Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada

People in rural communities often experience different access to healthcare and services, which can lead to poorer health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. This holds true across the international context, though our focus here is on Canada. Health research plays a crucial role in ident...

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Main Authors: Stephanie Welton, Margo Wilson, Barbara Zelek, David Pontin, Grace Perez, Nelly D. Oelke, Aaron Johnston, Jill Konkin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1600660/full
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author Stephanie Welton
Margo Wilson
Barbara Zelek
David Pontin
Grace Perez
Nelly D. Oelke
Nelly D. Oelke
Aaron Johnston
Aaron Johnston
Jill Konkin
author_facet Stephanie Welton
Margo Wilson
Barbara Zelek
David Pontin
Grace Perez
Nelly D. Oelke
Nelly D. Oelke
Aaron Johnston
Aaron Johnston
Jill Konkin
author_sort Stephanie Welton
collection DOAJ
description People in rural communities often experience different access to healthcare and services, which can lead to poorer health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. This holds true across the international context, though our focus here is on Canada. Health research plays a crucial role in identifying challenges and solutions, and we argue that research conducted in rural communities by rural researchers is essential to addressing the unique needs of a rural population. However, several barriers hinder rural research in Canada, including inadequate infrastructure, uneven resource distribution, and the absence of a national rural research network. Prioritizing rural research is vital, as it can improve workforce recruitment and retention while guiding informed healthcare decisions and policies.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-1814a5f4e80747158c7fad4e56389cd92025-08-26T05:28:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16006601600660Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in CanadaStephanie Welton0Margo Wilson1Barbara Zelek2David Pontin3Grace Perez4Nelly D. Oelke5Nelly D. Oelke6Aaron Johnston7Aaron Johnston8Jill Konkin9Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine (South West Nova Site), Dalhousie University, Yarmouth, NS, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, CanadaSection of Family Medicine, Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity, Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, Thunder Bay, ON, CanadaFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Family Medicine (Yellowknife Site), University of Alberta, Yellowknife, NT, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC, CanadaRural Coordination Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaPeople in rural communities often experience different access to healthcare and services, which can lead to poorer health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. This holds true across the international context, though our focus here is on Canada. Health research plays a crucial role in identifying challenges and solutions, and we argue that research conducted in rural communities by rural researchers is essential to addressing the unique needs of a rural population. However, several barriers hinder rural research in Canada, including inadequate infrastructure, uneven resource distribution, and the absence of a national rural research network. Prioritizing rural research is vital, as it can improve workforce recruitment and retention while guiding informed healthcare decisions and policies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1600660/fullresearch capacity buildingrural health researchprimary care researchrural medical educationdistributed medical education
spellingShingle Stephanie Welton
Margo Wilson
Barbara Zelek
David Pontin
Grace Perez
Nelly D. Oelke
Nelly D. Oelke
Aaron Johnston
Aaron Johnston
Jill Konkin
Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada
Frontiers in Medicine
research capacity building
rural health research
primary care research
rural medical education
distributed medical education
title Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada
title_full Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada
title_fullStr Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada
title_full_unstemmed Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada
title_short Research in place: the critical role of rural health research in Canada
title_sort research in place the critical role of rural health research in canada
topic research capacity building
rural health research
primary care research
rural medical education
distributed medical education
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1600660/full
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