Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Rural Areas – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Rural Areas.
Understanding the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Symptom Reporting in Pediatric Cancer
Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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Seeking Connection: A Qualitative Study of Psychosocial Support Needs of Rural Cancer Survivors in Minnesota
Explores the psychosocial support needs of cancer patients and barriers to receiving support in rural Minnesota. Bases findings on focus group interviews of cancer survivors and highlights self-reported definitions of support in a rural context.
Author(s): Morgan Gruner, Katherine Brown, Renee Anderson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70066
Date: 08/2025
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Explores the psychosocial support needs of cancer patients and barriers to receiving support in rural Minnesota. Bases findings on focus group interviews of cancer survivors and highlights self-reported definitions of support in a rural context.
Author(s): Morgan Gruner, Katherine Brown, Renee Anderson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70066
Date: 08/2025
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Community Navigation Intervention for Social Needs in Patients With Abnormal Mammography: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol
Presents a study exploring the efficacy of community navigators, such as 211, to help alleviate unmet social needs and change the likelihood of cancer patients with unmet social needs to complete their follow-up care. Discusses the importance of follow-up care in the treatment and prevention of cancer and the barriers individuals with unmet social needs face to receive it. Explores rurality as a potential barrier.
Author(s): Kirstin Beck, Mackenzie Mitchell, Andrea S. Wallace, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2926
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study exploring the efficacy of community navigators, such as 211, to help alleviate unmet social needs and change the likelihood of cancer patients with unmet social needs to complete their follow-up care. Discusses the importance of follow-up care in the treatment and prevention of cancer and the barriers individuals with unmet social needs face to receive it. Explores rurality as a potential barrier.
Author(s): Kirstin Beck, Mackenzie Mitchell, Andrea S. Wallace, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2926
Date: 08/2025
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Use of Cancer Screening Tests, United States, 2023
Examines use of screening tests for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Utilizes 2023 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze percentage of adults who are up-to-date with screening recommendations according to age, sociodemographics, healthcare usage, and large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Susan A. Sabatino, Trevor D. Thompson, Jennifer M. Croswell, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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Examines use of screening tests for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Utilizes 2023 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze percentage of adults who are up-to-date with screening recommendations according to age, sociodemographics, healthcare usage, and large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Susan A. Sabatino, Trevor D. Thompson, Jennifer M. Croswell, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2024
Explores 2024 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores 2024 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Baseline Estimates of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Adults Aged 45 to 75 Years, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022
Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for adults aged 45 to 75. Utilizes 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data to analyze CRC screening status according to respondent demographics, income, access to healthcare and health plans, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Sallyann Coleman King, Jessica King, Cheryll C. Thomas, Lisa C. Richardson
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for adults aged 45 to 75. Utilizes 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data to analyze CRC screening status according to respondent demographics, income, access to healthcare and health plans, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Sallyann Coleman King, Jessica King, Cheryll C. Thomas, Lisa C. Richardson
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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Cancer in Rural America: Improving Access to Clinical Trials and Quality of Oncologic Care
Discusses the importance of rural populations accessing oncologic clinical trials to decrease cancer morbidity and mortality rates in rural areas. Provides rural versus urban patient data on distance from trial sites as well as prevalence of chronic disease. Suggests strategies and policies to improve access to clinical trials.
Author(s): Joseph M. Unger, Barbara L. McAneny, Raymond U. Osarogiagbon
Citation: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 75(4), 341-361
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses the importance of rural populations accessing oncologic clinical trials to decrease cancer morbidity and mortality rates in rural areas. Provides rural versus urban patient data on distance from trial sites as well as prevalence of chronic disease. Suggests strategies and policies to improve access to clinical trials.
Author(s): Joseph M. Unger, Barbara L. McAneny, Raymond U. Osarogiagbon
Citation: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 75(4), 341-361
Date: 07/2025
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Machine Learning to Evaluate the Effects of Non-Clinical Social Determinant Features in Predicting Colorectal Cancer Mortality in a Medically Underserved Appalachian Population
Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in rural Appalachia and the related impact of demographic, clinical, and social determinant of health (SDOH) factors. Utilizes machine learning (ML) models to analyze data from Appalachian cancer centers and examines what factors contribute most to CRC survival in Appalachia. Discusses the impact of including SDOH in ML prediction models and implications for further CRC research.
Author(s): Aisha Montgomery, Ravi Vadapalli, Frank A. Dinenno, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 15, 25781
Date: 07/2025
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Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in rural Appalachia and the related impact of demographic, clinical, and social determinant of health (SDOH) factors. Utilizes machine learning (ML) models to analyze data from Appalachian cancer centers and examines what factors contribute most to CRC survival in Appalachia. Discusses the impact of including SDOH in ML prediction models and implications for further CRC research.
Author(s): Aisha Montgomery, Ravi Vadapalli, Frank A. Dinenno, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 15, 25781
Date: 07/2025
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Implementing a Tribally Engaged Lung Cancer Screening Pilot Program in Rural Oklahoma
Presents a study on the efficacy of a lung cancer screening program within a tribally operated health system in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Bases findings on pre- and post-intervention surveys. Makes recommendation for program expansion and highlights key barriers and facilitators to implementation.
Author(s): Zsolt Nagykaldi, Mark Doescher, Dorothy A. Rhoades, et al.
Citation: Cancer Prevention Research, 18(7), 423-430
Date: 07/2025
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Presents a study on the efficacy of a lung cancer screening program within a tribally operated health system in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Bases findings on pre- and post-intervention surveys. Makes recommendation for program expansion and highlights key barriers and facilitators to implementation.
Author(s): Zsolt Nagykaldi, Mark Doescher, Dorothy A. Rhoades, et al.
Citation: Cancer Prevention Research, 18(7), 423-430
Date: 07/2025
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Building Engagement Using Financial Incentives for Colorectal Cancer Screening (BENEFIT-C) in a Rural Louisiana Federally Qualified Health Center
Examines a feasibility pilot trial that evaluates a financial incentive intervention aimed at increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the rural Acadiana region of Louisiana. Compares intervention and control patient groups to analyze the impact of using financial incentives to improve completion of CRC screenings.
Author(s): Laura M. Perry, Erin Peacock, Angela LeBlanc, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70011
Date: 07/2025
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Examines a feasibility pilot trial that evaluates a financial incentive intervention aimed at increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the rural Acadiana region of Louisiana. Compares intervention and control patient groups to analyze the impact of using financial incentives to improve completion of CRC screenings.
Author(s): Laura M. Perry, Erin Peacock, Angela LeBlanc, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70011
Date: 07/2025
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