Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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The Association Between School Physical Education Practices and School Level Socioeconomic Status
Examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and school physical education (PE) practices. Utilizes School Health Map and National Center for Education Statistics data to analyze high-SES, moderate-SES, and low-SES schools according to PE practices as well as location of city, suburb, town, or rural.
Author(s): Sam Biver, Ben D. Kern, Hans van der Mars, Enbal Shacham
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(9), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and school physical education (PE) practices. Utilizes School Health Map and National Center for Education Statistics data to analyze high-SES, moderate-SES, and low-SES schools according to PE practices as well as location of city, suburb, town, or rural.
Author(s): Sam Biver, Ben D. Kern, Hans van der Mars, Enbal Shacham
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(9), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Association Between Transportation Access and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults with Disabilities
Analyzes the association between access to transportation and self-rated health for 257 community-dwelling older adults. Offers data on study participant characteristics by consistent and inconsistent transportation access, including a comparison of micropolitan/non-core and metropolitan residence.
Author(s): Jihyeong Jeong, Jason R. Falvey, Amanda J. Lehning
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 51
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes the association between access to transportation and self-rated health for 257 community-dwelling older adults. Offers data on study participant characteristics by consistent and inconsistent transportation access, including a comparison of micropolitan/non-core and metropolitan residence.
Author(s): Jihyeong Jeong, Jason R. Falvey, Amanda J. Lehning
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 51
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Meeting Challenges of Staffing Rural Health Systems: Strategies and Actions in Eight Organizations
Summarizes key findings from conversations with health system leaders regarding workforce strategy and operations challenges. Describes initiatives used in rural healthcare settings to offset clinical, administrative, and technical support staffing constraints; accommodate evolving care needs; and address limitations unique to rural settings.
Author(s): Lauren Lavin, Alva O. Ferdinand, Mark Holmes, et al.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Summarizes key findings from conversations with health system leaders regarding workforce strategy and operations challenges. Describes initiatives used in rural healthcare settings to offset clinical, administrative, and technical support staffing constraints; accommodate evolving care needs; and address limitations unique to rural settings.
Author(s): Lauren Lavin, Alva O. Ferdinand, Mark Holmes, et al.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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ADDIE-Guided Development and Pilot Feasibility Evaluation of a Prototype VR Training Simulation for Suicide Prevention among Rural U.S. Veterans
Explores the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) workforce training modules to address the lack of specialty-trained mental health professionals serving rural veterans and to improve suicide prevention efforts. Evaluates participants' engagement in the VR environment, realism of VR scenarios, and perception of usability across different workforce groups, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna L. Schuman , Micki Washburn, Regina T. Praetorius, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 21(8), e0345819
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) workforce training modules to address the lack of specialty-trained mental health professionals serving rural veterans and to improve suicide prevention efforts. Evaluates participants' engagement in the VR environment, realism of VR scenarios, and perception of usability across different workforce groups, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna L. Schuman , Micki Washburn, Regina T. Praetorius, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 21(8), e0345819
Date: 08/2026
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Impact of Urban–Rural Residence on Treatment and Survival in Patients with Glioblastoma: A SEER-Based Study with External Validation
Analyzes how treatment and cancer-specific survival vary by rural or urban adults diagnosed with glioblastoma between 2000 and 2019. Utilizes National Cancer Institute SEER data.
Author(s): Changping Chen, Chang Liu, Xiaoyue Li, Chenbo Ouyang
Citation: Medicine, 105(34), e50325
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes how treatment and cancer-specific survival vary by rural or urban adults diagnosed with glioblastoma between 2000 and 2019. Utilizes National Cancer Institute SEER data.
Author(s): Changping Chen, Chang Liu, Xiaoyue Li, Chenbo Ouyang
Citation: Medicine, 105(34), e50325
Date: 08/2026
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State of Oral Health in America: Key Findings from 2026
Details the findings of a survey that aims to identify gaps in dental coverage, barriers to care, and areas that have worse overall oral health outcomes across the country. Compares metro and nonmetro areas by dental insurance coverage, adult dental visits, and overall oral health.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Details the findings of a survey that aims to identify gaps in dental coverage, barriers to care, and areas that have worse overall oral health outcomes across the country. Compares metro and nonmetro areas by dental insurance coverage, adult dental visits, and overall oral health.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Rural–Urban Differences in Excessive Alcohol Use and Select Mental Health Conditions
Explores the differences in alcohol use by people with self-reported mental health conditions in rural and urban areas using 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. Breaks down data by demographic markers, such as education level, employment, and health insurance status, among others. Compares alcohol use and mental health data by large urban, small urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Taryn Farrell, Cassie Odahowski, Emma Boswell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70209
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the differences in alcohol use by people with self-reported mental health conditions in rural and urban areas using 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. Breaks down data by demographic markers, such as education level, employment, and health insurance status, among others. Compares alcohol use and mental health data by large urban, small urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Taryn Farrell, Cassie Odahowski, Emma Boswell, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70209
Date: 08/2026
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