Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Pharmacy Deserts in Rural Pennsylvania
Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Primary Care Practices' Choice of Implementation Strategy for Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Patients with Diabetes: A Multiple Methods Study Within a Larger Hybrid Type-3 Effectiveness-Implementation Study
Examines characteristics of primary care (PC) practices that utilize either a self-paced or virtual continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) implementation service. Provides feedback on CGM implementation from 76 PC practices in Colorado as well as characteristics of those practices. Compares metro versus nonmetro PC utilization of two CGM services: the self-paced American Academy of Family Physicians Transformation in Practice Series (TIPS) service or the virtual CGM initiation service (virCIS).
Author(s): Kimberly T. Wiggins, Tristen L. Hall, Bonnie Jortberg, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 195
Date: 06/2025
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Examines characteristics of primary care (PC) practices that utilize either a self-paced or virtual continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) implementation service. Provides feedback on CGM implementation from 76 PC practices in Colorado as well as characteristics of those practices. Compares metro versus nonmetro PC utilization of two CGM services: the self-paced American Academy of Family Physicians Transformation in Practice Series (TIPS) service or the virtual CGM initiation service (virCIS).
Author(s): Kimberly T. Wiggins, Tristen L. Hall, Bonnie Jortberg, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 195
Date: 06/2025
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Lifespan Exposures to Rural-Urban Conditions and Later-Life Cognitive Function
Examines associations between rural or urban residence during childhood and adulthood and cognitive outcomes, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia, among older adults, utilizing 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) data of 3496 individuals aged 65 years or older.
Author(s): Lingzhi Chu, Yingyan Wu, Heidi Karjalainen, Olivia E Atherton
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(6), e70267
Date: 06/2025
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Examines associations between rural or urban residence during childhood and adulthood and cognitive outcomes, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia, among older adults, utilizing 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) data of 3496 individuals aged 65 years or older.
Author(s): Lingzhi Chu, Yingyan Wu, Heidi Karjalainen, Olivia E Atherton
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(6), e70267
Date: 06/2025
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Economic Factors Associated With County-Level Mental Health – United States, 2019
Explores the correlation between economic factors, such as household income, education, and supplemental income and nutritional support, and county-level mental health. Breaks down economic factors, such as employment, income and wealth, and expenses by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michele L.F. Bolduc, Parya Saberi, Torsten B. Neilands, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(6), e0300939
Date: 06/2025
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Explores the correlation between economic factors, such as household income, education, and supplemental income and nutritional support, and county-level mental health. Breaks down economic factors, such as employment, income and wealth, and expenses by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michele L.F. Bolduc, Parya Saberi, Torsten B. Neilands, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(6), e0300939
Date: 06/2025
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Evaluating Teaching Health Center Planning and Development: Unlocking and Sustaining the Full Potential of the Teaching Health Center Program
Describes Teaching Health Center Planning and Development (THCPD) program outcomes and training sites and compares characteristics of teaching health center (THC) counties to other eligible counties. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location and counties designated as part or whole Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care, mental health, and dental health.
Author(s): Emily M. Hawes, Mukesh Adhikari, Jacob Rains, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 17(3), 296-303
Date: 06/2025
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Describes Teaching Health Center Planning and Development (THCPD) program outcomes and training sites and compares characteristics of teaching health center (THC) counties to other eligible counties. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location and counties designated as part or whole Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care, mental health, and dental health.
Author(s): Emily M. Hawes, Mukesh Adhikari, Jacob Rains, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 17(3), 296-303
Date: 06/2025
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Tobacco Treatment Billing and Tobacco Use Disorder Diagnosis in Healthcare Settings in the United States: An Analysis of South Carolina Medicaid Claims
Examines demographic differences in tobacco use disorder diagnosis and receipt of counseling among Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina, utilizing 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid administrative claims data. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban dwelling, among other factors.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Joni D. Nelson, Julie L. Marshall, Alana M. Rojewski
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 24
Date: 06/2025
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Examines demographic differences in tobacco use disorder diagnosis and receipt of counseling among Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina, utilizing 2019-2022 South Carolina Medicaid administrative claims data. Includes data breakdowns by rural or urban dwelling, among other factors.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Joni D. Nelson, Julie L. Marshall, Alana M. Rojewski
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 20, 24
Date: 06/2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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