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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake in Rural Settings: A Scoping Review
Scoping review examining 36 studies on interventions to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake in rural communities. Highlights approaches and strategies of effective interventions and discusses the need for continued research on tailored interventions for underserved communities.
Author(s): Christine M. Kava, Judith Lee Smith, Emily K. Kobernik, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 250025
Date: 06/2025
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Self-Reported Reasons Preventing US Adults From Walking to Places Within 10 Minutes of Home
Examines environmental, access, and individual reasons given for not walking to places near home, utilizing 2022 SummerStyles survey data of 3,967 adults. Breaks down self-identified reasons for not walking by geographic and demographic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses the value of walkability for physical fitness and community accessibility.
Author(s): Hatidza Zaganjor, Tiffany J. Chen, Miriam E. Van Dyke, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240394
Date: 06/2025
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Rural Health Disparities: Contemporary Solutions for Persistent Rural Public Health Challenges
Special issue of Preventing Chronic Disease featuring articles that examine rural health disparities and discuss rural public health strategies to address cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, and to promote physical activity.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease
Date: 06/2025
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Natural Disasters and Resiliency in Central Appalachia
Discusses issues such as natural disasters, flooding, resource extraction, infrastructure, housing stock, and more in central and rural Appalachia. Focuses on investment and strategies to improve resilience.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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An Exploratory Study to Understand How Rurality Status and Demographic Characteristics Are Associated With Enrollment, Engagement, and Retention in a Digital Health Intervention Targeting the Appalachian Region
Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Evolution of the US Nonmetropolitan Mortality Disadvantage by Sex, State, and Year, 1999–2019
Highlights rural and urban disparities in mortality by sex and state from 1999 to 2019. Breaks down data by year, sex, and Census division, among other measures.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Irma T. Elo, Samuel H. Preston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70040
Date: 06/2025
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Geographic Disparities in Unpaid Caregiving
Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
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Arizona Critical Access Hospitals: Community Health Needs 2025
Summarizes Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) priorities, data collection methods, strategies, and suggested resources of 11 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility (AzFlex) program. Highlights topics including access to care, chronic disease management, mental health and substance use, and more.
Author(s): Brianna Rooney, Joyce Hospodar, Jill Bullock, Dan Derksen
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Maintenance of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Behaviors Among Adolescents and Their Caregivers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Examines intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among rural, Central Appalachian students and their caregivers at 19 months after their participation in the Kids SIPsmartER behavior-change intervention, which focused on reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) via classroom-based lessons for middle school students and an SMS strategy for their caregivers.
Author(s): Annie Reid, Wen You, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240520
Date: 06/2025
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Effects of Using Different Rural Measurements on Estimates of Hospitalizations for Depression and Substance Use
Explores how using different rural measurements can affect estimates of hospitalization rates for behavioral health conditions. Highlights how rural-urban commuting areas (RUCA) codes, core-based statistical areas (CBSA), urban-rural category four (URCategory4), and rural urban continuum codes (RUCC) affect hospitalization estimates. Discusses the consequences these difference can have on policy.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 818
Date: 06/2025
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