Research and Training
Reaching Challenging Goals Requires First Knowing Where We Are
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Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) KHIP is an annual telephone survey that asks Kentucky adults their opinions on a variety of health topics. Among the 2017 KHIP report highlights:
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The highest level of support for a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law in Kentucky since the poll began asking this question was reported. More than 7 in 10 Kentucky adults (71%) favored such a law.
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Most Kentuckians were not concerned about losing their health insurance, although health insurance was still uncertain for two in 10 Kentucky adults.
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Younger and lower-income adults were more likely to try e-cigarettes.
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Heroin use increased in Kentucky, and all parts of the state were being affected.
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Two in 10 adults reported that someone in their household cited cost as a barrier to medical care, about the same as in the prior two years.
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Nearly 6 in 10 adults who were very or somewhat familiar with needle exchange programs in Kentucky favored such programs (59%).
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Of Kentucky homes with children, 12 percent kept guns loaded and unlocked.
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The most important health care issue for Kentucky’s children was obesity.​
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​KHIP is co-created and funded in partnership with the Cincinnati-based foundation, Interact for Health. KHIP 2017 issue briefs are available here; the full datasets are available on the OASIS website here. For additional information about KHIP or to suggest a subject for future poll questions, please email our Community Health Research Officer, Rachelle Seger at rseger@healthy-ky.org.​
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The final report from a Study of the Affordable Care Act in Kentucky, prepared by State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC), commissioned by the Foundation, found that:
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The rate of Kentuckians who are uninsured dropped by more than half, and there were coverage gains across all ages and most racial and ethnic groups.
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Fewer elderly Kentuckians delayed refills or skipped or reduced doses because of high drug costs.
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Substance abuse treatments covered by Medicaid increased more than 500 percent.
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Monthly premiums for insurance plans purchased from the marketplaces set up under the ACA were lower than the average U.S. premiums and those of most surrounding states.
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Nearly 95 percent of Kentuckians on Medicaid or other health insurance could find a doctor when they needed one.​
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Other reports from the study found that emergency room use had not changed substantially in the first three years following implementation of the ACA in Kentucky, but, as expected, the percentage of ER visits covered by Medicaid jumped 16.7 percent from 2012 to 2016. Also, Kentucky hospitals provided 76.9 percent less charity care and care to uninsured Kentuckians in 2015 than they did in 2012.​
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Health Disparities in Appalachia, a report issued by the Foundation along with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, documented the dramatically poorer health of those living in Appalachia compared to the rest of the nation. Moreover, the people living in Appalachian Kentucky face the greatest health challenges of all. For example:
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Appalachian Kentucky’s heart disease mortality rate is 45 percent higher than the national rate and 32 percent higher than the rate in non-Appalachian Kentucky.
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Similarly, the cancer mortality rate is 35 percent higher than the national rate and 18 percent higher than the rest of Kentucky.
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The diabetes rate is 13.3 percent in Appalachian Kentucky, compared to a 9.8 percent national rate and 11.2 percent in the rest of Kentucky.​
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On the positive side, the study found that the HIV rate in Appalachian Kentucky is 82 percent lower than the national rate, and 69 percent lower than the rate in the rest of Kentucky.​
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Begun in 2011, this capacity-building series serving the Commonwealth’s health advocacy groups, coalitions, and non-profits has reached all 120 counties. The series of free webinars and in-person workshops is designed to build the skills and expertise of communities and organizations working to improve health in our state. We bring Kentucky-based
​and national experts to share their work, answer questions, and provide resource links for additional learnings.
​In 2017, the Foundation offered 12 training events focused on topics including grant writing, food systems, built environment, working with the media, implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Kentucky, and coalition building. Here are some of the comments from 2017's Health for a Change Participants:
“I … think it was very well pitched to encourage people who are not data experts to have a go - it was made relevant to real world issues.” ~ Finding & Understanding Health Data on Kentucky’s Youth webinar participant
“Excellent info! Finding out the Real-Time database is happening, and on track to implement in just a few months. I thought it was much farther away than that. This is GREAT news.”
~ Kentucky Programs & Data on Drug Overdose: KIPRC & KASPER webinar participant
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“From start to ending, the workshop [was] smooth, easy learning, fun, interactive and personable. This is one of the best workshops I have ever attended.”
~ Building Effective Coalitions workshop participant
​More than 500 health advocates from across Kentucky participated in 2017 events. The Foundation records and/or preserves presentations from many of the events so that those who could not attend can still benefit from the trainings. The current schedule and archives of past events are found here.
