Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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School-Centered Tobacco Retailer Exposure and Neighborhood Opportunity Across Urban and Rural Tennessee
Examines the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure in Tennessee, including differences by rural or urban areas and Appalachian status. Features statistics and county-level maps with shadings showing school-centered tobacco retail exposure and tract-level quintiles of the Child Opportunity Index state percentile.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 29-52
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure in Tennessee, including differences by rural or urban areas and Appalachian status. Features statistics and county-level maps with shadings showing school-centered tobacco retail exposure and tract-level quintiles of the Child Opportunity Index state percentile.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 29-52
Date: 08/2026
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Deaths of Despair Among Cancer Survivors in Rural/Urban Appalachia (2000-2022)
Compares deaths of despair trends among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions. Features statistics on year-by-year incidence-based mortality rates, with breakdowns by sex, urban or rural location, and region, and mortality rates for these groups in 2000 and 2022.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 14-28
Date: 08/2026
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Compares deaths of despair trends among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions. Features statistics on year-by-year incidence-based mortality rates, with breakdowns by sex, urban or rural location, and region, and mortality rates for these groups in 2000 and 2022.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 14-28
Date: 08/2026
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Disparities in Access to Medicare-Approved Medical Specialists in Rural Kentucky
Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Beyond Geography: Using a Cluster-Based Analysis to Conceptualize the Rurality of Veterans Health Administration Hospitals
Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Long-Term Poverty, Rurality, and Geographic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer: A Spatial Analysis in Texas
Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Geographic Access to Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening in Tennessee: Disparities by Socioeconomic Variables, Rurality, and Appalachian Status
Examines access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Tennessee according to rurality and Appalachian status. Analyzes 198 LDCT sites and provides information on travel time and access to sites as well as demographic breakdown of population according to urban, rural, Appalachian, or non-Appalachian location. Discusses access disparities and solutions to improve access to LDCT screening sites in Tennessee.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Martin Whiteside, R. Eric Heidel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70202
Date: 08/2026
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Examines access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Tennessee according to rurality and Appalachian status. Analyzes 198 LDCT sites and provides information on travel time and access to sites as well as demographic breakdown of population according to urban, rural, Appalachian, or non-Appalachian location. Discusses access disparities and solutions to improve access to LDCT screening sites in Tennessee.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Martin Whiteside, R. Eric Heidel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70202
Date: 08/2026
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Rural Residence and Postsurgical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Explores the post-surgical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing four common inpatient general surgery operations: appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or incisional hernia repair. Compares quality outcomes including mortality, complications, 30-day readmissions, and discharge disposition for rural and nonrural Medicare beneficiaries using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data from 2016 to 2023.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Adrian Diaz, Brooke C. Bredbeck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2626959
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the post-surgical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing four common inpatient general surgery operations: appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or incisional hernia repair. Compares quality outcomes including mortality, complications, 30-day readmissions, and discharge disposition for rural and nonrural Medicare beneficiaries using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data from 2016 to 2023.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Adrian Diaz, Brooke C. Bredbeck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2626959
Date: 08/2026
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