How good and poor healthcare quality are conceptualised in America’s rural south
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24215545 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Elisa M Childs (0000-0001-6235-6895, University of Iowa), Danielle N Laigo (Sharp Healthcare), Adrienne Baldwin-White (Virginia Commonwealth University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2026-09-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Rural Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1037-1656 • E-ISSN: 2204-0536 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10371656.2026.2733381 |
| OpenAlex | W7214220146 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 42 |
The multifaceted factors surrounding healthcare access in rural areas have been well documented. One overlooked component is rural residents’ perception of good healthcare quality and poor healthcare quality, particularly its influence on the decision to access local healthcare services. Extending the work of prior quantitative research, which found a significant relationship between the perception of healthcare access and the perception of healthcare quality, semi-structured interviews explored individuals’ conceptualisation of good and poor healthcare quality in medically underserved rural Georgia (United States). Overall, interviewees described good healthcare quality around provider attributes, mainly whether they found providers knowledgeable, diligent, and attentive. Poor healthcare quality was primarily described as a lack of trust between patient and provider, no follow-up provided, and impersonal care. Researchers and policymakers committed to increasing rural healthcare access should consider how provider attributes impact the perception of good healthcare quality.
follow-up care · health care access · medically underserved areas · patient decision-making · physician-patient trust · rural Georgia · rural health care · rural South · Global Health Workforce Issues · Healthcare Quality and Satisfaction · Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare
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| Highly cited | No |
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