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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer

Use of Cancer Screening Tests, United States, 2023
Examines use of screening tests for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Utilizes 2023 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze percentage of adults who are up-to-date with screening recommendations according to age, sociodemographics, healthcare usage, and large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Susan A. Sabatino, Trevor D. Thompson, Jennifer M. Croswell, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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Baseline Estimates of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Adults Aged 45 to 75 Years, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022
Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for adults aged 45 to 75. Utilizes 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data to analyze CRC screening status according to respondent demographics, income, access to healthcare and health plans, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Sallyann Coleman King, Jessica King, Cheryll C. Thomas, Lisa C. Richardson
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake in Rural Settings: A Scoping Review
Scoping review examining 36 studies on interventions to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake in rural communities. Highlights approaches and strategies of effective interventions and discusses the need for continued research on tailored interventions for underserved communities.
Author(s): Christine M. Kava, PhD, Judith Lee Smith, Emily K. Kobernik, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 250025
Date: 06/2025
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Rural Health Disparities: Contemporary Solutions for Persistent Rural Public Health Challenges
Special issue of Preventing Chronic Disease featuring articles that examine rural health disparities and discuss rural public health strategies to address cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, and to promote physical activity.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease
Date: 06/2025
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"We Don't Get That Information Right Back to Us Unless It's a Full-Blown Cancer": Challenges Coordinating Lung Cancer Screening Across Healthcare Systems
Discusses how lung cancer screening (LCS) is coordinated across veteran affairs (VA) and non-VA healthcare systems. Analyzes 6 VA medical centers with LCS programs and provides feedback from semi-structured interviews with related LCS program and healthcare professionals. Discusses challenges with LCS coordination across the care continuum, with commentary specific to rural veterans.
Author(s): Rendelle E. Bolton, Eduardo R. Núñez, Jacqueline Boudreau, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(1)
Date: 02/2025
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Financial Stress Associated with Oncology Clinical Trial Participation
Examines accessibility issues and financial stress of 112 patients participating in an oncology clinical trial between 2018 and 2024. Includes demographic information, cancer type, miles traveled, and financial burden of participants, as well as commentary on access issues for those in rural areas.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe, Trinidad Beleche
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Cancer-Related Health Behaviors During the COVID 19 Pandemic in Geographically Diverse Samples Across the US
Examines cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic via a June 2020-March 2021 survey of 21,911 people conducted through eight cancer centers. Includes demographic data, including rural-urban comparisons, on changes in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
Author(s): Breanna B. Greteman, Allison Cole, Mary E. Charlton, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 25, 50
Date: 01/2025
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What Cancers Explain the Growing Rural-Urban Gap in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Incidence?
Presents a study comparing rates of Human-Papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers in rural and urban populations. Breaks down data by sex and rurality and tracks rates in 5 year increments from 2000 to 2019.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Whitney Zahnd, Heather M. Brandt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12915
Date: 01/2025
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Social Risks and Nonadherence to Recommended Cancer Screening Among US Adults
Examines social risks associated with nonadherence to US Preventive Services Task Force cancer screening guidelines, utilizing 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. See Table 2 for demographic data breakdowns on prevalence and risk ratios of screening nonadherence by type of test, including rural-urban dwelling.
Author(s): Ami E. Sedani, Scarlett L. Gomez, Wayne R. Lawrence, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2449556
Date: 01/2025
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Proximity to Cancer Rehabilitation and Exercise Oncology by Geography, Race, and Socioeconomic Status
Examines the proximity to cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology (CR/EO) programs and the health impacts of access. Utilizes 2020 American Community Survey (ACS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data to analyze 2,133 CR/EO programs, with breakdowns according to CR/EO distance, density, rural versus urban location, race/ethnicity, social deprivation index, U.S. region, and cancer incidence and mortality. Includes U.S. maps showing location of CR/EO programs and areas with or without proximity to programs.
Author(s): Kathryn H. Schmitz, Kathryn Demanelis, Mary E. Crisafio, et al.
Citation: Cancer: An International Interdisciplinary Journal of the American Cancer Society, 131(1)
Date: 01/2025
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