Rural hospital focus: defining rural

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Informatics
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Rural and Remote Health (RRH) aims to provide a freely accessible, international, peer-reviewed evidence base for rural and remote health practice.
• Recognizes the universal nature of rural health issues that transcend regional interests and local culture.
• Identifies that many valuable articles are inaccessible due to publication in small-circulation, paper-based journals with limited readership.

Purpose of the Study:

• To augment the existing international evidence base of Rural and Remote Health.
• To increase the accessibility of worthwhile articles from small-circulation journals.
• To provide a wider audience for previously inaccessible rural health research.

Main Methods:

• The RRH Editorial Board will republish selected articles from small-circulation, paper-based journals.
• Articles will be republished with the permission of the original publishers.
• The RRH editorial team encourages nominations of suitable articles from users worldwide.

Main Results:

• Selected articles from limited-circulation journals will be made accessible through the RRH online platform.
• The reach of valuable rural health research will be significantly expanded.
• An enhanced, comprehensive international evidence base for rural and remote health practice will be created.

Conclusions:

• Republishing selected articles broadens access to critical rural health information.
• This strategy enhances the global evidence base for rural and remote health.
• Increased accessibility supports improved rural and remote health practices worldwide.