Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
An Exploratory Study to Understand How Rurality Status and Demographic Characteristics Are Associated With Enrollment, Engagement, and Retention in a Digital Health Intervention Targeting the Appalachian Region
Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
view details
Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
view details
Social Determinants of Health and Rehabilitation Service Areas: An Urban and Rural Mediation Analysis
Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
view details
Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
view details
Evolution of the US Nonmetropolitan Mortality Disadvantage by Sex, State, and Year, 1999–2019
Highlights rural and urban disparities in mortality by sex and state from 1999 to 2019. Breaks down data by year, sex, and Census division, among other measures.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Irma T. Elo, Samuel H. Preston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70040
Date: 06/2025
view details
Highlights rural and urban disparities in mortality by sex and state from 1999 to 2019. Breaks down data by year, sex, and Census division, among other measures.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Irma T. Elo, Samuel H. Preston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70040
Date: 06/2025
view details
Geographic Disparities in Unpaid Caregiving
Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
view details
Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
view details
Key Facts About Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Areas
Presents information and data about rural Medicare beneficiaries, including demographic and health characteristics, access to healthcare, and satisfaction with care. Compares data on beneficiaries living in urban areas, rural areas adjacent to an urban area, and rural areas not adjacent to an urban area.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Presents information and data about rural Medicare beneficiaries, including demographic and health characteristics, access to healthcare, and satisfaction with care. Compares data on beneficiaries living in urban areas, rural areas adjacent to an urban area, and rural areas not adjacent to an urban area.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Young Adult Perspectives on Deciding to Get Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in Urban and Rural Communities: A Qualitative Research Study
Examines perspectives of young adults aged 18 to 21 on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Utilizes interview feedback from 56 young adults in rural Wisconsin and urban Minnesota about HPV vaccine decision-making, vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, concerns about the vaccine, trust in healthcare professionals, and more.
Author(s): Maria E. Sundaram, Ben Christianson, Oluwakemi D. Alonge, et al.
Citation: Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 21(1), 2508572
Date: 06/2025
view details
Examines perspectives of young adults aged 18 to 21 on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Utilizes interview feedback from 56 young adults in rural Wisconsin and urban Minnesota about HPV vaccine decision-making, vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, concerns about the vaccine, trust in healthcare professionals, and more.
Author(s): Maria E. Sundaram, Ben Christianson, Oluwakemi D. Alonge, et al.
Citation: Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 21(1), 2508572
Date: 06/2025
view details
Affordable Care Act Enrollment in Texas after Rating Area Adjustments
Provides a brief overview of how Texas changed its approach to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating areas for rural counties in 2023. Examines the association between the ACA rating area change and health plan enrollment, plan selection, and premiums from 2022 to 2024. Compares findings by urban and rural county status.
Author(s): Elena Andreyeva, Daniel Marthey, Simon F. Haeder, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 31(6), e147-e152
Date: 06/2025
view details
Provides a brief overview of how Texas changed its approach to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating areas for rural counties in 2023. Examines the association between the ACA rating area change and health plan enrollment, plan selection, and premiums from 2022 to 2024. Compares findings by urban and rural county status.
Author(s): Elena Andreyeva, Daniel Marthey, Simon F. Haeder, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 31(6), e147-e152
Date: 06/2025
view details
The Workforce Outcomes of Physicians Completing Residency Training in North Carolina in 2017, 2018, and 2019
Analyzes the number and percent of residency and fellowship program graduates who completed training in 2017, 2018, and 2019 who were in practice in North Carolina and in rural areas 5 years after residency or fellowship graduation. Also examines the number and percent of physicians who completed residency training in North Carolina who were in practice in North Carolina 5 years after training for 7 high need specialties.
Author(s): Evan Galloway, Brianna Lombardi, Erin P. Fraher
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
view details
Analyzes the number and percent of residency and fellowship program graduates who completed training in 2017, 2018, and 2019 who were in practice in North Carolina and in rural areas 5 years after residency or fellowship graduation. Also examines the number and percent of physicians who completed residency training in North Carolina who were in practice in North Carolina 5 years after training for 7 high need specialties.
Author(s): Evan Galloway, Brianna Lombardi, Erin P. Fraher
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
view details
Evaluating the Impact of Online Learning: Indiana University Mental and Behavioral Health Programs
Examines mental and behavioral health (MBH) workforce pipelines in Indiana with a focus on post-secondary online degree programs. Includes percentage of rural versus urban students in online programs as well as county-level percentages of students enrolled in an online MBH program.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Hannah Maxey
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details
Examines mental and behavioral health (MBH) workforce pipelines in Indiana with a focus on post-secondary online degree programs. Includes percentage of rural versus urban students in online programs as well as county-level percentages of students enrolled in an online MBH program.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Hannah Maxey
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details
Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Availability Within US Short-Term, Acute-Care Hospitals, 2011-2023
Examines the availability of inpatient psychiatric units (IPUs) and the impact of COVID-19 on short-term psychiatric care in hospitals. Utilizes 2011-2023 Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) data to examine changes in IPU availability according to rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Colleen M. McCullough, Ji Eun Chang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(6)
Date: 06/2025
view details
Examines the availability of inpatient psychiatric units (IPUs) and the impact of COVID-19 on short-term psychiatric care in hospitals. Utilizes 2011-2023 Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) data to examine changes in IPU availability according to rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Colleen M. McCullough, Ji Eun Chang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(6)
Date: 06/2025
view details