title: The management of chronic diseases in rural Missouri practices.
abstract: This qualitative study describes the challenges of managing chronic diseases in small, rural, health care practices in Missouri. Four recurrent themes were identified from each of the nine focus groups: the similarity of their patient population and community characteristics, their unfamiliarity with aspects of the chronic care model, the consistent problem of poverty as a barrier to health care access for patients, and the uncertainty about what health care reform will mean for rural practice settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA.
authors.forename: Maithe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enriquez
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moormeier
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lafferty
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data