Perceived health status, preventive health behaviors, formal education, and potential barriers to health care in a rural population

The purpose of this study was to examine preventive health behaviors, perceived health status, level of formal education, and potential barriers to health care in a rural northern midwestern state using Leininger's Cultural Care Theory. A short questionnaire was designed to identify factors that may influence health for rural residents. The sample consisted of 159 adults. The questionnaires were hand delivered to 299 randomly selected homes. Analysis was performed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics. The results supported an association between fewer preventive health behaviors and more potential barriers to health care (chi2 = 36.72, p < .001). A higher level of formal education was associated with higher perceived health status (chi2 = 13.99, p < .001). Potential barriers to health care were not found to be associated with lower perceived health status.