To read this content please select one of the options below:

Rural health enterprises in the EU context: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Nikolaos Apostolopoulos (Department of Economics and Business, Neapolis University Paphos, Paphos, Cyprus)
Vanessa Ratten (Department of Management, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia)
Stavros Stavroyiannis (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of the Peloponnese, Kalamata, Greece)
Ilias Makris (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of the Peloponnese, Kalamata, Greece)
Sotiris Apostolopoulos (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of the Peloponnese, Kalamata, Greece)
Panagiotis Liargovas (Department of Economics, University of the Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 14 June 2020

Issue publication date: 14 June 2020

327

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 crisis has brought to the forefront the importance of rural health enterprises (RHEs), the peculiarity, in these terms, of rural areas, and the impact of rurality on health entrepreneurial activities. This paper aims to undertake a literature review regarding RHEs in the EU, identify research gaps and set future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted and the key aspects coded across four thematic areas – after examining 68 papers.

Findings

The findings reveal that more intense research should be conducted across four area which emerged; rural health providers vs urban health providers; RHEs and rural development; RHEs and quality of life; and social RHEs.

Research limitations/implications

Future research avenues were identified and suggestions for further research on RHEs were provided.

Practical implications

The paper provides insights into how rural areas can attract health enterprises and how health enterprises can operate in rural areas.

Originality/value

This research expands on the limited existing knowledge of RHEs and sets the foundations for further research.

Keywords

Citation

Apostolopoulos, N., Ratten, V., Stavroyiannis, S., Makris, I., Apostolopoulos, S. and Liargovas, P. (2020), "Rural health enterprises in the EU context: a systematic literature review and research agenda", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 563-582. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-04-2020-0070

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles