Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
Comparing the Care and Distance Traveled by Rural and Urban Children and Adolescents with Medicaid Insurance and Opioid Use Disorder
Presents a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and enrolled in Medicaid in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Presents a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and enrolled in Medicaid in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Exploring Systemic Challenges in the Western North Carolina Dental Safety Net: A Qualitative Analysis
Describes experiences of individuals working within the western North Carolina dental safety net, to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen delivery of oral health care in high-need rural areas. Based on interviews with 17 oral health stakeholders between June-August 2024.
Author(s): Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 42-59.
Date: 04/2026
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Describes experiences of individuals working within the western North Carolina dental safety net, to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen delivery of oral health care in high-need rural areas. Based on interviews with 17 oral health stakeholders between June-August 2024.
Author(s): Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 42-59.
Date: 04/2026
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National Trends in the Potentially Preventable Hospitalization for Pediatric Asthma, 2016-2020
Describes the trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations for asthma among children 2 to 17 years old between 2016 and 2020. Presents data on the rate of potentially preventable hospitalizations for pediatric asthma by hospital characteristics and patient demographics, including the rural classification of hospitals and patient residence.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Gogoal Falia, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations for asthma among children 2 to 17 years old between 2016 and 2020. Presents data on the rate of potentially preventable hospitalizations for pediatric asthma by hospital characteristics and patient demographics, including the rural classification of hospitals and patient residence.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Gogoal Falia, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Residence and Mental Health among US Veterans: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study
Details a study on the effect rurality, social vulnerability, drive time from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and VHA utilization have on the mental health of rural veterans. Breaks down data by participants' age, education, and military service, among other measures.
Author(s): Claire A. Kolaja, Javier Villalobos, Julia Seay, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(4), e0346780
Date: 04/2026
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Details a study on the effect rurality, social vulnerability, drive time from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and VHA utilization have on the mental health of rural veterans. Breaks down data by participants' age, education, and military service, among other measures.
Author(s): Claire A. Kolaja, Javier Villalobos, Julia Seay, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(4), e0346780
Date: 04/2026
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Impact of Food Literacy Education on Rural, Uninsured Patients With Diabetes
Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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Residence in a Rural Setting is Associated with Lower Five-Year Survival Rates in Patients that Undergo Spine Surgery for Breast Cancer Metastatic to the Spine: A Propensity Matched Analysis
Compares rural and urban mortality among breast cancer patients who underwent spine surgery, using 2006-2015 SEER data of 865 female patients.
Author(s): Austin Q. Nguyen, Brian M. Phelps, Sree M. Vemu, et al.
Citation: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)
Date: 04/2026
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Compares rural and urban mortality among breast cancer patients who underwent spine surgery, using 2006-2015 SEER data of 865 female patients.
Author(s): Austin Q. Nguyen, Brian M. Phelps, Sree M. Vemu, et al.
Citation: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)
Date: 04/2026
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Geographic and Sociodemographic Patterns in Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes, US, 2021–2024
Analyzes the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in rural and urban populations using 2021-2024 NHIS data. Includes rural-urban data comparisons by sociodemographic group, including sex, age, body mass index, race and ethnicity, income level, food security status, and more.
Author(s): Nicholas Yell, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie L. Odahowski, Elizabeth Crouch, Gabriel A. Benavidez
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 04/2026
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Analyzes the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in rural and urban populations using 2021-2024 NHIS data. Includes rural-urban data comparisons by sociodemographic group, including sex, age, body mass index, race and ethnicity, income level, food security status, and more.
Author(s): Nicholas Yell, Michelle Asiedu-Danso, Cassie L. Odahowski, Elizabeth Crouch, Gabriel A. Benavidez
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 04/2026
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Rural-Urban Trends in Pediatric Emergency Department Visits for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions from 2016-2019
Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Impact of Age and Rurality on Colorectal Cancer Outcomes in the United States
Examines how colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality differ based on age and rurality, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data. Includes rural versus nonrural data comparisons by age bracket.
Author(s): Caitlyn Grunert, Meng-Han Tsai, Charles R. Rogers, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 61
Date: 03/2026
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Examines how colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality differ based on age and rurality, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data. Includes rural versus nonrural data comparisons by age bracket.
Author(s): Caitlyn Grunert, Meng-Han Tsai, Charles R. Rogers, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 61
Date: 03/2026
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Rural Specialty Care for Veterans with the Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions: Fibromyalgia, Migraine, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
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