Rural-urban disparities in health outcomes, clinical care, health behaviors, and social determinants of health and an action-oriented, dynamic tool for visualizing them

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002420
• Publication Date: 2023-10-03T17:21:20Z
• Authors: William B. Weeks; Ji E. Chang; José A. Pagán; Jeffrey Lumpkin; Divya Michael; Santiago Salcido; Allen Kim; Peter Speyer; Ann Aerts; James N. Weinstein; Juan M. Lavista
• Keywords: Rural Health; Dashboard; Equity

While rural-urban disparities in health and outcomes have been demonstrated, because of their impact on (and intervenability to improve) outcomes, we sought examine cross-sectional longitudinal inequities health, clinical care, behaviors, social determinants (SDOH) between rural non-rural counties the pre-pandemic era (2015 2019), present a Health Equity Dashboard that can be used by policymakers researchers facilitate examining such disparities. Therefore, using data obtained from 2015–2022 County Rankings datasets, analysis variance differences 33 county level attributes counties, calculated change values for each measure 2015 2019, determined whether had widened, those create displays county-level individual measures or compilations them. We followed STROBE guidelines writing manuscript. found overwhelmingly worse SDOH at level. With few exceptions, examined were getting 2019 all relatively more so resulting widening these measures. When gaps narrowed, it tended wherein outperforming urban ones earlier period. In conclusion, our findings highlight need prioritize settings interventions designed improve likely through improving environmental factors, physical environment attributes. Visualization tools help guide with grounded information, communicate necessary engage relevant stakeholders, track changes over time.