Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
Trends in Mental Health Care Utilization in Rural and Nonrural Areas, 2019-2023
Examines changes in mental healthcare utilization between 2019 and 2023. Utilizes National Health Interview Survey data to compare rural and nonrural trends related to mental health utilization, therapy, and medication. Discusses the impact of telehealth options and the COVID-19 pandemic on mental healthcare availability.
Author(s): Bryce J. Stanley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70074
Date: 08/2025
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Examines changes in mental healthcare utilization between 2019 and 2023. Utilizes National Health Interview Survey data to compare rural and nonrural trends related to mental health utilization, therapy, and medication. Discusses the impact of telehealth options and the COVID-19 pandemic on mental healthcare availability.
Author(s): Bryce J. Stanley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70074
Date: 08/2025
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Analysis of Factors Driving HPV Vaccination Coverage and Associated Cost Savings in the United States
Analyzes a variety of healthcare policy, healthcare access, demographic, and geographic factors to identify those factors impacting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage. Discusses policy changes to improve uptake and potential cost savings for reduced cancer rates.
Author(s): Shanshan Wang, Sanjana Muthukrishnan, Sabiha Quddus, Susan H. Manning, Heather M. Brandt
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2833
Date: 08/2025
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Analyzes a variety of healthcare policy, healthcare access, demographic, and geographic factors to identify those factors impacting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage. Discusses policy changes to improve uptake and potential cost savings for reduced cancer rates.
Author(s): Shanshan Wang, Sanjana Muthukrishnan, Sabiha Quddus, Susan H. Manning, Heather M. Brandt
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2833
Date: 08/2025
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The National Dementia Workforce Study: Methods for Surveying Community Clinicians Who Provide Care to People With Dementia
Discusses the design and significance of the National Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS) Community Clinician Survey, which surveys community-based providers of clinical care for people with dementia. Highlights survey methodology related to provider demographics, processes of care, geographic distribution, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. White, James Wagner, Kate Stewart, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Date: 08/2025
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Discusses the design and significance of the National Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS) Community Clinician Survey, which surveys community-based providers of clinical care for people with dementia. Highlights survey methodology related to provider demographics, processes of care, geographic distribution, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. White, James Wagner, Kate Stewart, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Date: 08/2025
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Improving Access to Specialty Care for Rural Children Using Enhanced Hearing Screening and Specialty Telehealth Follow-Up in Rural Kentucky Schools: Protocol for a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Stepped Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Appalachian STAR Trial)
A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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Drug Overdose Deaths in Kentucky, 2019–2024: Are We Back to Pre-COVID-19 Levels?
Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Combined Prevalence of Chronic Conditions or Obesity for Adults in 2022
Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Community Navigation Intervention for Social Needs in Patients With Abnormal Mammography: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol
Presents a study exploring the efficacy of community navigators, such as 211, to help alleviate unmet social needs and change the likelihood of cancer patients with unmet social needs to complete their follow-up care. Discusses the importance of follow-up care in the treatment and prevention of cancer and the barriers individuals with unmet social needs face to receive it. Explores rurality as a potential barrier.
Author(s): Kirstin Beck, Mackenzie Mitchell, Andrea S. Wallace, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2926
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study exploring the efficacy of community navigators, such as 211, to help alleviate unmet social needs and change the likelihood of cancer patients with unmet social needs to complete their follow-up care. Discusses the importance of follow-up care in the treatment and prevention of cancer and the barriers individuals with unmet social needs face to receive it. Explores rurality as a potential barrier.
Author(s): Kirstin Beck, Mackenzie Mitchell, Andrea S. Wallace, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2926
Date: 08/2025
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Evaluating the Impact of Altitudinal Variations on COVID-19 Mortality Rates: A Comprehensive Analysis
Examines the effects of high altitude on county-level COVID-19 mortality, fatality rates, and vaccination outcomes, utilizing January 2020-August 2022 New York Times COVID-19 repository and American Community Survey data. Includes data on fatality by level of rurality in the pre- and post-vaccination periods.
Author(s): Emre Karsli, Damla Anbarli Metin, Arda Kocatas, et al.
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 413
Date: 08/2025
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Examines the effects of high altitude on county-level COVID-19 mortality, fatality rates, and vaccination outcomes, utilizing January 2020-August 2022 New York Times COVID-19 repository and American Community Survey data. Includes data on fatality by level of rurality in the pre- and post-vaccination periods.
Author(s): Emre Karsli, Damla Anbarli Metin, Arda Kocatas, et al.
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 413
Date: 08/2025
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The Power of Prevention: "HPV Doesn't Wait – Why Should You?"
Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Hospital Health Information Exchange Participation and Heart Failure Discharges to Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Cohort Study
Examines the correlation of health information exchange (HIE) participation and admission to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) following a heart failure (HF) hospital discharge. Utilizes 2018 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPar) file data to analyze 385,895 HF discharges according to SNF admission and HIE participation. Includes breakdowns by patient demographics, urban/rural status, hospital ownership, hospital type and bed size, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Camille P. Vaughan, Mohammed K. Ali, Steven D. Culler
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1079
Date: 08/2025
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Examines the correlation of health information exchange (HIE) participation and admission to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) following a heart failure (HF) hospital discharge. Utilizes 2018 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPar) file data to analyze 385,895 HF discharges according to SNF admission and HIE participation. Includes breakdowns by patient demographics, urban/rural status, hospital ownership, hospital type and bed size, length of stay, and more.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Camille P. Vaughan, Mohammed K. Ali, Steven D. Culler
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1079
Date: 08/2025
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