This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

Support and Sabotage: A Qualitative Study of Social Influences on Health Behaviors among Rural Adults
Examines the impact of social relationships on health behavior adoption and maintenance by interviewing midlife and older adults in rural Montana at increased risk of chronic disease. Addresses family and peer influences on diet, physical activity, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Urshila Sriram, Emily H. Morgan, Meredith L. Graham, Sara C. Folta, Rebecca A. Seguin
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(1), 88-97
Date: 12/2018
view details
Diminished Trust of Healthcare Providers, Risky Lifestyle Behaviors, and Low Use of Health Services: A Descriptive Study of Rural Adolescents
Examines individual factors and traits that can predict trust with a healthcare provider, lifestyle behaviors, and health services utilization for adolescents in 9th and 12th grade in public high school in rural Indiana. Covers demographic statistics for study participants by age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, and diagnosed conditions.
Author(s): Heather K. Hardin, Valerie Lander McCarthy, Barbara J. Speck, Timothy N. Crawford
Citation: Journal of School Nursing, 34(6), 458-467
Date: 12/2018
view details
Delivery of Fall Prevention Interventions for At-Risk Older Adults in Rural Areas: Findings from a National Dissemination
Identifies the geographical reach of 8 evidence-based fall prevention programs in the U.S. Compares fall prevention program dissemination characteristics by rurality. Includes participant and workshop statistics for the 8 fall prevention programs and various program delivery sites by metro, nonmetro adjacent, and nonmetro non-adjacent areas.
Author(s): Matthew Lee Smith, Samuel D. Towne, Angelica Herrera-Venson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(12), 2798
Date: 12/2018
view details
Improving Oral Health Care Services in Rural America
Discusses the link between oral health and overall health and issues affecting oral health access in rural areas, including shortages of dental providers, differences in dental hygienist scope of practice by state, and insurance coverage. Provides an overview of federal efforts related to rural oral health and offers policy recommendations. Includes a summary of local perspectives from a site visit to Winnsboro Smiles Family Dentistry in rural South Carolina as part of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
America's Health Rankings Annual Report 2018
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 35 measures to describe health outcomes in the U.S. Provides rural specific information and statistics by residence, obesity, excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity, smoking, diabetes, health status, mental and physical distress.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
view details
Public Health and Other Related Provisions in P.L 115-271, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act
Summarizes Title VII and VIII provisions in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Addresses provisions affecting access to opioid abuse treatment and providers, data collection, child welfare, the Department of Justice, substance abuse prevention, and more. Sections highlighting rural authorize grants for first responder training, data collection on adverse childhood experiences, recovery support services, and reauthorization of the State and Tribal Response to the Opioid Abuse Crisis grant program with technical assistance for rural and underserved communities.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
The Special Registration for Telemedicine: In Brief
Describes changes to the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) authorizing special registration for telemedicine to increase access to healthcare providers that can prescribe controlled substances using telemedicine, with the goal of helping address the opioid crisis and shortage of mental health providers. Outlines the seven categories for the practice of telemedicine under the authority of the CSA. The Drug Enforcement Administration plans to publish the related proposed rule to finalize the registration process and procedures.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Rates of Obesity and Obesogenic Behaviors of Rural Appalachian Adolescents: How Do They Compare to Other Adolescents or Recommendations?
Evaluates data from a sample of Appalachian adolescents in Ohio to compare obesity and related behaviors to that of the national adolescent population. Includes comparisons for body mass index (BMI), mean body fat percentage, daily physical activity behaviors, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
Author(s): Laureen H. Smith, Devin Laurent, Erica Baumker, Rick L. Petosa
Citation: Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15(11), 874-881
Date: 11/2018
view details
Designed Cultural Adaptation and Delivery Quality in Rural Substance Use Prevention: An Effectiveness Trial for the Keepin' it REAL Curriculum
Examines the effectiveness of two versions – one urban and one rural - of a culturally adapted evidence-based middle school substance use prevention curriculum on adolescents. Data collected included adolescent self-reported substance use, and ratings of quality in delivery analyzed from video recordings of lessons presented.
Author(s): Michael L. Hecht, YoungJu Shin, Jonathan Pettigrew, Michelle Miller-Day, Janice L. Krieger
Citation: Prevention Science 19(8), 1008-1018
Date: 11/2018
view details
Continuing Evidence of Chagas Disease Along the Texas-Mexico Border
Explores a study on Chagas Disease on the Texas-Mexico border. Features case studies detailing experiences with the disease in the rural towns of Rio Grande City, TX and San Vicente, Mexico; and in urban centers of Mission, TX and Reynosa, Mexico.
Author(s): Melissa S. Nolan, David Aguilar, Eric L. Brown, et al.
Citation: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(11)
Date: 11/2018
view details