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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Research methods and resources

Resilient, Engaged and Connected (REC) Study: Protocol for a Type 2 Cluster-Randomised Trial of the Chicago Parent Program in Prekindergarten in Low-Income Urban and Rural Communities
Provides an overview of a intervention that aims to improve social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) readiness in pre-kindergarten (PreK) children by supporting and engaging low-income parents. Utilizes a mixed methods study design to examine PreK readiness in rural and urban children in Maryland when implementing an evidence-based SEB parenting program.
Author(s): Deborah Gross, Susan M. Breitenstein, Lieny Jeon, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 15(4)
Date: 04/2025
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Initiating Research in Indian Country: Lessons From the Strong Heart Study
Discusses the process of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) initiating studies to examine cardiovascular disease in rural and remote areas, isolated populations, and sovereign nations. Discusses the steps in conducting research with a focus on building trust, transparent implementation, and mutual feedback and results sharing.
Author(s): Barbara V. Howard, Elisa T. Lee, Thomas K. Welty, Richard R. Fabsitz
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 04/2025
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Two Modeling Strategies in Analyzing Clustered Time-to-Event Data: The Strong Heart Family Study
Examines the use of the shared frailty and marginal Cox proportional hazards models to study associations between leukocyte telomere length and time-to-incident stroke among 4,635 American Indian study participants from tribal communities in Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Discusses effective use of data models for population genetic studies.
Author(s): Heather Willmott, Caroline Gochanour, Kai Ding, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 240387
Date: 03/2025
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Machine Learning to Predict Dementia for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Describes a dementia risk prediction model for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations who use Tribal health services. Utilizes data from the Indian Health Service (IHS) National Data Warehouse to analyze dementia risk for 17,398 AI/AN adults, discussing health and demographic predictors of risk.
Author(s): Kayleen Ports, Jiahui Dai, Kyle Conniff, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 43, 101013
Date: 03/2025
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A Multi-Constraint Monte Carlo Simulation Approach to Downscaling Cancer Data
Utilizes the multi-constraint Monte Carlo simulation method to analyze cancer counts in population subgroups from the county level to ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). Utilizes 2016-2020 Utah Cancer Registry data to show cancer incidence by ZCTA. Discusses the importance of precision in cancer data reporting across the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Lingbo Liu, Lauren Cowan, Fahui Wang, Tracy Onega
Citation: Health & Place, 91, 103411
Date: 01/2025
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Translation and Assessment of Encultured Meaning of the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Diné Bizaad (Navajo) Using Community-Based Participatory Action Research Methods
Highlights the community-engaged research approach to translating the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) into the Diné bizaad (Navajo) language so that it can be used to measure perceived social support in Navajo communities. Breaks down the structure of the MSPSS and details the translation process through a community-based participatory research method.
Author(s): Tapati Dutta, Jon Agley, Camille Keith, Gregory Zimet
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(1), 9433
Date: 01/2025
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A Discrete Choice Experiment with Health Professions Trainees to Improve the Urban-Rural Health Care Access Disparity in Appalachia: Study Protocol
A study protocol that examines strategies and policies for successful recruitment of healthcare professionals in rural Appalachia. Discusses utilization of the discrete choice experiment methodology (DCE) to analyze medical residents and fellows, physician assistant (PA) students, and nurse practitioner (NP) students and their location choice for employment.
Author(s): Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, Sarah Garvick, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(1), e0316521
Date: 01/2025
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Resources for Measuring Rurality in Research on Maternity Care
Explores how different measures of rurality influence research outcomes, with a focus on maternal health research. Describes multiple measures and definitions commonly employed to categorize rural populations. Discusses the implications of these definitions for research, public health interventions, and policy formulation.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Mary-Jane Adole, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Assessing the Feasibility of Creating a National Behavioral Health Workforce Database
Results of a project to determine the feasibility of developing a database of behavioral health providers and practices that offers up-to-date information to support research, policymaking, and public access. Identifies key elements, including demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. Includes information on databases focused on rural health.
Author(s): Frances Jiménez, Nicole Gauthreaux, Courtney Segal, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Partnering for Research at Your Center for Independent Living: Tips from Your Peers
Fact sheet offering nine helpful conditions for partnering for research at Centers for Independent Living (CILs) as identified by staff of rural CILs and State Independent Living Councils (SILCs). Describes how the guidance was developed and core Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles.
Author(s): Krys Standley, Hannah Pepprock, Rayna Sage
Date: 01/2025
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