Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
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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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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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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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
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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
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Fluoride Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors: Adults in Rural Alabama
Highlights a study on rural adults knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fluoride use in water and toothpaste as method of cavity prevention. Bases findings on a survey of 291 adults in Green Hill, Alabama.
Author(s): Alex Harper, Steven M. Levy, Wei Shi
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 16
Date: 06/2025
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Highlights a study on rural adults knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fluoride use in water and toothpaste as method of cavity prevention. Bases findings on a survey of 291 adults in Green Hill, Alabama.
Author(s): Alex Harper, Steven M. Levy, Wei Shi
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 16
Date: 06/2025
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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
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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
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Firearm Safe Storage Practices among Firearm Owners in Rural and Urban Households
Analyzes associations between rural or urban living and likelihood of storing firearms loaded versus unloaded and locked versus unlocked, utilizing 2021-2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Yi-Fang Lu, Victor A. Soupene
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 33
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes associations between rural or urban living and likelihood of storing firearms loaded versus unloaded and locked versus unlocked, utilizing 2021-2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Yi-Fang Lu, Victor A. Soupene
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 33
Date: 06/2025
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The Rural Health Center Landscape: Data, Challenges, & Insights
Recording of a June 10, 2025, webinar discussing unique financial and operational challenges that rural health centers face. Covers health center growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, financial performance, staffing mix, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data 2020-2023. Features a discussion with William Edwards, chief financial officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Recording of a June 10, 2025, webinar discussing unique financial and operational challenges that rural health centers face. Covers health center growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, financial performance, staffing mix, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data 2020-2023. Features a discussion with William Edwards, chief financial officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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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
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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
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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
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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
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