventive healthcare than are urban residents, but variable measurement of rurality introduces inconsistency to these findings. We assessed the relationships between perceived and objective measures of rurality and uptake of preventive healthcare. In our sample, rural participants generally had equal or higher uptake of healthcare (i.e. private health insurance, check-up in the past year, being up-to-date on colorectal and cervical cancer screening) than urban participants. Importantly, the perceived measure of rurality performed similarly to the objective measures, suggesting that participant report could be a valid way to assess rurality in health studies. Significance for Public Health The ability to access routine preventive healthcare is a key component of public health. Comparing uptake of cancer screening in rural versus urban areas is one way to assess equity of healthcare access. Generally, rural areas have a higher burden of cancer than urban areas. The built environment, socioeconomic status, and patient perceptions can impact an individual’s access to routine cancer screening. Preventive healthcare is of great importance to public health as a whole because screening can facilitate earlier diagnosis and more successful treatment for many preventable cancers, which may ultimately increase the quality and quantity of life.
AB - Rural residents are generally less likely to receive preventive healthcare than are urban residents, but variable measurement of rurality introduces inconsistency to these findings. We assessed the relationships between perceived and objective measures of rurality and uptake of preventive healthcare. In our sample, rural participants generally had equal or higher uptake of healthcare (i.e. private health insurance, check-up in the past year, being up-to-date on colorectal and cervical cancer screening) than urban participants. Importantly, the perceived measure of rurality performed similarly to the objective measures, suggesting that participant report could be a valid way to assess rurality in health studies. Significance for Public Health The ability to access routine preventive healthcare is a key component of public health. Comparing uptake of cancer screening in rural versus urban areas is one way to assess equity of healthcare access. Generally, rural areas have a higher burden of cancer than urban areas. The built environment, socioeconomic status, and patient perceptions can impact an individual’s access to routine cancer screening. Preventive healthcare is of great importance to public health as a whole because screening can facilitate earlier diagnosis and more successful treatment for many preventable cancers, which may ultimately increase the quality and quantity of life.
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U2 - 10.1177/22799036241238670
DO - 10.1177/22799036241238670
M3 - Article
C2 - 38505764
AN - SCOPUS:85188355862
SN - 2279-9028
VL - 13
JO - Journal of Public Health Research
JF - Journal of Public Health Research
IS - 1
ER -