Cultivating the Field of Rural Health Research: The Case for Rural Health Research Competencies.

Purpose: Rural Veterans face unique healthcare barriers and challenges despite an increased need for care. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has long invested in research to improve Veteran health and healthcare delivery; however, rural Veterans remain underrepresented in research, limiti...

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Publicado en:Journal of Rural Health Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 1 - 7
Autores principales: Caloudas, Alexandra B., Govier, Diana, Arredondo, Kelley, Yamada, Masaaki, Coleman, Sulamunn R. M., Hawkins, Kelly, Howren, M. Bryant
Formato: tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Spring2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Spring2026
      vid: 42
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        194917740
        194917740
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        10.1111/jrh.70178
        194917740
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        atl: Cultivating the Field of Rural Health Research: The Case for Rural Health Research Competencies.
      aug:
        au:
          Caloudas, Alexandra B.
          Govier, Diana
          Arredondo, Kelley
          Yamada, Masaaki
          Coleman, Sulamunn R. M.
          Hawkins, Kelly
          Howren, M. Bryant
        affil: VHA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center‐Salt Lake City (VRHRC‐SLC), Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Salt Lake City Utah,, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Rural Health Education
          Veterans Health Services Education
          Health Services Research Education
          Research Personnel Education
          Professional Competence
          Professional Knowledge
          Quality Improvement
          Competency Assessment
          Mentorship
          Rural Health Personnel
          United States
          Implementation Science
          Leadership
          Education, Competency-Based
          Funding Source
      ab: Purpose: Rural Veterans face unique healthcare barriers and challenges despite an increased need for care. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has long invested in research to improve Veteran health and healthcare delivery; however, rural Veterans remain underrepresented in research, limiting the equitable translation of evidence into rural settings. Rural‐specific research is, therefore, essential in improving rural Veterans' health. This commentary argues for the development of rural health research competencies and proposes possible competency domains to guide training, mentorship, and workforce development. Method: Drawing on existing rural health scholarship, competency‐based education, and implementation science, we outline illustrative domains of competence relevant to conducting rigorous, ethical, and impactful rural health research. Finding: There is currently no field‐wide agreement on the knowledge, skills, and experiences that define a proficient rural health researcher. A core set of rural health research competencies is essential for defining effective rural health research practices, guiding the development, implementation, and evaluation of training efforts, and facilitating broader improvements in rural health research and healthcare. Conclusion: Establishing a flexible, evolving set of rural health research competencies, grounded in both academic rigor and community‐embedded expertise, can strengthen the rural health research workforce, inform training and mentorship, and advance equitable healthcare for rural Veterans and rural populations more broadly.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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