Research translation: Making a difference in rural health

Researchers seem to have an extraordinary belief in the power of research evidence to make a difference to the health of those who live in rural communities. At the same time, research centres find it difficult to recruit experienced researchers to live and work in rural communities despite the undoubted attractions of non-metropolitan living. Rural researchers and clinicians, driven by the motivation to address health risks, relieve distress, improve health services and close gaps in morbidity and mortality often focus on the description of deficits, the effectiveness of local services or the assumption that most problems can be addressed by incremental improvements in rural workforce.