Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
Disparities in Geographic Access to Cardiac Rehabilitation among Socially Vulnerable Communities
Examines geographic and social disparities regarding access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) care. Analyzes the relationship between CR access and social vulnerability, focusing on county CR availability, population size, distance to CR services, percentage without health insurance, and more. Includes metro versus rural county comparisons and discusses the role of rurality in CR access.
Author(s): Edward W. Chen, Wen‐Chih Wu, Ling Han, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association,14, 20
Date: 10/2025
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Examines geographic and social disparities regarding access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) care. Analyzes the relationship between CR access and social vulnerability, focusing on county CR availability, population size, distance to CR services, percentage without health insurance, and more. Includes metro versus rural county comparisons and discusses the role of rurality in CR access.
Author(s): Edward W. Chen, Wen‐Chih Wu, Ling Han, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association,14, 20
Date: 10/2025
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Missed Opportunities for Tobacco Dependence Treatment among U.S. Veterans Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: An Observational Cohort Study
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 10/2025
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Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 10/2025
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Chronic Pain Prevalence and Trends in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas among American Adults Aged 55+, 1998–2022
Compares the prevalence of chronic pain and associated trends in rural, suburban, and urban areas among adults aged 55 and older, utilizing 1998-2022 Health and Retirement Study data.
Author(s): Yulin Yang, Feinuo Sun, Zachary Zimmer, et al.
Citation: Social Science & Medicine, 385, 118625
Date: 10/2025
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Compares the prevalence of chronic pain and associated trends in rural, suburban, and urban areas among adults aged 55 and older, utilizing 1998-2022 Health and Retirement Study data.
Author(s): Yulin Yang, Feinuo Sun, Zachary Zimmer, et al.
Citation: Social Science & Medicine, 385, 118625
Date: 10/2025
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Application of MODIFI to the Adaptation of a Complex, Multilevel Intervention to Enhance Access to High-Quality Cancer Services in Rural Cancer Hospitals
Examines the process of applying the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network (MCCAN) intervention, aimed at establishing high quality cancer care, to a rural hospital context in Iowa. Discusses the process of adapting MCCAN using the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility (MODIFI) approach and related modifications to the intervention.
Author(s): Mary C. Schroeder, Sarah A. Birken, Ingrid M. Lizarraga, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 105
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the process of applying the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network (MCCAN) intervention, aimed at establishing high quality cancer care, to a rural hospital context in Iowa. Discusses the process of adapting MCCAN using the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility (MODIFI) approach and related modifications to the intervention.
Author(s): Mary C. Schroeder, Sarah A. Birken, Ingrid M. Lizarraga, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 105
Date: 10/2025
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Health Behaviors and Injury among New Mexican Adults: Results from the 2023 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Reports on health behaviors and injuries in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data, covering topics including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, physical activity, firearm safety, seatbelt use, suicidal ideation, sexual violence, and fall injuries. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Reports on health behaviors and injuries in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data, covering topics including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, physical activity, firearm safety, seatbelt use, suicidal ideation, sexual violence, and fall injuries. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Impact of Scope of Practice Laws for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists on the Utilization of Anesthesia Services
Examines scope of practice laws (SOPLs) for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SOPLs. Utilizes 2018-2022 national administrative claims data to examine anesthesia providers by rurality, utilization rate of anesthesia procedures, and utilization of anesthesia procedures by SOPL changes and county underserved status, defined by density of available anesthesia providers. Discusses the impact of SOPLs on access to anesthesia services.
Author(s): Projesh P. Ghosh, Wafa W. Tarazi, Nwanneamaka Ume, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 10/2025
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Examines scope of practice laws (SOPLs) for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SOPLs. Utilizes 2018-2022 national administrative claims data to examine anesthesia providers by rurality, utilization rate of anesthesia procedures, and utilization of anesthesia procedures by SOPL changes and county underserved status, defined by density of available anesthesia providers. Discusses the impact of SOPLs on access to anesthesia services.
Author(s): Projesh P. Ghosh, Wafa W. Tarazi, Nwanneamaka Ume, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 10/2025
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Utilization of Home- and Community-Based Services among Rural Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: The Role of the Area Deprivation Index
Examines the association between utilization of home- and community-based services and area-level factors as measured by the Area Deprivation Index, utilizing survey data of 361 rural family caregivers of people with dementia. Analyzes the relationship between home or community service use and level of area deprivation, U.S. region, and other individual factors.
Author(s): Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Kenneth E. Covinsky, Jing Cheng, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Veronica Yank
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1688161
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the association between utilization of home- and community-based services and area-level factors as measured by the Area Deprivation Index, utilizing survey data of 361 rural family caregivers of people with dementia. Analyzes the relationship between home or community service use and level of area deprivation, U.S. region, and other individual factors.
Author(s): Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson, Kenneth E. Covinsky, Jing Cheng, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Veronica Yank
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1688161
Date: 10/2025
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Higher Mortality Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Rural Versus Urban Dwellers Persists for Two Years Post-Infection
Compares two-year post-COVID-19 mortality by level of rurality among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection which occurred between April 2020 and December 2022, utilizing National Clinical Cohort Collaborative COVID-19 Enclave data. Includes data on overall mortality risk, excess mortality, trends in mortality over time, and new onset conditions among urban, urban-adjacent rural, and nonurban-adjacent rural populations.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Michael T. Vest, Makayla E. Schissel, et al.
Citation: Nature Communications, 16, 8933
Date: 10/2025
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Compares two-year post-COVID-19 mortality by level of rurality among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection which occurred between April 2020 and December 2022, utilizing National Clinical Cohort Collaborative COVID-19 Enclave data. Includes data on overall mortality risk, excess mortality, trends in mortality over time, and new onset conditions among urban, urban-adjacent rural, and nonurban-adjacent rural populations.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Michael T. Vest, Makayla E. Schissel, et al.
Citation: Nature Communications, 16, 8933
Date: 10/2025
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Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? The State of the Hematology and Medical Oncologist Workforce in America
Examines the supply and distribution of medical oncologists and hematologists over time, utilizing 2014, 2019, and 2024 data sets from Medicare Care Compare. Includes data on associations between county-level rurality, oncologist availability, and oncologists close to retirement age, among other geographic and demographic analyses.
Author(s): M. Kelsey Kirkwood, Erin P. Balogh, Melissa K. Accordino, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the supply and distribution of medical oncologists and hematologists over time, utilizing 2014, 2019, and 2024 data sets from Medicare Care Compare. Includes data on associations between county-level rurality, oncologist availability, and oncologists close to retirement age, among other geographic and demographic analyses.
Author(s): M. Kelsey Kirkwood, Erin P. Balogh, Melissa K. Accordino, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice
Date: 10/2025
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Trends in Opioid Prescribing by Oncologists for Medicare Beneficiaries from 2014 to 2022
Examines trends in opioid prescribing among oncologists before and after the FDA's 2018 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for opioids revision, utilizing 2014-2022 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use Files data. Breaks down data by opioid type, oncologist subspecialty, geographic region, and rurality.
Author(s): Shaimaa Elshafie, Lorenzo Villa Zapata
Citation: Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 31(10), 991-996
Date: 10/2025
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Examines trends in opioid prescribing among oncologists before and after the FDA's 2018 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for opioids revision, utilizing 2014-2022 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use Files data. Breaks down data by opioid type, oncologist subspecialty, geographic region, and rurality.
Author(s): Shaimaa Elshafie, Lorenzo Villa Zapata
Citation: Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 31(10), 991-996
Date: 10/2025
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