Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Research methods and resources
Conducting Research That Matters to Rural Practice and Communities
Commentary describing activities designed to improve rural clinical and community engagement in research led by the Oregon Rural Practice Research Network and the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) region Practice and Research Network. Features example solutions for meaningful engagement.
Author(s): Sebastian T. Tong, Melinda M. Davis, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 38(2), 603-606
Date: 08/2025
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Commentary describing activities designed to improve rural clinical and community engagement in research led by the Oregon Rural Practice Research Network and the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) region Practice and Research Network. Features example solutions for meaningful engagement.
Author(s): Sebastian T. Tong, Melinda M. Davis, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 38(2), 603-606
Date: 08/2025
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Six Strategies for Engaging Rural Communities in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research and Programming
Tip sheet on communication strategies related to teen pregnancy and STI prevention for rural health researchers and practitioners. Highlights the value of humility, flexibility, and reciprocity in health communication and discusses examples and best practices from the Mousehouse Family Health Study sexual health intervention in Georgia.
Author(s): Asari Offiong, André Marria, Alyssa Scott, Elizabeth Cook, Jennifer Manlove
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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Tip sheet on communication strategies related to teen pregnancy and STI prevention for rural health researchers and practitioners. Highlights the value of humility, flexibility, and reciprocity in health communication and discusses examples and best practices from the Mousehouse Family Health Study sexual health intervention in Georgia.
Author(s): Asari Offiong, André Marria, Alyssa Scott, Elizabeth Cook, Jennifer Manlove
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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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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COVID-19 Risk Stratification among Older Adults: A Machine Learning Approach to Identify Personal and Health-Related Risk Factors
Examines risk perceptions and health behaviors related to COVID-19 to create a predictive model to classify individuals into risk categories. Analyzes individual features such as demographic variables, health conditions, adherence to public health guidelines, health literacy, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Arezoo Abasi, Seyed Abbas Motevalian, Haleh Ayatollahi
Citation: BMC Public Health 25, 2577
Date: 07/2025
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Examines risk perceptions and health behaviors related to COVID-19 to create a predictive model to classify individuals into risk categories. Analyzes individual features such as demographic variables, health conditions, adherence to public health guidelines, health literacy, and urbanicity.
Author(s): Arezoo Abasi, Seyed Abbas Motevalian, Haleh Ayatollahi
Citation: BMC Public Health 25, 2577
Date: 07/2025
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Machine Learning to Evaluate the Effects of Non-Clinical Social Determinant Features in Predicting Colorectal Cancer Mortality in a Medically Underserved Appalachian Population
Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in rural Appalachia and the related impact of demographic, clinical, and social determinant of health (SDOH) factors. Utilizes machine learning (ML) models to analyze data from Appalachian cancer centers and examines what factors contribute most to CRC survival in Appalachia. Discusses the impact of including SDOH in ML prediction models and implications for further CRC research.
Author(s): Aisha Montgomery, Ravi Vadapalli, Frank A. Dinenno, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 15, 25781
Date: 07/2025
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Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in rural Appalachia and the related impact of demographic, clinical, and social determinant of health (SDOH) factors. Utilizes machine learning (ML) models to analyze data from Appalachian cancer centers and examines what factors contribute most to CRC survival in Appalachia. Discusses the impact of including SDOH in ML prediction models and implications for further CRC research.
Author(s): Aisha Montgomery, Ravi Vadapalli, Frank A. Dinenno, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 15, 25781
Date: 07/2025
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Estimating County-Level Dental Care Utilization among Adults in California Using Multilevel Modeling with Raking Approach
Analyzes the accuracy and suitability of a small area estimation method combining multilevel modeling and raking for estimating county-level dental care utilization for adults in California, utilizing 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and American Community Survey data. Highlights the value of small area estimation methods for geographic areas with small sample sizes.
Author(s): Yilan Huang, Honghu Liu
Citation: Archives of Public Health, 83, 183
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes the accuracy and suitability of a small area estimation method combining multilevel modeling and raking for estimating county-level dental care utilization for adults in California, utilizing 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and American Community Survey data. Highlights the value of small area estimation methods for geographic areas with small sample sizes.
Author(s): Yilan Huang, Honghu Liu
Citation: Archives of Public Health, 83, 183
Date: 07/2025
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35 Years of Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health and Well-Being in American Indian Communities: The Strong Heart Study and Strong Heart Family Study
Discusses the impact of the Strong Heart Study (SHS) and Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS) to provide population health and cardiovascular health outcomes information on rural tribal communities. Focuses on the importance of longitudinal studies, rigorous data collection, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.
Author(s): Amanda M. Fretts, Jessica A. Reese, Ying Zhang
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses the impact of the Strong Heart Study (SHS) and Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS) to provide population health and cardiovascular health outcomes information on rural tribal communities. Focuses on the importance of longitudinal studies, rigorous data collection, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.
Author(s): Amanda M. Fretts, Jessica A. Reese, Ying Zhang
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Empowering Patients to Participate in Clinical Trials
Discusses the importance of clinical trials as well as the barriers that impact participant enrollment and retention. Provides strategies and policy suggestions to improve participation in clinical trials for various populations, including those in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe, Agata Bodie
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Discusses the importance of clinical trials as well as the barriers that impact participant enrollment and retention. Provides strategies and policy suggestions to improve participation in clinical trials for various populations, including those in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe, Agata Bodie
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, July-December 2024
Provides data on households that rely on wireless telephones rather than landlines. Includes data on the percent of adults who live in wireless-only households and have their own wireless telephone, as well as data on phoneless adults. Provides data for nonmetropolitan compared to metropolitan areas. Discusses the need for surveys to include adequate representation of wireless-only households and households with landlines.
Author(s): Stephen J. Blumberg, Julian V. Luke
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Provides data on households that rely on wireless telephones rather than landlines. Includes data on the percent of adults who live in wireless-only households and have their own wireless telephone, as well as data on phoneless adults. Provides data for nonmetropolitan compared to metropolitan areas. Discusses the need for surveys to include adequate representation of wireless-only households and households with landlines.
Author(s): Stephen J. Blumberg, Julian V. Luke
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Evaluating Nature-Based Versus Generic Physical Activity Programs to Address Chronic Health Conditions: Lessons from an Oregon (USA) Pilot Study
Describes the design, implementation, and results of a "nature prescription" program for patients with chronic health conditions in 2 rural Oregon clinics. Discusses recruitment strategies, participant engagement, burdens on clinics, and more. Highlights lessons learned and recommendations for research design in similar studies.
Author(s): Randall Bluffstone, Ma Chan, Cort Cox, et al.
Citation: Forests, 16(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Describes the design, implementation, and results of a "nature prescription" program for patients with chronic health conditions in 2 rural Oregon clinics. Discusses recruitment strategies, participant engagement, burdens on clinics, and more. Highlights lessons learned and recommendations for research design in similar studies.
Author(s): Randall Bluffstone, Ma Chan, Cort Cox, et al.
Citation: Forests, 16(5)
Date: 05/2025
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