Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
view details
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
view details
Transitions from First Drug Use to Illicit Opioid and Injection Drug Use in a Multisite Rural U.S. Cohort of People Who Use Drugs
Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
view details
Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
view details
Effect of Health Literacy on use of a Virtual Coach to Promote Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
view details
Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
view details
Reporting of Rurality, Deprivation, and Socioeconomic Characteristics in Cancer Clinical Trials A Systematic Review
Examines the frequency in which geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics are reported in oncology clinical trial publications. Analyzes 441 randomized clinical trial primary reports for reporting of core demographic characteristics, education, insurance status, deprivation index, income, and rurality. Discusses the importance of cancer research that features sociodemographic and geographic breakdowns of data.
Author(s): Joseph M. Unger
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6), e2619836
Date: 06/2026
view details
Examines the frequency in which geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics are reported in oncology clinical trial publications. Analyzes 441 randomized clinical trial primary reports for reporting of core demographic characteristics, education, insurance status, deprivation index, income, and rurality. Discusses the importance of cancer research that features sociodemographic and geographic breakdowns of data.
Author(s): Joseph M. Unger
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6), e2619836
Date: 06/2026
view details
Rural-Urban Disparities in Access to Interventional Psychiatry Treatments among VA Patients
Analyzes how access varies to interventional psychiatry treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and medication-assisted psychotherapy, among rural and urban veterans. Uses 2017-2023 VA electronic health record data of veterans with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses.
Author(s): Brian Shiner, Vincent DuFort, Tayla Peltzman, Bradley V. Watts
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health, 50(2), 75-85
Date: 06/2026
view details
Analyzes how access varies to interventional psychiatry treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and medication-assisted psychotherapy, among rural and urban veterans. Uses 2017-2023 VA electronic health record data of veterans with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses.
Author(s): Brian Shiner, Vincent DuFort, Tayla Peltzman, Bradley V. Watts
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health, 50(2), 75-85
Date: 06/2026
view details
Reasons for Uninsurance among Rural Working-Age U.S. Adults with Histories of Cancer
Analyzes reasons for uninsurance among uninsured, rural-dwelling people with and without a history of cancer, using 2020-2024 National Health Interview Survey data of 1,930 adults aged 18-64. Compares reasons related to cost, eligibility, ability to meet patient needs, and other factors by cancer history and sociodemographic group.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Wade Swenson, Emily McGovern
Citation: Discover Public Health, 23, 997
Date: 06/2026
view details
Analyzes reasons for uninsurance among uninsured, rural-dwelling people with and without a history of cancer, using 2020-2024 National Health Interview Survey data of 1,930 adults aged 18-64. Compares reasons related to cost, eligibility, ability to meet patient needs, and other factors by cancer history and sociodemographic group.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Wade Swenson, Emily McGovern
Citation: Discover Public Health, 23, 997
Date: 06/2026
view details
Bridging the Rural Mental Health Gap: Telehealth Delivery of Specialized CBT and MBCT for Veterans With Parkinson's Disease
Examines the Veteran Affairs (VA) New Jersey Parkinson's Disease (PD) Telepsychotherapy Hub (PD Telepsych Hub) that provides virtual mental health treatments to rural veterans. Analyzes treatment results of 522 veterans with PD over 5 years of receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-PD) or group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-PD). Provides data on sample demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and post-treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with therapy.
Author(s): John R. Purcell, Rokas Perskaudas, Rachael B. Miller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70175
Date: 06/2026
view details
Examines the Veteran Affairs (VA) New Jersey Parkinson's Disease (PD) Telepsychotherapy Hub (PD Telepsych Hub) that provides virtual mental health treatments to rural veterans. Analyzes treatment results of 522 veterans with PD over 5 years of receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-PD) or group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-PD). Provides data on sample demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and post-treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with therapy.
Author(s): John R. Purcell, Rokas Perskaudas, Rachael B. Miller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70175
Date: 06/2026
view details
Notes from the Field: Initial Public Health Response to a Measles Outbreak in a Close-Knit West Texas Community — January−February 2025
Discusses the public health response to a measles outbreak which took place in Texas's rural Gaines county and other nearby counties from January to August 2025. Covers topics including vaccine coverage, school-based public health responses, patient demographics and vaccination status, and multilingual communication and culturally-tailored materials.
Author(s): Carolyn A. Crisp, Scott Milton, Chelsea S. Lutz, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(23), 300-302
Date: 06/2026
view details
Discusses the public health response to a measles outbreak which took place in Texas's rural Gaines county and other nearby counties from January to August 2025. Covers topics including vaccine coverage, school-based public health responses, patient demographics and vaccination status, and multilingual communication and culturally-tailored materials.
Author(s): Carolyn A. Crisp, Scott Milton, Chelsea S. Lutz, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(23), 300-302
Date: 06/2026
view details
Rural–Urban Differences in Use of Mental Health Care for Serious Mental Illness at the Veterans Health Administration: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Examines how use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health care varies among rural and urban veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), using FY 2018-2022 VHA administrative data. Includes data on rural and urban SMI prevalence, services used, and other demographic and clinical factors influencing service use.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Amber B. Amspoker, Ashley Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70173
Date: 06/2026
view details
Examines how use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health care varies among rural and urban veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), using FY 2018-2022 VHA administrative data. Includes data on rural and urban SMI prevalence, services used, and other demographic and clinical factors influencing service use.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Amber B. Amspoker, Ashley Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70173
Date: 06/2026
view details
Auricular Point Acupressure Self-Management (APA-SM) Program for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain among Rural Populations: A Protocol for a Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial
Study protocol to examine the effectiveness of the Auricular Point Acupressure – Self-Management (APA-SM) program in addressing chronic musculoskeletal pain among rural-dwelling people in Texas and South Carolina.
Author(s): Jennifer Kawi, Jane Bolin, Hulin Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16, e117632
Date: 06/2026
view details
Study protocol to examine the effectiveness of the Auricular Point Acupressure – Self-Management (APA-SM) program in addressing chronic musculoskeletal pain among rural-dwelling people in Texas and South Carolina.
Author(s): Jennifer Kawi, Jane Bolin, Hulin Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16, e117632
Date: 06/2026
view details