Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations
Geographic Disparities by Rural-Urban Status and Drive Time to Care in Tobacco Treatment for COPD
Explores the potential relationship between the drive-time to tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) services and the development of COPD among smokers. Details distances of rural smokers to TDT services. Draws from Veterans Affairs data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Arianne K. Baldomero, Anne C. Melzer, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2528898
Date: 08/2025
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Explores the potential relationship between the drive-time to tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) services and the development of COPD among smokers. Details distances of rural smokers to TDT services. Draws from Veterans Affairs data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Arianne K. Baldomero, Anne C. Melzer, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2528898
Date: 08/2025
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Hoosier Sport Re-Social: A Protocol for Developing a Biopsychosocial Body Satisfaction Intervention in Rural Indiana
Provides a study protocol for an intervention aimed at improving body satisfaction, healthy social media use, and positive exercise behaviors in adolescent girls living in rural Indiana. Discusses plans to examine adolescent self-esteem and physical activity levels, create a community co-design intervention, and conduct a mixed-methods pilot study within physical and health education classes.
Author(s): Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, et al.
Citation: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11, 113
Date: 08/2025
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Provides a study protocol for an intervention aimed at improving body satisfaction, healthy social media use, and positive exercise behaviors in adolescent girls living in rural Indiana. Discusses plans to examine adolescent self-esteem and physical activity levels, create a community co-design intervention, and conduct a mixed-methods pilot study within physical and health education classes.
Author(s): Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, et al.
Citation: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11, 113
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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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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Rural and Urban Differences in Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Examines rates of prostate cancer recurrence among 778 rural and urban men, utilizing data from the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness Survivor Study. Analyzes the association of rurality and other demographic and clinical factors with recurrence.
Author(s): Julia B. Balmaceda, Aaron J. Katz, Katelyn Kane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526912
Date: 08/2025
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Examines rates of prostate cancer recurrence among 778 rural and urban men, utilizing data from the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness Survivor Study. Analyzes the association of rurality and other demographic and clinical factors with recurrence.
Author(s): Julia B. Balmaceda, Aaron J. Katz, Katelyn Kane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526912
Date: 08/2025
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Risk & Protective Factors for Rural Youth Substance Use: A Report for the Rural Network
Examines youth substance use in rural areas and various risk and protective factors. Utilizes data from Washington State's Rural Network members to analyze substance use and discusses school-based, family-based, and community-based preventive factors.
Author(s): Ellie Jackson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Network, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Examines youth substance use in rural areas and various risk and protective factors. Utilizes data from Washington State's Rural Network members to analyze substance use and discusses school-based, family-based, and community-based preventive factors.
Author(s): Ellie Jackson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Network, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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The Need for Medicare Dental Coverage
Details the oral health risks of limited dental coverage by Medicare. Discusses aging-related oral healthcare conditions, the economic barriers to care caused by lack of coverage, and how rurality can affect preexisting oral health disparities.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Details the oral health risks of limited dental coverage by Medicare. Discusses aging-related oral healthcare conditions, the economic barriers to care caused by lack of coverage, and how rurality can affect preexisting oral health disparities.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Americans
Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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County-Level Cervical Cancer Screening Coverage and Differences in Incidence and Mortality
Research letter analyzing differences in cervical cancer incidence and mortality by rates of screening at the county level, utilizing SEER-22 database data. Identifies associations between county-level rurality, low income, and low repeat screening coverage. Highlights counties in Texas, Idaho, and New Mexico counties with low screening coverage and discusses targeted screening efforts in underserved areas.
Author(s): Trisha L. Amboree, Jane R. Montealegre, Haluk Damgacioglu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526709
Date: 08/2025
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Research letter analyzing differences in cervical cancer incidence and mortality by rates of screening at the county level, utilizing SEER-22 database data. Identifies associations between county-level rurality, low income, and low repeat screening coverage. Highlights counties in Texas, Idaho, and New Mexico counties with low screening coverage and discusses targeted screening efforts in underserved areas.
Author(s): Trisha L. Amboree, Jane R. Montealegre, Haluk Damgacioglu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526709
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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