This book describes a wide-ranging set of research approaches which have been used to study the health care problems of adults living in rural areas. It shows how these approaches can be used to define health care problems, measure levels of illness and health, and evaluate health care practices. For each approach, contributors provide a theoretical background from the health care delivery literature, details of how it can be carried out in the field, its strengths and weaknesses, and illustrative examples from both the literature and their own work.

Autorentext

Wilbert Gesler, Donna Rabiner, Gordon Defriese

Inhalt

I. Defining the Health Issues and Problems of Rural Elderly: Context, Experience, Statistical Profiles, and Indicators

Introduction to Research on Rural Health and Aging Issues Wilbert M. Gesler, Donna J. Rabiner, and Gordon H. DeFriese

Secondary Data and Statistical Profiles of Older Rural Americans Mary Anne Salmon and Thomas C. Ricketts, III

Methods for Assessing Geographic Aspects of Health Care for Older Adults in Rural Areas Wilbert M. Gesler, Lucy A. Savitz, and Peggy S. Wittie

Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Migration Research on Rural Aging Populations Charles F. Longino, Jr. and Mark H. Smith

The Community-Based Laboratory Approach to the Development of Collaborative Rural Health and Aging Research and Demonstrations Harold L. Cook and Gordon H. DeFriese

II. Measuring the Health and Well-Being of Rural People

Incorporating Qualitative Methods Into the Study of Health Beliefs and Health Behaviors of Rural Older Adults Thomas A. Arcury, Susan A. Gaylord and Harold L. Cook

The Potential of Community Service and Research Partnerships: The Geriatric Team Consultation Project Rebecca H. Hunter, Mark E. Williams, Jane McCaleb, and William Remmes

III. Measuring Health Practices and the Use of Formal and Informal Health Care Research in Rural Minority Aging in the Southeast U.S.: Results and Directions Thomas A. Arcury, Ronny A. Bell, and Iris B. Carlton-LaNey

Trajectories of Health in Aging Populations Elizabeth C. Clipp, Glen H. Elder, Jr., Linda K. George, and Carl F. Pieper

Methodologic Rigor and Therapeutic Obligation: The Dialectic in Community Research Carol C. Hogue

Informal Caregiving Networks and Community Resource Infrastructure Serving Rural Elderly Populations: Making the Macro-Micro Link Jean E. Kincade, Donna J. Rabiner, Gary M. Nelson, and Mary Anne Salmon

Improving Health Care Research for Rural Elderly People Using Advanced Communications Technologies Mark E. Williams, Thomas C. Ricketts, III, and B. G. Thompson

Conclusion Wilbert M. Gesler, Donna J. Rabiner, and Gordon H. DeFriese