Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Evaluation methods and resources
Feasibility Study of a Screening Decision Tool for Allocating Adults into Food Is Medicine Programs as an Effective Approach to Target Clinical and Dietary Outcomes among Rural and Urban Adults
Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the feasibility of utilizing a food insecurity screening tool to identify hypertension patients in a Kentucky hospital system needing medically tailored meals (MTM) or grocery prescription (Rx). Provides rural versus urban program comparisons, with data on clinical results as well as qualitative feedback from participants. Discusses the screening tool's effectiveness in identifying nutrition needs in both rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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Use of Return on Investment Analysis on Community Health Worker Programs
Describes ways in which a return on investment analysis helps evaluate the economic impact of community health worker programs. Includes brief descriptions of notable examples.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: MHP Salud
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Describes ways in which a return on investment analysis helps evaluate the economic impact of community health worker programs. Includes brief descriptions of notable examples.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: MHP Salud
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Measuring State Flex Program Impact: Tools to Support Outcome Measurement and Evaluation
Toolkit designed to help State Flex Programs (SFPs) with manage and document project performance and comply with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's expectations regarding outcome measurement and reporting. Provides blank worksheets for SFPs as they work through the steps for their projects, as well as links to outcome measurement resources.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Author(s): John Gale, Bridget Harr
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Toolkit designed to help State Flex Programs (SFPs) with manage and document project performance and comply with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's expectations regarding outcome measurement and reporting. Provides blank worksheets for SFPs as they work through the steps for their projects, as well as links to outcome measurement resources.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Author(s): John Gale, Bridget Harr
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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The Family Engagement Toolkit: Guidance for Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs on Improving Outreach, Recruitment, and Retention
Presents The Family Engagement Toolkit, a set of resources focused on improving engagement with early childhood home visiting programs. Provides tools for program evaluation, goal setting, and prioritizing community and family needs. Includes suggestions specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Rebecca Kleinman, Annie Buonaspina, Emily Rosen, et al.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Presents The Family Engagement Toolkit, a set of resources focused on improving engagement with early childhood home visiting programs. Provides tools for program evaluation, goal setting, and prioritizing community and family needs. Includes suggestions specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Rebecca Kleinman, Annie Buonaspina, Emily Rosen, et al.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Using Implementation Strategies to Promote the Maintenance Of Kids SIPsmartER In Rural Appalachian Middle Schools: A Process Evaluation
Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J. Porter, Annie L. Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J. Porter, Annie L. Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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Developing an Implementation Fidelity Measure for a Family Healthy Weight Program
Examines strategies to conduct a direct observation method to measure implementation fidelity in a micropolitan/rural community-based family healthy weight program (FHWP). Discusses the process of hiring and training community members as direct observers, utility and quality of this methodology, and potential usefulness of developing an implementation fidelity measure for assessing future programs in rural or geographically dispersed areas.
Author(s): Caitlin A. Golden, Paul A. Estabrooks, Kate A. Heelan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22, 53
Date: 05/2025
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Examines strategies to conduct a direct observation method to measure implementation fidelity in a micropolitan/rural community-based family healthy weight program (FHWP). Discusses the process of hiring and training community members as direct observers, utility and quality of this methodology, and potential usefulness of developing an implementation fidelity measure for assessing future programs in rural or geographically dispersed areas.
Author(s): Caitlin A. Golden, Paul A. Estabrooks, Kate A. Heelan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22, 53
Date: 05/2025
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From Cost to Community Impact: Telehealth's Social ROI in Rural Communities
Webinar recording discussing telehealth's impact on rural communities via the concept of social return on investment (SROI), which measures social, environmental, and economic value created by investments and other actions. Defines SROI as a concept and describes methods for SROI assessment. Transcript available below the video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Yael Harris, Jason C. Goldwater
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
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Webinar recording discussing telehealth's impact on rural communities via the concept of social return on investment (SROI), which measures social, environmental, and economic value created by investments and other actions. Defines SROI as a concept and describes methods for SROI assessment. Transcript available below the video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Yael Harris, Jason C. Goldwater
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
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Enhancing Access to Nephrology Care: Telenephrology Dashboard Optimization via Human-Centered Design
Examines how the development of the Telenephrology Dashboard for veterans served by the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) provides improved access to nephrology care and kidney specialists. Describes the methodology used to create and evaluate the dashboard as well as how telehealth tools can serve veterans in predominately rural areas.
Author(s): Melissa Swee, Bharat Kumar, M. Lee Sanders, et al.
Citation: BMC Nephrology, 26, 164
Date: 03/2025
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Examines how the development of the Telenephrology Dashboard for veterans served by the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) provides improved access to nephrology care and kidney specialists. Describes the methodology used to create and evaluate the dashboard as well as how telehealth tools can serve veterans in predominately rural areas.
Author(s): Melissa Swee, Bharat Kumar, M. Lee Sanders, et al.
Citation: BMC Nephrology, 26, 164
Date: 03/2025
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Measuring Meaningful Outcomes for Adult Hearing Health Interventions: Consensus Study Report
Presents a set of core outcomes and measurements for the evaluation of interventions to address hearing difficulties in adults. See pages 42 and 47-48 for discussion of conditions influencing the prevalence of hearing difficulties in rural areas, rural access to care, and telehealth as a means of providing services in rural areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Presents a set of core outcomes and measurements for the evaluation of interventions to address hearing difficulties in adults. See pages 42 and 47-48 for discussion of conditions influencing the prevalence of hearing difficulties in rural areas, rural access to care, and telehealth as a means of providing services in rural areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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The Development of the Agricultural Producer Barriers to Care Scale (APBCS)
Examines the reliability of the the Agricultural Producer Barriers to Care Scale (APBCS) as an instrument that tests for healthcare access barriers in rural U.S. farmers. Analyzes online survey data from 1,045 respondents across APBCS factors such as formal healthcare challenges, cultural barriers to seeking help, issues with stigma, and evidence of resilience. Discusses potential improvements to the APBCS tool.
Author(s): Noah Hopkins, Chase Reece, Nathan Hansen, Christina Proctor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12898
Date: 12/2024
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Examines the reliability of the the Agricultural Producer Barriers to Care Scale (APBCS) as an instrument that tests for healthcare access barriers in rural U.S. farmers. Analyzes online survey data from 1,045 respondents across APBCS factors such as formal healthcare challenges, cultural barriers to seeking help, issues with stigma, and evidence of resilience. Discusses potential improvements to the APBCS tool.
Author(s): Noah Hopkins, Chase Reece, Nathan Hansen, Christina Proctor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12898
Date: 12/2024
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