Table 4 Relationships between studies that found a difference in outcomes between urban and rural populations and various key variables (n = 82)
From: Measuring rurality in health services research: a scoping review
Variable | Studies Found Difference in Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Populations | |
|---|---|---|
Yes | No | |
Geographic Unit | ||
 County | 44 (59%) | 4 (57%) |
 Zip Code | 26 (30%) | 3 (29%) |
 Population Density | 2 (3%) | 0 |
 Other | 3 (8%) | 0 (14%) |
Definition Used to Determine Rurality | ||
 Rural–Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes | 23 (31%) | 3 (43%) |
 Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) | 10 (12%) | 1 (14%) |
 Urban Influence Codes | 7 (9%) | 2 (29%) |
 County Designation (state or federal) | 5 (7%) | 0 |
 Core Based Statistical Areas | 6 (8%) | 0 |
 Metropolitan Statistical Areas | 10 (12%) | 1 (14%) |
 National Center for Health Statistics approach | 5 (7%) | 0 |
 Other | 9 (14%) | 0 |
Number of Rural Categories | ||
 1 | 42 (56%) | 6 (86%) |
 2 | 19 (25%) | 0 |
 3 or more | 14 (16%) | 1 (14%) |
Year | ||
 2010 – 2013 | 13 (17%) | 2 (29%) |
 2014—2017 | 25 (33%) | 1 (14%) |
 2018—2020 | 37 (50%) | 4 (57%) |