Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Cancer
Deaths of Despair Among Cancer Survivors in Rural/Urban Appalachia (2000-2022)
Compares deaths of despair trends among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions. Features statistics on year-by-year incidence-based mortality rates, with breakdowns by sex, urban or rural location, and region, and mortality rates for these groups in 2000 and 2022.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 14-28
Date: 08/2026
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Compares deaths of despair trends among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions. Features statistics on year-by-year incidence-based mortality rates, with breakdowns by sex, urban or rural location, and region, and mortality rates for these groups in 2000 and 2022.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 14-28
Date: 08/2026
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Understanding Cancer Clinical Trial Participation in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Focus Group Study
Analyzes perceptions of cancer clinical trial participation among 30 rural cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates in rural Florida via focus group interviews. Discusses barriers to clinical trial participation, misunderstandings of clinical trial purpose, process, and accessibility, and other factors associated with rural access, communication, and trust for clinical trials.
Author(s): Yetunde Tagurum, Jennifer N. Wells, Vickie Cater, et al.
Citation: Psycho-Oncology, 35(8), e70572
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes perceptions of cancer clinical trial participation among 30 rural cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates in rural Florida via focus group interviews. Discusses barriers to clinical trial participation, misunderstandings of clinical trial purpose, process, and accessibility, and other factors associated with rural access, communication, and trust for clinical trials.
Author(s): Yetunde Tagurum, Jennifer N. Wells, Vickie Cater, et al.
Citation: Psycho-Oncology, 35(8), e70572
Date: 08/2026
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Geographic Access to Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening in Tennessee: Disparities by Socioeconomic Variables, Rurality, and Appalachian Status
Examines access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Tennessee according to rurality and Appalachian status. Analyzes 198 LDCT sites and provides information on travel time and access to sites as well as demographic breakdown of population according to urban, rural, Appalachian, or non-Appalachian location. Discusses access disparities and solutions to improve access to LDCT screening sites in Tennessee.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Martin Whiteside, R. Eric Heidel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70202
Date: 08/2026
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Examines access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Tennessee according to rurality and Appalachian status. Analyzes 198 LDCT sites and provides information on travel time and access to sites as well as demographic breakdown of population according to urban, rural, Appalachian, or non-Appalachian location. Discusses access disparities and solutions to improve access to LDCT screening sites in Tennessee.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Martin Whiteside, R. Eric Heidel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70202
Date: 08/2026
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Facilitation of Health Plan-Clinic Partnerships to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening for Rural Medicaid Enrollees: A Qualitative Study
Examines efforts to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, analyzing practice facilitation that supports mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) and patient navigation. Utilizes qualitative data from the SMARTER CRC pragmatic trial that facilitates partnerships between Medicaid health plans and clinics in rural parts of Oregon.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Anders Herreid-O'Neill, Emily Myers, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70203
Date: 08/2026
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Examines efforts to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, analyzing practice facilitation that supports mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) and patient navigation. Utilizes qualitative data from the SMARTER CRC pragmatic trial that facilitates partnerships between Medicaid health plans and clinics in rural parts of Oregon.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Anders Herreid-O'Neill, Emily Myers, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70203
Date: 08/2026
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Long-Term Poverty, Rurality, and Geographic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer: A Spatial Analysis in Texas
Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Evaluation of a Minigrant Program for Multilevel Interventions to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Rural Communities in Georgia
Examines 4 health department minigrant programs related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake in rural communities. Analyzes program results according to reach of patients, intervention levels, HPV vaccination effectiveness, implementation barriers, and sustainability.
Author(s): Cam Escoffery, Courtney Petagna, Rithika Chari, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 08/2026
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Examines 4 health department minigrant programs related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake in rural communities. Analyzes program results according to reach of patients, intervention levels, HPV vaccination effectiveness, implementation barriers, and sustainability.
Author(s): Cam Escoffery, Courtney Petagna, Rithika Chari, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 08/2026
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Recruiting Rural Patients for Clinical Research: Lessons From a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial
Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research.
Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research.
Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189
Date: 07/2026
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National Trends in Bone-Metastatic Prostate Cancer Mortality in the United States, 1999–2024: A Multiple-Cause-of-Death Analysis with Projections to 2040
Examines trends in prostate cancer mortality with bone metastasis as a contributing cause using 1999-2024 CDC WONDER data. Includes demographic and rural-urban data comparisons.
Author(s): Kanza Atif, Eshal Atif, Vishan Das, Alaa Eldeeb
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1882666
Date: 07/2026
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Examines trends in prostate cancer mortality with bone metastasis as a contributing cause using 1999-2024 CDC WONDER data. Includes demographic and rural-urban data comparisons.
Author(s): Kanza Atif, Eshal Atif, Vishan Das, Alaa Eldeeb
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1882666
Date: 07/2026
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Structural Vulnerability in the United States Radiation Oncology Delivery System: Predictors and Consequences of Practice Site Disappearance
Examines the impact of radiation oncology (RO) practice site disappearance on treatment capacity in U.S. counties. Utilizes 2018-2025 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Downloadable File to analyze RO practice sites according to urban, rural-adjacent, or rural-nonadjacent county location, hospital affiliation, and county sociodemographics. Includes county-level U.S. map showing RO site growth, loss, or stability.
Author(s): Catherine Yu, Sifan Grace Lu, Danielle Arons, Jared P. Rowley, Kunal K. Sindhu
Citation: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of radiation oncology (RO) practice site disappearance on treatment capacity in U.S. counties. Utilizes 2018-2025 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Downloadable File to analyze RO practice sites according to urban, rural-adjacent, or rural-nonadjacent county location, hospital affiliation, and county sociodemographics. Includes county-level U.S. map showing RO site growth, loss, or stability.
Author(s): Catherine Yu, Sifan Grace Lu, Danielle Arons, Jared P. Rowley, Kunal K. Sindhu
Citation: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Date: 07/2026
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Veteran Satisfaction With Lung Cancer Screening Care: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation
Examines how satisfaction with lung cancer screening varied among rural and nonrural veterans receiving care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2018 and 2021, using survey data of 689 veterans. Includes data on how other demographic and clinical factors, including smoking status, influence satisfaction with care.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Lewis, Amber J. Hackstadt, Kathryn D. Snyder, et al.
Citation: Medical Care
Date: 07/2026
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Examines how satisfaction with lung cancer screening varied among rural and nonrural veterans receiving care at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2018 and 2021, using survey data of 689 veterans. Includes data on how other demographic and clinical factors, including smoking status, influence satisfaction with care.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Lewis, Amber J. Hackstadt, Kathryn D. Snyder, et al.
Citation: Medical Care
Date: 07/2026
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