Health‐related Quality of Life: Does Rurality Matter?

Abstract

This study addresses the question of whether six health-related quality-of-life domains are related to population density within a rural area while adjusting for the effects of demographic characteristics and social support resources. The sample consisted of 2,178 adults aged 60 years or older who resided in eastern North Carolina between 1989 and 1991. Ordinary least squares regression estimation was used to analyze this survey data. For the analyses, rural residence was broken down into five levels reflecting population density, which was compared with analyses utilizing a collapsed dichotomous residential measure. Results indicate that a more detailed residence measure within a predominantly rural area provides valuable information that would otherwise be concealed by a dichotomous measure.

Prescription Medication Use and Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Elderly

“…Previous literature reported HRQoL among rural seniors to be lower when compared to their urban counterparts (Goins & Mitchell, 1999), but emerging data suggest that a difference in HRQoL between urban and rural elderly may not exist (Borders et al, 2004;Cleary & Howell, 2006). When comparisons in participant HRQoL scores were made based on age, and gender and age matched groups, there were no differences between rural study participants and normative, population-based values for adults aged 65 and older.…”

“…Research suggests that elderly who have overcome hardships may possess feelings of increased confidence, self-efficacy and self-esteem (Glickstein, 1999), and that rural elderly may be more accustomed to experiencing hardships than urban elderly (Goins & Mitchell, 1999). Research suggests that elderly who have overcome hardships may possess feelings of increased confidence, self-efficacy and self-esteem (Glickstein, 1999), and that rural elderly may be more accustomed to experiencing hardships than urban elderly (Goins & Mitchell, 1999).…”

“…Elderly people living in rural areas are at an increased risk for decreased HRQoL because of factors such as geographic and social isolation, and limited access to health care services (Benjamin-Coleman & Alexy, 1999;Borders, Aday, & Xu, 2004;Bowling, Banister, Sutton, Evans, & Windsor, 2002;Goins & Mitchell, 1999;Magilvy & Congdon, 2000). Elderly people living in rural areas are at an increased risk for decreased HRQoL because of factors such as geographic and social isolation, and limited access to health care services (Benjamin-Coleman & Alexy, 1999;Borders, Aday, & Xu, 2004;Bowling, Banister, Sutton, Evans, & Windsor, 2002;Goins & Mitchell, 1999;Magilvy & Congdon, 2000).…”

“…Elderly people living in rural areas are at an increased risk for decreased HRQoL because of factors such as geographic and social isolation, and limited access to health care services (Benjamin-Coleman & Alexy, 1999;Borders, Aday, & Xu, 2004;Bowling, Banister, Sutton, Evans, & Windsor, 2002;Goins & Mitchell, 1999;Magilvy & Congdon, 2000). This study also found poorer health practices and lower function with activities of daily living among rural seniors as compared to their urban counterparts (Goins & Mitchell, 1999). Rural residents were likely to have less access to health promotion activities, as well as programs targeted to people who have chronic or terminal illnesses, or severe disabilities.…”

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Self-Reported Arthritis Sufferers: Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Residence

“…In particular, African Americans with arthritis have been observed to report worse HRQoL scores and more activity-related limitations than Caucasians [2][3][4][5]. While health status appears to be poorer in rural areas compared to urban areas [6,7], to our knowledge, only one study has evaluated urban/ rural differences in HRQoL among arthritis patients [8]. In addition, prior research has not examined the synergistic impact of both race/ethnicity and urban/rural residence on HRQoL among arthritis patients.…”