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Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Case Study, Peer Review Study
This article describes the rapid statewide COVID-19 vaccination strategy implemented by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The strategy focused on equitable distribution and reaching hard to reach populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups and rural communities.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The authors describe the impact that COVID-19 has had on geographically disparate populations in the United States and share our recommendations on what might be done to ameliorate the current situation.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article evaluates a partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore – an urban academic treatment center – and multiple rural behavioral health treatment centers to provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals with opioid use disorder via videoconference. Retention rates and toxicology results for patients who received MAT via videoconference were comparable to those receiving face-to-face treatment. It should be noted that data for this study were collected prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article presents the results of a non-randomized controlled trial comparing in-person vs. telemedicine treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder in South Carolina. The authors found no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes for women who received care in-person vs. via telemedicine, and no statistically significant difference in outcomes for the newborns of women in these respective groups. The authors were unable to assign trial participants to telemedicine vs. in-person care at random due to the inability of some rural patients to attend treatment in person. Also, the sample size was not sufficient to achieve ~80% power to detect a difference between the two groups. At the same time, the practice strategy is considered useful for helping to deliver telehealth treatment for vulnerable populations, including pregnant and newly parenting people with substance use disorder, and people living in rural communities.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This commentary describes the challenges faced by rural communities in addressing COVID-19, with a focus on the issues faced by southeastern US states. It also addresses how the COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI) may be used as a tool to identify communities at heightened risk for COVID-19 on the basis of 6 clearly defined indicators. The CCVI can help decision makers target resources where they are most needed. Stakeholders, including hospitals, health care centers, insurance providers, policy makers, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations, should be included in planning and enlisted to help reach disadvantaged and marginalized communities. The coordination would be valuable in planning emergency response, identifying areas of greatest needs, developing culturally appropriate messaging, and disseminating information throughout the community.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article compared community health workers (CHWs) in Indiana and Texas based on the results of two research studies in order to 1) investigate the unique role of CHWs and their Spanish-speaking counterparts, promotores de salud, in rural communities and 2) understand how their advocacy efforts represent a central form of caregiving. An analysis was done of how CHWs connect structurally vulnerable clients in rural areas to resources, health education, and health and social services. CHWs and promotores de salud have acted as first responders to the needs of marginalized rural populations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to health education and translation work, CHWs also play an important role in advocacy, bridging the gap between clients and community leaders. While informing clients of available resources, they empower the clients to advocate for their own needs in different settings. CHWs also have the ability to engage with stakeholders and policy makers in better addressing client needs.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Case Study, Peer Review Study
This was a randomized, quasi-experimental study of an intervention that was implemented among rural and urban populations to encourage online grocery shopping and more nutritious food purchases. The authors targeted rural counties with high poverty rates for recruitment. The results showed that online shopping can improve food shopping habits and accessibility.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study, Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
The authors conducted a systematic review to understand disparities in H1N1 vaccine uptake by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, rural/urban residence, population density, and disability status, and factors associated with unequal uptake, as well as the benefits and harms of interventions designed to attenuate inequities in H1N1 vaccine uptake—in an effort to address potential disparities in COVID-19 vaccine access and uptake.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article includes commentary for public health agencies, the healthcare community, and professional schools to develop an approach to allocate the COVID-19 vaccine in a way that does not rely on health information technology as the predominant means to vaccine access. The authors notes that doing so will provide better access to medical care during the ongoing pandemic and perhaps carve out a new model that improves healthcare access after we conquer COVID-19.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This article explores how the relationships between vaccine site density, vaccination rates, and social vulnerability are connected across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the U.S. The study uses CDC Social Vulnerability Index data combined with vaccination site density data to examine how vaccination site placement can benefit highly vulnerable populations. The results determined that while areas with higher socioeconomic vulnerability contain a large density of vaccination sites, this does not affect the low vaccination rates found in these communities. Other methods besides vaccination site placement must be considered to overcome these barriers in vaccination rates.