‘Hidden’ data exacerbates rural public health inequities

While some of the data rural public health officials need to better serve their communities and guide public health policy and spending exists, that data is hard to access and use. University of Washington researchers conducted qualitative surveys of rural public health leaders in four Northwest states to find the barriers they face to getting and using data. The results of their research have been published in JAMIA and the researchers are establishing an accessible database with the tools rural officials need to understand and share\ the data.