Rural and urban differences in perceptions, behaviors, and health care disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Autor: Greteman BB; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA., Garcia-Auguste CJ; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA., Gryzlak BM; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA., Kahl AR; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA., Lutgendorf SK; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA., Chrischilles EA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA., Charlton ME; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association [J Rural Health] 2022 Sep; Vol. 38 (4), pp. 932-944. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 24.
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12667
Abstrakt: Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess perceptions, health behaviors, and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in a largely rural, Midwestern state, and to examine differences between rural and urban respondents.
Methods: A questionnaire was mailed August 2020 to a sample of 10,009 registered voters in Iowa ages 18-100 years, with oversampling from 6 select rural counties. Previously validated and tested items assessed COVID-19 precautions, health care disruptions, emotional reactions, health behavior changes, telehealth and experiences with the internet, and demographic characteristics.
Findings: There were 4,048 respondents (40% response rate); 65% were rural and 35% were urban residents. The average age of respondents was 58.3 years and 45% of respondents identified as female. Rural respondents reported less concern about COVID-19 in their community (29% vs 40%, P<.001) and lower perceived importance of social distancing (51% vs 64%, P<.001). Urban respondents more often reported experiencing disruption to daily living, stronger negative emotional reactions, and displayed more pronounced behavior change compared to their rural counterparts. For example, urban respondents reported more pandemic-related job losses (6% vs 4%, P = .05), disruptions to daily activities (48% vs 35%, P<.001), and use of telehealth services during the pandemic (24% vs 16%, P<.001).
Conclusions: The majority of respondents reported disruptions to normal activities, medical appointment cancellations, and emotional distress during the first 6 months of the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on urban residents appeared to be greater than for rural respondents. Timing of pandemic spread and varying beliefs are potential explanations.
(© 2022 National Rural Health Association.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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