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Table 1 Description of studies with health services research focus in rural populations included in the analysis (n = 103)

From: Measuring rurality in health services research: a scoping review

Variable

Frequency (%)

Geographic Unit

 County

59 (57%)

 Zip Code

36 (35%)

 Population Density

4 (4%)

 Other

4 (4%)

Definition Used to Determine Rurality

 Rural–Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes

30 (29%)

 Metropolitan Statistical Areas

16 (15%)

 Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC)

12 (12%)

 Urban Influence Codes

11 (11%)

 County Designation (state or federal)

11 (11%)

 Core Based Statistical Areas

6 (6%)

 National Center for Health Statistics approach

6 (6%)

 Othera

11 (11%)

Population Studied

 Rural and Urban

83 (81%)

 Rural Only

20 (19%)

Number of Rural Categories used by authors

 1

66 (64%)

 2

20 (19%)

 3 or more

17 (17%)

Data Type

 Primary

10 (10%)

 Secondary

93 (90%)

Primary HSR Focus

 Access

57 (55%)

 Quality

23 (22%)

 Cost

16 (16%)

 Othera

7 (7%)

Studies Found Difference in Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Populations (yes)

68 (92%)

Year

 2010 – 2013

17 (17%)

 2014—2017

35 (34%)

 2018—2020

44 (46%)

Journal

 Journal of Rural Health

44 (43%)

 Health Affairs

21 (20%)

 Medical Care

12 (11%)

 Health Services Research

10 (10%)

 American Journal of Public Health

9 (9%)

 Medical Care Research and Review

5 (5%)

 Journal of Healthcare Management

2 (2%)

  1. aOther includes the Veterans Administration classification, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s classification, geocoding and Zip Code tabulation areas [29]