Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Rural-Urban Disparities in Cardiovascular and Other Competing Risk of Death among Cancer Patients
Examines rural versus urban disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) death among cancer patients. Utilizes 1990-2017 data from 2,022,482 cancer patients and provides data breakdowns according to mortality, rural versus urban location, and cause of death. Discusses non-cancer and CVD death burden in cancer patients living in rural areas.
Author(s): Tianwang Guan, Jiaqi He, Liangjia Zeng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Advanced Research, 85, 725-736
Date: 07/2026
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Examines rural versus urban disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) death among cancer patients. Utilizes 1990-2017 data from 2,022,482 cancer patients and provides data breakdowns according to mortality, rural versus urban location, and cause of death. Discusses non-cancer and CVD death burden in cancer patients living in rural areas.
Author(s): Tianwang Guan, Jiaqi He, Liangjia Zeng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Advanced Research, 85, 725-736
Date: 07/2026
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Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Rural vs. Urban Patterns of Dental Care Services and Outcomes among Medicaid-Enrolled Children in Early Childhood
Describes rural and urban patterns of preventive and restorative dental care and oral health outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children aged 2 through 5 in 2021-2022. Includes data on the percent of children who received any preventive dental services, children with fewer than 2 cleanings per year, and number of dental caries diagnosed each year by rurality.
Author(s): Cassie Odahowski, Joni Nelson, Amy Martin, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes rural and urban patterns of preventive and restorative dental care and oral health outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children aged 2 through 5 in 2021-2022. Includes data on the percent of children who received any preventive dental services, children with fewer than 2 cleanings per year, and number of dental caries diagnosed each year by rurality.
Author(s): Cassie Odahowski, Joni Nelson, Amy Martin, et al.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Mental Health Treatment among Adults: United States, 2024
Explores data pertaining to mental health treatment received by adults in 2024. Breaks down data by treatment type, such as receiving medication or therapy, as well as demographic measures, such as age, family income, and rurality, among others.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. Briones, Maria A. Villarroel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Explores data pertaining to mental health treatment received by adults in 2024. Breaks down data by treatment type, such as receiving medication or therapy, as well as demographic measures, such as age, family income, and rurality, among others.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. Briones, Maria A. Villarroel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Concordance Between Social Needs Screening and Availability of Associated Programs in US Hospitals
Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Keith Mueller, Whitney E. Zahnd
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Keith Mueller, Whitney E. Zahnd
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Rural Research Brief: USDA's Section 515 Multifamily Housing Portfolio Continues to Shrink
Provides interactive data on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Section 515 multifamily housing direct loan program which helps secure affordable rental housing for rural residents. Provides state-level data on Section 515 available properties, property exits, and property declines. Describes Section 515 properties and characteristics of rural renters.
Author(s): Blue Miller, Lance George
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Provides interactive data on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Section 515 multifamily housing direct loan program which helps secure affordable rental housing for rural residents. Provides state-level data on Section 515 available properties, property exits, and property declines. Describes Section 515 properties and characteristics of rural renters.
Author(s): Blue Miller, Lance George
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Effect of Health Literacy on use of a Virtual Coach to Promote Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Reporting of Rurality, Deprivation, and Socioeconomic Characteristics in Cancer Clinical Trials A Systematic Review
Examines the frequency in which geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics are reported in oncology clinical trial publications. Analyzes 441 randomized clinical trial primary reports for reporting of core demographic characteristics, education, insurance status, deprivation index, income, and rurality. Discusses the importance of cancer research that features sociodemographic and geographic breakdowns of data.
Author(s): Joseph M. Unger
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6), e2619836
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the frequency in which geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics are reported in oncology clinical trial publications. Analyzes 441 randomized clinical trial primary reports for reporting of core demographic characteristics, education, insurance status, deprivation index, income, and rurality. Discusses the importance of cancer research that features sociodemographic and geographic breakdowns of data.
Author(s): Joseph M. Unger
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(6), e2619836
Date: 06/2026
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Telemedicine Use Among Office-Based Physicians in 2021 and 2024
Offers data showing trends in telehealth utilization by physicians, comparing 2021 and 2024. Includes a comparison between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs, among other factors.
Author(s): Kelly L. Myrick, Mohsin Mahar, Brian W. Ward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data showing trends in telehealth utilization by physicians, comparing 2021 and 2024. Includes a comparison between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs, among other factors.
Author(s): Kelly L. Myrick, Mohsin Mahar, Brian W. Ward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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