Rural and Other Medically Underserved Populations, An Issue of Nursing Clinics of North America

This issue will address health care issues and clinical implications of rural and other medically underserved priority populations. The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality identified priority populations to include rural residents, racial and ethnic minorities, low income groups, women, children, older adults, and other individuals who may require chronic care.  The editors identified a need for articles focusing on priority populations to help further understand health implications of health disparities among specific populations. A main focus is on identifying useful clinically focused strategies to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences that are relevant and influence overall healthcare, access, and quality of life. The articles will provide clinicians and other consumers of Nursing Clinics of North America with a diverse and unique perspective on an array of clinically relevant and population focused topics.  Some example topics included are:  Tailoring interactive multimedia to improve diabetes self- management; Addressing mental and physical health among older adults; Using mobile devices to access evidence- based information in a rural setting; Identifying family history and development of risk factors for diabetes among underserved preschool children; Addressing smoking cessation, Cancer screening issues, Cardiovascular health, and Obesity.