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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

The Golden Hour Is Elusive in Rural Trauma: A 10-year Analysis from a Level I Trauma Center in Montana
Analyzed 4,213 trauma patients between 2012 and 2022 at a Level 1 trauma facility in Montana to determine whether trauma transfer patterns and rurality impacted outcomes. Discusses the goal of offering definitive care within 1 hour of injury and the impact of workforce shortages in rural areas.
Author(s): Jung G. Min, Maggie Smith, Michael S. Englehart, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 103, 127-131
Date: 05/2026
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Significant Mediation by Sadness and Self-Injury Is Observed in Associations Between County-Level Cyberbullying Victimization and Youth Suicidality in Rural New York State
Explores the relationship between cyberbullying, traditional bullying, and suicidality in rural counties in New York State. Highlights rates of bullying and cyberbullying, self-harm, recreational screen time, and other measures by demographic characteristic data.
Author(s): Laura E. Jones, Riya Nadkarni, Nicole Krupa
Citation: Journal of Affective Disorders, 401(15), 121270
Date: 05/2026
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Prevalence of Selected Chronic Conditions Among Adults Age 45 and Older, by Age and Urbanization Level: United States, 2024
Provides data on the prevalence of heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke among adults age 45 and older by level of rurality, using data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.
Author(s): Xun Wang, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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A Mixed-Methods Approach for Understanding Cancer Center Catchment Area Needs: An Example of Rural Cancer Disparities, Needs, and Resiliencies
Examines the catchment area for University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and provides data on cancer burden, risks and protective factors, needs and barriers, and assets and resources related to cancer in Iowa. Utilizes rural versus urban cancer registry data as well as qualitative interview data from Iowa leaders to discuss cancer disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Stephanie Evett, Amanda Kahl, Megan E. Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 37, 82
Date: 04/2026
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Hepatitis C Virus Transmission among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural United States: Mathematical Modeling Study Using Stochastic Agent-Based Network Simulation
Presents a study exploring a network simulation model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among rural people who inject drugs (PWID). Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, sex, and HCV antibody positivity, among others, and network characteristics, such as size and percentage of PWID who are HCV positive, among others.
Author(s): Lin Zhu, Jennifer R Havens, Abby E Rudolph, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 195(4), 937-947
Date: 04/2026
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Population-Based Associations of Body Mass Index and Treatments Received for Breast Cancer in a Rural, Midwestern State
Examines how breast cancer treatment differed by body mass index (BMI), using 2010-2020 Iowa Cancer Registry data of 18,115 patients. Includes data breakdowns by patient rurality and hospital rurality.
Author(s): Breanna L. Blaess, Amanda R. Kahl, Ingrid Lizarraga, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(4), e71831
Date: 04/2026
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Analysis of Pennsylvania Crime Trends: An Updated Rural/Urban Comparison
Examines rural and urban crime trends in Pennsylvania from 2013-2023. Identifies areas where rural crime trends differ from urban patterns, and highlights differences across rural regions of the state. Features statistics on crime rates by offense category, injuries due to assault, access to drug and alcohol treatment centers, and most prevalent property crimes, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and Philadelphia alone.
Author(s): Brandon Vick, Robert Orth, Emily Schumacher, Angel Alcantara
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Impact of Food Literacy Education on Rural, Uninsured Patients With Diabetes
Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties
Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Residence in a Rural Setting is Associated with Lower Five-Year Survival Rates in Patients that Undergo Spine Surgery for Breast Cancer Metastatic to the Spine: A Propensity Matched Analysis
Compares rural and urban mortality among breast cancer patients who underwent spine surgery, using 2006-2015 SEER data of 865 female patients.
Author(s): Austin Q. Nguyen, Brian M. Phelps, Sree M. Vemu, et al.
Citation: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)
Date: 04/2026
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