Open AccessSelf-reported vs RUCA rural-urban classification among North Carolina pharmacists
Author(s) -
Micah E. Castle,
Casey Tak
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1886-3655
pISSN - 1885-642X
DOI - 10.18549/pharmpract.2021.3.2406
Subject(s) - rurality , zip code , pharmacy , workforce , census , rural area , scale (ratio) , family medicine , medicine , pharmacist , geography , nursing , environmental health , population , economic growth , cartography , pathology , economics
Background: The various ways in which rurality is defined can have large-scale implications on the provision of healthcare services.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between self-perceived urban-rural distinction and the United States (US) Census tract-based Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) scheme that defines rurality among pharmacists.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data collected through a web-based survey of licensed pharmacists in North Carolina. Respondents self-reported their workplace settings, zip codes, and the pharmacy services offered in their place of work. Zip codes were replaced with the corresponding RUCA codes. The relationship between self-reported classification and RUCA codes was analyzed and a chi square test was performed to measure statistical significance.
Results: Of the original survey, 584 participants reported their workplace zip code and 579 reported their workplace setting (urban, rural). A significant difference was found between pharmacists who self-reported working in rural areas and the RUCA classifications – 94 (56.6%) of the 166 participants who reported working in “rural” areas were considered “urban” according to RUCA.
Conclusions: A significant discordance between pharmacists’ self-reported classification and the RUCA codes was found, with more respondents self-reporting their workplace area as “rural” as compared to the RUCA classification. Decision-makers examining the pharmacy workforce and pharmacy services should be aware of this discordance and its implications for resource allocation. We recommend the use of standardized metrics, when possible.