Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Disparities in Rural–Urban Cancer Care Outcomes Among Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Populations: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 09/2026
view details
Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 09/2026
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Community-Based Training and Impact on Care of Socially Disadvantaged Populations
Results of a study examining the association between community-based training of primary care physicians and subsequent practice in rural and underserved areas. Features demographics and and a state-level map showing distribution of family physicians who trained in Teaching Health Centers or Rural Training Tracks and graduated between 2017-2022.
Author(s): Freesia Quezada, Peter Manfredonia, Trenten L. Fenster, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 18(4), 424-431
Date: 08/2026
view details
Results of a study examining the association between community-based training of primary care physicians and subsequent practice in rural and underserved areas. Features demographics and and a state-level map showing distribution of family physicians who trained in Teaching Health Centers or Rural Training Tracks and graduated between 2017-2022.
Author(s): Freesia Quezada, Peter Manfredonia, Trenten L. Fenster, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 18(4), 424-431
Date: 08/2026
view details
Rural–Urban Differences in Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
view details
Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
view details
High-Deductible Health Plans in Rural and Urban Populations: Outpatient Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Costs
Policy brief exploring rural-urban differences in High-Deductible Health Plan enrollment, subsequent healthcare use, and out-of-pocket costs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Policy brief exploring rural-urban differences in High-Deductible Health Plan enrollment, subsequent healthcare use, and out-of-pocket costs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2017-2024
Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Non-Metropolitan vs. Metropolitan Variations in Alcohol, Illicit Drug, and Prescription Therapeutic Drug Misuse
Reports on how alcohol use, illicit drug use, and the use of opioid and non-opioid prescription drugs vary by rural or urban area using 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Reports on how alcohol use, illicit drug use, and the use of opioid and non-opioid prescription drugs vary by rural or urban area using 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details
Examining Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in Pennsylvania
Explores teacher shortages, supply, and demand in Pennsylvania rural and urban school districts from 2014-2025. Notes how rising student mental health needs are contributing to demand for teachers. Features statistics on vacancies from 2023-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Edward J. Fuller
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Explores teacher shortages, supply, and demand in Pennsylvania rural and urban school districts from 2014-2025. Notes how rising student mental health needs are contributing to demand for teachers. Features statistics on vacancies from 2023-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Edward J. Fuller
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Monitoring the Workforce Outcomes of North Carolina Medical School Graduates: Retention In-State and in High Need Geographic Areas and Specialties
Summarizes workforce outcomes for physicians who graduate from North Carolina medical schools, including whether they practice in North Carolina, in rural areas, in high-need specialties, and in North Carolina safety net settings 5 years after graduation. Features statistics on 2020 North Carolina medical school graduates, with breakdowns by practice specialty and rural location.
Author(s): Evan Galloway, Erin Fraher, Nathan Tarr, Hugh H. Tilson Jr.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: North Carolina Area Health Education Center Program, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
view details
Summarizes workforce outcomes for physicians who graduate from North Carolina medical schools, including whether they practice in North Carolina, in rural areas, in high-need specialties, and in North Carolina safety net settings 5 years after graduation. Features statistics on 2020 North Carolina medical school graduates, with breakdowns by practice specialty and rural location.
Author(s): Evan Galloway, Erin Fraher, Nathan Tarr, Hugh H. Tilson Jr.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: North Carolina Area Health Education Center Program, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
view details
Workplace Indicators and Well-Being among Oral Health Professionals in HRSA-Funded Health Centres
Discusses survey results on the associations between 16 drivers of well-being in the workplace and job satisfaction, burnout, engagement, and retention for 2,671 dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists. Highlights specific drivers by provider type and includes a rural and urban comparison of the study population. Notes findings related to dentists in rural facilities.
Author(s): Jinman Pang, Simona Surdu, Sage Shirey, Jean Moore
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8)
Date: 08/2026
view details
Discusses survey results on the associations between 16 drivers of well-being in the workplace and job satisfaction, burnout, engagement, and retention for 2,671 dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists. Highlights specific drivers by provider type and includes a rural and urban comparison of the study population. Notes findings related to dentists in rural facilities.
Author(s): Jinman Pang, Simona Surdu, Sage Shirey, Jean Moore
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8)
Date: 08/2026
view details