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Disease and Injury Publications

  • Rural Health Research RECAP: Rural Communities: Age, Income, and Health Status
    While studies discuss the implications of income or age on health-seeking behavior, health status, access, or utilization of care, it is imperative to recognize what this means for older and lower-income rural communities. This recap identifies rural disparities in age, health status, and income.
    Author(s): Schroeder, S.
    Date: November 2018
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Mind Matters
    North Dakota is home to the unique annual Mind Matters Conference on brain injury that brings together both healthcare professionals and patients.
    Author(s): Massmann, N.
    Publication: Focus on Rural Health
    Date: July 2016
    Type: Article
  • The 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook
    The Chartbook presents information on population demographics, health-related behaviors and risk factors, age-specific and cause-specific mortality, access to care, health insurance coverage, mental health, and other health-related topics for U.S. residents across levels of rural and urban status. The data presented in this new Chartbook were collected prior to implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), providing baseline measurements for key aspects of health from which to measure future ACA-associated changes. Individual data tables are available in an Excel file.
    Author(s): Meit, M., Knudson, A., Gilbert, T., Tzy-Chyi Yu, A., Tanenbaum, E., Ormson, E., TenBroeck, S., Bayne, A., Popat, S., & NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
    Date: October 2014
    Type: Report
  • Policy Brief: Rural-Urban Disparities in Heart Disease
    Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming about 600,000 lives annually. This policy brief highlights rural-urban disparities in heart disease and focuses on three measures: 1) death rates for ischemic heart disease (IHD) among persons 20 years of age and older, 2) obesity among persons 18 years of age and older, and 3) physical inactivity during leisure time among persons 18 years of age and older.
    Author(s): Knudson, A., Meit, M., & Popat, S.
    Date: October 2014
    Type: Policy Brief
  • North Dakota Assistance Program For Dementia Caregivers Lowered Utilization, Produced Savings, And Increased Empowerment
    North Dakota’s state-funded Dementia Care Services Program provides individualized assistance to caregivers of persons with dementia.
    Author(s): Klug, M., Halaas, G., Peterson, M.
    Publication: Journal of Health Affairs, 33(4), 605-612
    Date: April 2014
    Type: Journal Article
  • The North Dakota Brain Injury Network
    Brain injuries don’t just happen to football players. People are dealing with the oftentimes debilitating aftermath of brain injuries here in North Dakota, from concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries.
    Author(s): Massmann, N.
    Publication: Focus on Rural Health
    Date: March 2014
    Type: Article
  • Chronic Disease Assessment Report for North Dakota
    An assessment of policies and programs that address chronic disease in North Dakota.
    Author(s): Massmann, N., Gibbens, B., Peterson, M., and Quinn, R.
    Date: February 2014
    Type: Report
  • Reducing Healthcare Costs for Dementia Patients: Estimating Savings from a Caregiver Support Program
    Provides information on estimated cost savings based on limited healthcare events within a short time span for a dementia care program.
    Author(s): Klug, M.G., Muus, K., Volkov, B. & Halaas, G.W.
    Date: December 2012
    Type: Journal Article
  • North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program (DCSP): Caregivers’ Attributes and Service Use
    Discusses the North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program which works to increase caregiver knowledge about dementia and caregiving, and decrease caregiver stress. Number 2 in a four-part series.
    Author(s): Klug, M., & Muus, K.
    Date: October 2012
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program (DCSP): Characteristics of Persons with Dementia
    Discusses the North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program which works to increase caregiver knowledge about dementia and caregiving, and decrease caregiver stress. Number 3 in a four-part series.
    Author(s): Klug, M., & Muus, K.
    Date: October 2012
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program (DCSP): Impact on Caregiver Support and Estimated Health/Long-Term Care Cost Savings
    Discusses the North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program which works to increase caregiver knowledge about dementia and caregiving, and decrease caregiver stress. Number 4 in a four-part series.
    Author(s): Klug, M., & Muus, K.
    Date: October 2012
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • North Dakota Dementia Care Services Program (DCSP): Utilization Increases Over Time
    The intent of the DCSP is to increase caregiver knowledge about dementia and caregiving, decrease caregiver stress, and coincide with estimated health and long-term care cost savings.
    Author(s): Klug, M., & Muus, K.
    Date: October 2012
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Deciding When to Put Grandma in the Nursing Home: Measuring Inclinations to Place Persons with Dementia
    For caregivers of persons with dementia, estimating when that person should be placed in long-term care is difficult. Healthcare providers also find it hard to give an exact time as to when the person should be placed. Using data from 197 caregivers working with the Dementia Care Services Project in North Dakota, we show that asking the caregiver about their inclination to place can be equated to asking them for a specific time to place (k = .616). Using the probability density function of time to place we were able to translate it into inclination. This inclination is easier information for the caregiver to provide and places fewer burdens on the caregiver and patient. It also provides the healthcare provider with a measure of time to help advise caregivers and recommend interventions and provide service organizations with measures of cost savings to support the impact of outreach and intervention. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, Vol 27/Issue 4, June 2012 by SAGE Publications Ltd./SAGE Publications, Inc., All rights reserved.
    Author(s): Klug, M.G., Volkov, B., Muus, K., & Halaas, G.W.
    Date: June 2012
    Type: Journal Article
  • Effect of Outpatient Visits and Discharge Destination on Potentially Preventable Readmissions for Congestive Heart Failure and Bacterial Pneumonia
    Emphasizes the importance of receiving timely post-discharge outpatient care and appropriate discharge destination for reducing preventable hospital readmissions, especially but not exclusively among rural-based patients. Full report.
    Author(s): Klug, M., & Muus, K.
    Date: March 2012
    Type: Policy Brief
  • Dementia Care Services Project: Continued Progress in Providing Assistance to Caregivers
    Provides information regarding the continued progress in providing assistance to caregivers of participates in the dementia care services project.
    Author(s): Volkov, B., Muus, K., & Klug MG.
    Date: September 2011
    Type: Policy Brief
  • North Dakota Dementia Care Services Project: Contributing to Health Cost Savings
    Author(s): Volkov, B., Muus, K., & Klug, MG.
    Date: September 2011
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Dementia Care Services Project Benefiting Veterans in North Dakota
    Provides information regarding which veterans in North Dakota have benefited from the dementia care services project.
    Author(s): Muus, K., Volkov, B., & Klug, M.G.
    Date: April 2011
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Dementia Care Services Project’s Positive Impact on Caregiving and Cost Savings in North Dakota
    Provides information on how the dementia care services (DCS) project has had a positive impact on caregiving and cost savings in North Dakota. Covers estimated median long term care cost avoidance and total quarterly savings on hospital, ambulance, and 911 calls from participates in the DCS program. In addition, shows the percentage of caregivers who had taken healthcare actions following six months of program participation.
    Author(s): Muus, K., Volkov, B., Klug, M.G., & Mueller, J.
    Date: April 2011
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • In-Hospital Mortality Among Rural Medicare Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Effect of Demographics, Transfer, and Health Factors.
    In-hospital mortality among rural Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction: the influence of demographics, transfer, and health factors.
    Author(s): Muus, K., Klug, M., Knudson, A., Wynne, J.
    Publication: The Journal of Rural Health, 27(4), 394-400
    Date: January 2011
    Type: Journal Article
  • Dementia Care Services Project Benefiting North Dakotans
    Provides information on how North Dakotans have benefited from the dementia care services project including the percentage of individuals that completed care-related action steps and the likelihood to place individuals with dementia in a long term care facility (LTC).
    Author(s): Volkov, B., Muus, K., Klug, M.G., Mueller J., & Haley-Franklin, H.
    Date: December 2010
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Dementia Care Services Project: Supporting Caregivers in North Dakota
    Author(s): Muus, K., Volkov, B., Klug, M., Mueller, J., & Haley-Franklin, H.
    Date: December 2010
    Type: Policy Brief
  • Effect of Post-Discharge Follow-Up Care on Re-Admissions Among U.S. Veterans with Congestive Heart Failure: A Rural-Urban Comparison
    This study examined socio-demographics of US veterans with CHF who had 30 day potentially preventable re-admissions and compare the effect of 30 day VA post-discharge service use on these re-admissions for rural- and urban-dwelling veterans.
    Author(s): Muus, K., Knudson, A., Klug, M., Gokun, J., Sarrazin, M., & Kaboli, P.
    Publication: Journal of Rural and Remote Health, 10(2)
    Date: June 2010
    Type: Journal Article
  • Congestive Heart Failure
    The study examined congestive health failure among American Indian and Alaska Native elders. Covers the prevalence of CHF among American Indian/Alaska Native elders, assessing gender and age patterns of CHF prevalence, determining other disorder that are commonly found among American Indian/Alaska Native elders with CHF, and examining the relationship between CHF, physical activity, and body mass index.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: February 2010
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • An Environmental Scan of Health and Healthcare in North Dakota: Establishing the Baselines for Positive Health Transformation
    The Environmental Scan of Health and Healthcare in North Dakota was conducted from December 2008 to February 2009. This report provides an overview of selected health and healthcare issues in North Dakota.
    Author(s): Volkov, B., Gibbens, B., & Wakefield, M.
    Date: March 2009
    Type: Report
  • Hypertension in American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
    Outlines the prevalence of hypertension among the American Indian and Alaska Native population as identified through studies. Uses text and graphs to display information by age, gender, and disease.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: August 2008
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Arthritis in American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
    Discusses arthritis prevalence and its impact on the health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) elders.
    Author(s): McDonald, L., Ludtke, R., Allery, A., & Muus, K.
    Date: 2006
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • The Burden of Breast Cancer in North Dakota
    Presents an overview of breast cancer incidence and mortality in North Dakota. Includes information on risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: 2006
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • The Burden of Cancer in North Dakota
    Presents an overview of cancer incidence and mortality in North Dakota. Includes tips on prevention and screening.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: 2006
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • The Burden of Colorectal Cancer in North Dakota
    Presents an overview of colorectal cancer mortality in North Dakota. Includes information on risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: 2006
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • The Burden of Lung Cancer in North Dakota
    Presents an overview of lung cancer incidence and mortality in North Dakota, and describes how it compares to that of the U.S. Includes information on risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: 2006
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • The Burden of Prostate Cancer in North Dakota
    Presents an overview of prostate cancer incidence and mortality in North Dakota, and describes how data compares to those in the U.S. Includes information on risk factors, signs and symptoms.
    Author(s): Muus, K.
    Date: 2006
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Findings from the North Dakota Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury Needs and Resources
    Through the North Dakota Department of Health’s federally-funded TBI Planning grant, Center for Rural Health researchers and project staff conducted an assessment of needs and resources for persons with TBI and their families in the state. The findings of the assessment are discussed in this report.
    Author(s): Muus, K., Offutt, S., Cogan, M., Medalen, R., & Haugen, E.
    Date: November 2005
    Type: Report
  • Prevalence of Chronic Disease Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
    Provides information regarding the prevalence of chronic disease among American Indian and Alaska Native elders. Covers demographics, rurality and chronic disease, gender and chronic disease, age and chronic disease, and results of logistic regression and odds ratios.
    Author(s): Moulton, P., McDonald, L., Muus, K., Knudson, A., Wakefield, M., & Ludtke, R.
    Date: October 2005
    Type: Report
  • The Indian Healthcare Improvement Act: Implications for North Dakota Tribes
    Policy brief providing an overview of healthcare issues facing American Indians in North Dakota, with discussion of the impact of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act.
    Author(s): McDonald, F.
    Date: November 2004
    Type: Policy Brief
  • Gender Differences in Health Risks Amongst Native Elderly
    Describes a study to determine if differences in health risks exist between men and women in the elderly Native American and Alaskan Native population.
    Author(s): National Resource Center on Native American Aging
    Date: 2003
    Type: Fact Sheet
  • Diabetes & Preventing Amputations
    Provides findings about diabetes and preventing amputations among American Indian tribes.
    Author(s): National Resource Center on Native American Aging
    Date: April 2002
    Type: Resource