Understanding drivers of rural and remote health outcomes: a conceptual framework in action.

Objective: To demonstrate the usefulness of a conceptual framework to increase the understanding of rural and remote health by applying it to specific rural and remote health scenarios.

Design: A conceptual framework was applied to two case studies illustrative of key issues in rural health to reflect different contexts, issues and responses.

Results: Application of the framework to both case studies highlighted that changes in rural and remote health are diverse. While power was a key element of the framework, the interaction of all framework components underpinned changes.

Conclusion: The framework facilitated understanding of change in these rural scenarios and demonstrated that improvement in rural health requires change at both the local and structural levels.