Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Research methods and resources
Multidimensional Approaches to Ranking State-Level Rurality to Enhance Comparisons Across States
Provides a rurality index for all 50 U.S. states, utilizing measures of rural population percentage, rural land area percentage, and rural population density. Discusses the need for a multidimensional measure of rurality to provide an accurate tool for health policy research.
Author(s): Daniel Baslock, Nari Yoo
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 140(1), 136-152
Date: 03/2026
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Provides a rurality index for all 50 U.S. states, utilizing measures of rural population percentage, rural land area percentage, and rural population density. Discusses the need for a multidimensional measure of rurality to provide an accurate tool for health policy research.
Author(s): Daniel Baslock, Nari Yoo
Citation: The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population and Health Policy, 140(1), 136-152
Date: 03/2026
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Application of Spatial Methods in Rural Cancer Control Research in the United States
Discusses the application of spatial research methods to study rural cancer disparities. Considers rural cancer control research methods such as identification of disease clusters and patterns, spatial accessibility measures, small area estimation techniques, spatial regression, multilevel modeling, and more.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan M. Eberth, Sarah H. Nash, et al.
Citation: Current Epidemiology Reports, 13, 4
Date: 02/2026
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Discusses the application of spatial research methods to study rural cancer disparities. Considers rural cancer control research methods such as identification of disease clusters and patterns, spatial accessibility measures, small area estimation techniques, spatial regression, multilevel modeling, and more.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan M. Eberth, Sarah H. Nash, et al.
Citation: Current Epidemiology Reports, 13, 4
Date: 02/2026
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Analyzing Demographics Within Rural Populations: Considerations for Rural Public Health Research
A tip sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussing best practices for using demographic data in rural public health research. Discusses when to disaggregate data, common demographic variables for discovering meaningful variation, practical considerations, and limitations.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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A tip sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussing best practices for using demographic data in rural public health research. Discusses when to disaggregate data, common demographic variables for discovering meaningful variation, practical considerations, and limitations.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Using Rural-Urban Variables: Considerations for Rural Public Health Research
A tip sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussing best practices for using rural and urban variables in public health studies. Discusses rural definitions, differences in rural communities, including rural communities in interpretation, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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A tip sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussing best practices for using rural and urban variables in public health studies. Discusses rural definitions, differences in rural communities, including rural communities in interpretation, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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New Directions from the COMPASS Study: A Qualitative Review of Participation and Communication in Rural Kidney Health Research
Discusses the impact of the Community Based Study of the Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease in Cuba New Mexico and Surrounding Areas (COMPASS) research study on 33 participating adults in rural New Mexico. Discusses topics related to study participation, health literacy, and research dissemination, including participants' lifestyle changes, understanding of kidney-related health issues, challenges, and suggestions.
Author(s): Heidi Rishel Brakey, Maria-Eleni Roumelioti, Jesus E. Fuentes, et al.
Citation: BMC Nephrology, 27, 136
Date: 01/2026
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Discusses the impact of the Community Based Study of the Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease in Cuba New Mexico and Surrounding Areas (COMPASS) research study on 33 participating adults in rural New Mexico. Discusses topics related to study participation, health literacy, and research dissemination, including participants' lifestyle changes, understanding of kidney-related health issues, challenges, and suggestions.
Author(s): Heidi Rishel Brakey, Maria-Eleni Roumelioti, Jesus E. Fuentes, et al.
Citation: BMC Nephrology, 27, 136
Date: 01/2026
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Advancing Rural Cancer Control: A Portfolio Analysis of Research Funded by the National Cancer Institute, 2016–2024
Highlights a study exploring cancer control-focused grants funded by the National Cancer Institute for research opportunities to identify methods to close rural and urban disparities in cancer outcomes. Details rural grants from 2016 to 2024, their healthcare focus, and location of cancer treated.
Author(s): Anna Gaysynsky, Sallie J. Weaver, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70120
Date: 01/2026
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Highlights a study exploring cancer control-focused grants funded by the National Cancer Institute for research opportunities to identify methods to close rural and urban disparities in cancer outcomes. Details rural grants from 2016 to 2024, their healthcare focus, and location of cancer treated.
Author(s): Anna Gaysynsky, Sallie J. Weaver, Robin C. Vanderpool, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70120
Date: 01/2026
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Expanding Access to Harm Reduction in Rural Communities Through Community-Informed Public Health Vending Machines
Examines the role of public health vending machines (PHVMs) to address the opioid epidemic in rural counties in North Carolina. Utilizes a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to gather qualitative feedback among people with substance use experience regarding issues such as naloxone access, stigma, preferred PHVM locations and distribution models, and more.
Author(s): Lori Ann Eldridge, Christian Dotson, Lauren Harrell, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 26
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the role of public health vending machines (PHVMs) to address the opioid epidemic in rural counties in North Carolina. Utilizes a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to gather qualitative feedback among people with substance use experience regarding issues such as naloxone access, stigma, preferred PHVM locations and distribution models, and more.
Author(s): Lori Ann Eldridge, Christian Dotson, Lauren Harrell, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 26
Date: 01/2026
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Data Resources for Health Workforce Policy and Planning in Washington State
Provides information on data resources to examine Washington State's health workforce. Includes a list of health workforce data resources, results from a stakeholder survey on workforce data, various methodological strategies, and discussion of including rurality as an important measure within health workforce data.
Author(s): SW Pollack, BA Stubbs, PM Kett, GA Guenther, SM Skillman
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Provides information on data resources to examine Washington State's health workforce. Includes a list of health workforce data resources, results from a stakeholder survey on workforce data, various methodological strategies, and discussion of including rurality as an important measure within health workforce data.
Author(s): SW Pollack, BA Stubbs, PM Kett, GA Guenther, SM Skillman
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Geographic and Demographic Differences in Studies of the Five Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.: Evidence from Peer-Reviewed Literature
Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Developing a Research Agenda to Improve Rural Health Access and Quality in West Virginia
Presents a research agenda to identify health problems, infrastructure issues, and healthcare workforce gaps in rural West Virginia. Discusses interventions to improve access, create policy, and address knowledge and data gaps. Provides county-level maps showing health and social issues across the state.
Author(s): Julia Rollison, Zara Fatima Abdurahaman, Lisa H. Jaycox, Viviana Mercado
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Presents a research agenda to identify health problems, infrastructure issues, and healthcare workforce gaps in rural West Virginia. Discusses interventions to improve access, create policy, and address knowledge and data gaps. Provides county-level maps showing health and social issues across the state.
Author(s): Julia Rollison, Zara Fatima Abdurahaman, Lisa H. Jaycox, Viviana Mercado
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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