Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
People Living with Dementia in Rural Areas Are Most Likely to Report Unmet Service Needs in Home- and Community-based Services in the United States
Examines the relationship among home and community-based services (HCBS), dementia status, and rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2016-2019 National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability survey data to analyze 14,645 residents according to dementia status, sociodemographics, residential status and assistive care needs, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural location. Discusses how location impacts access to HCBS for people living with dementia.
Author(s): Romil R. Parikh, Eric Jutkowitz, Jack M. Wolf, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70230
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the relationship among home and community-based services (HCBS), dementia status, and rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2016-2019 National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability survey data to analyze 14,645 residents according to dementia status, sociodemographics, residential status and assistive care needs, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural location. Discusses how location impacts access to HCBS for people living with dementia.
Author(s): Romil R. Parikh, Eric Jutkowitz, Jack M. Wolf, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70230
Date: 10/2026
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Physical Activity and Perceptions of the Community Walking Environment Among Cancer Survivors, National Health Interview Survey, 2024
Examines how physical activity among cancer survivors differs by clinical and demographic characteristics and by perceptions of the local walking environment, using 2024 National Health Interview Survey data. See Table 2 for data on leisure-time physical activity among cancer survivors by rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Jonathan Bryant-Genevier, Michael Boring, Elizabeth A. Rohan, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23, 260220
Date: 10/2026
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Examines how physical activity among cancer survivors differs by clinical and demographic characteristics and by perceptions of the local walking environment, using 2024 National Health Interview Survey data. See Table 2 for data on leisure-time physical activity among cancer survivors by rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Jonathan Bryant-Genevier, Michael Boring, Elizabeth A. Rohan, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23, 260220
Date: 10/2026
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Defining Mental Disorder: Differences in Primary Care Providers' and Psychiatrists' Conceptions of Illness
Compares how primary care providers (PCPs) and psychiatrists define and treat mental disorders in their patients. Uses interview data from 41 PCPs and 41 psychiatrists regarding their descriptions of patients with mental health concerns, the ease or difficulty of diagnosing and treating patients, referrals and access to mental health services, and more. Includes perspectives from rural PCPs and psychiatrists.
Author(s): Skye A. Miner, Joshua Breslau, Charles Engel, Stacey Yi, Luke J. Matthews
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine
Date: 10/2026
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Compares how primary care providers (PCPs) and psychiatrists define and treat mental disorders in their patients. Uses interview data from 41 PCPs and 41 psychiatrists regarding their descriptions of patients with mental health concerns, the ease or difficulty of diagnosing and treating patients, referrals and access to mental health services, and more. Includes perspectives from rural PCPs and psychiatrists.
Author(s): Skye A. Miner, Joshua Breslau, Charles Engel, Stacey Yi, Luke J. Matthews
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine
Date: 10/2026
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Women's Health in Pennsylvania
Provides information on demographic makeup of Pennsylvania women as of 2025. Includes statistics on number of births in Pennsylvania from 1990-2025 and number of breast cancer diagnoses in 2023, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas. Also features a county-level map with fertility rates from 2021-2025.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Provides information on demographic makeup of Pennsylvania women as of 2025. Includes statistics on number of births in Pennsylvania from 1990-2025 and number of breast cancer diagnoses in 2023, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas. Also features a county-level map with fertility rates from 2021-2025.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Veterans' Views on Alcohol Use and Experience of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Treatment and Subsequent Alcohol Use Disorder Care at Two Highly Rural-Serving VA Hospitals: A Qualitative Study
Presents findings from interviews with veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) about the alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment they received at two rural-serving Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Highlights perceived barriers to care and makes suggestions for improving it.
Author(s): Tony Pomales, Daniel Ball, Jeydith Gutierrez, James C. Willey
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 902-917
Date: 10/2026
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Presents findings from interviews with veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) about the alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment they received at two rural-serving Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Highlights perceived barriers to care and makes suggestions for improving it.
Author(s): Tony Pomales, Daniel Ball, Jeydith Gutierrez, James C. Willey
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 902-917
Date: 10/2026
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Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Arkansas 2025
Provides state, region, and county-level data for Arkansas related to substance abuse by youth. Identifies risk factors associated with drug and alcohol abuse, such as the number of arrests, unemployment, school infractions, tobacco and cannabis retailers, and more, as well as associated public health outcomes such as substance use-related mortality.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training
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Provides state, region, and county-level data for Arkansas related to substance abuse by youth. Identifies risk factors associated with drug and alcohol abuse, such as the number of arrests, unemployment, school infractions, tobacco and cannabis retailers, and more, as well as associated public health outcomes such as substance use-related mortality.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training
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The Childcare and Farm Children's Safety Conundrum
Discusses the family, community and interpersonal, and policy factors impacting farm safety decisions by exploring child care on the farm. Study included 68 farm women in Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin, states chosen based on their rates of child injuries, policy approaches to child care, production types, and rates of female and beginning farmers.
Author(s): Florence Becot, Sarah Ruszkowski
Citation: Rural Sociology, 91(4)
Date: 10/2026
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Discusses the family, community and interpersonal, and policy factors impacting farm safety decisions by exploring child care on the farm. Study included 68 farm women in Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin, states chosen based on their rates of child injuries, policy approaches to child care, production types, and rates of female and beginning farmers.
Author(s): Florence Becot, Sarah Ruszkowski
Citation: Rural Sociology, 91(4)
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluation of Agricultural Heat-Related Illness Prevention Training in Colorado
Evaluates the effectiveness of 13 train-the-trainer (TTT) heat-related illness prevention sessions in Colorado. Study assessed both TTT participants and agricultural workers who were trained by TTT participants. Describes study findings within the 4 levels of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model addressing participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, application, and impact of the training.
Author(s): Yessica Paola Martinez Palenque, Whitney Pennington, Kristin M. Skiendzielewski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluates the effectiveness of 13 train-the-trainer (TTT) heat-related illness prevention sessions in Colorado. Study assessed both TTT participants and agricultural workers who were trained by TTT participants. Describes study findings within the 4 levels of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model addressing participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, application, and impact of the training.
Author(s): Yessica Paola Martinez Palenque, Whitney Pennington, Kristin M. Skiendzielewski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 10/2026
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Geographic Disparities and Temporal Trends in Aggressive Prostate Cancer: A SEER Population-Based Analysis (2004–2022)
Analyzes how the incidence of all prostate cancer and aggressive or metastatic prostate cancer varies by Appalachian or non-Appalachian area, rural or urban dwelling, and race and ethnicity, using 2004-2022 SEER data of 951,965 cases of prostate cancer among men aged 40 years and older.
Author(s): Yifei Xu, Ayush Singh, Eric Li, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 181
Date: 10/2026
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Analyzes how the incidence of all prostate cancer and aggressive or metastatic prostate cancer varies by Appalachian or non-Appalachian area, rural or urban dwelling, and race and ethnicity, using 2004-2022 SEER data of 951,965 cases of prostate cancer among men aged 40 years and older.
Author(s): Yifei Xu, Ayush Singh, Eric Li, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 181
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Cardiovascular Health in Missouri: Needs, Care Gaps, and Resources for a More Connected System
Discusses the importance of cardiovascular risk to rural health in Missouri, and provides suggestions for improving rural cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment, and recovery via state policy, Rural Health Transformation initiatives, and facility-level service delivery improvements.
Author(s): Adnan I. Qureshi, Hatem Tolba, Muhammad Shah Miran, Muhammad Shakir, Camilo R. Gomez
Citation: Missouri Medicine, 123(5), 449-456
Date: 10/2026
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Discusses the importance of cardiovascular risk to rural health in Missouri, and provides suggestions for improving rural cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment, and recovery via state policy, Rural Health Transformation initiatives, and facility-level service delivery improvements.
Author(s): Adnan I. Qureshi, Hatem Tolba, Muhammad Shah Miran, Muhammad Shakir, Camilo R. Gomez
Citation: Missouri Medicine, 123(5), 449-456
Date: 10/2026
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