Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health
Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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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
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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
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Severe Mental Health Conditions, Fentanyl Injection, and Severe Substance Use Disorders Are Associated with Violent Victimization among Rural Appalachian Adults Who Inject Drugs
Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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How Wearables and Other Digital Tools Are Driving Innovation in Behavioral Health
Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Rural Health and Health Disparities in Hypertension Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Discusses factors influencing the high rural prevalence of hypertension and highlights approaches for improving rural hypertension management. Covers topics including nonmedical drivers of health, access to services, medication access and use, nutrition and food insecurity, telehealth, and culturally-tailored service delivery.
Author(s): Cassandra D. Ford, Natalie A. Cameron, Donald Clark, et al.
Citation: Hypertension
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses factors influencing the high rural prevalence of hypertension and highlights approaches for improving rural hypertension management. Covers topics including nonmedical drivers of health, access to services, medication access and use, nutrition and food insecurity, telehealth, and culturally-tailored service delivery.
Author(s): Cassandra D. Ford, Natalie A. Cameron, Donald Clark, et al.
Citation: Hypertension
Date: 06/2026
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Disparities in Rural–Urban Cancer Care Outcomes Among Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Populations: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 06/2026
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Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 06/2026
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Understanding Smokeless Tobacco Use in Rural United States: A Narrative Synthesis of Contributing Factors and Prevention Efforts
Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use.
Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen
Citation: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801
Date: 06/2026
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Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use.
Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen
Citation: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801
Date: 06/2026
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Validity of Area-Based Social Risk Indices Used at Higher-Level Geographies and Clinic Locations
Assesses the suitability of the Reproducible Area Deprivation Index (ReADI, Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for correctly representing patient risk and health outcomes at 5 geographic levels for both patient and clinic addresses. Discusses the usefulness of the social risk indices for researchers lacking small area location data.
Author(s): Nathaniel Hendrix, Nicole Gladish, Neil S. Kamdar, David H. Rehkopf
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Assesses the suitability of the Reproducible Area Deprivation Index (ReADI, Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for correctly representing patient risk and health outcomes at 5 geographic levels for both patient and clinic addresses. Discusses the usefulness of the social risk indices for researchers lacking small area location data.
Author(s): Nathaniel Hendrix, Nicole Gladish, Neil S. Kamdar, David H. Rehkopf
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Active Aging for L.I.F.E.: An Intergenerational Program to Improve Adolescents' Aging Attitudes in Rural Communities
Presents results of participation in Active Aging for L.I.F.E., a school-based intergenerational program focused on health literacy, health awareness, aging attitudes, and social connectedness, among 77 junior high and high school students in rural Oklahoma. Details how outcomes varied by sex and age.
Author(s): Xuewei Chen, Emily Roberts
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 822
Date: 06/2026
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Presents results of participation in Active Aging for L.I.F.E., a school-based intergenerational program focused on health literacy, health awareness, aging attitudes, and social connectedness, among 77 junior high and high school students in rural Oklahoma. Details how outcomes varied by sex and age.
Author(s): Xuewei Chen, Emily Roberts
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 822
Date: 06/2026
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Testing Implementation Strategies for a Family Healthy Weight Program: Results From the Nebraska Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 3.0 Pilot Trial
Examines the Building Healthy Families (BHF) Online Training Resources and Program Package that is used to help rural areas in Nebraska adopt and implement a family healthy weight program (FHWP). Analyzes a pilot study that implements the BHF Program Package with and without a learning collaborative option and discusses quality of online training resources, child engagement, implementation fidelity, and more.
Author(s): Jennie L. Hill, Kate A. Heelan, Bryce M. Abbey, et al.
Citation: Childhood Obesity Research, 4, 223-232
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the Building Healthy Families (BHF) Online Training Resources and Program Package that is used to help rural areas in Nebraska adopt and implement a family healthy weight program (FHWP). Analyzes a pilot study that implements the BHF Program Package with and without a learning collaborative option and discusses quality of online training resources, child engagement, implementation fidelity, and more.
Author(s): Jennie L. Hill, Kate A. Heelan, Bryce M. Abbey, et al.
Citation: Childhood Obesity Research, 4, 223-232
Date: 06/2026
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