Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions
Disparities in Rural–Urban Cancer Care Outcomes Among Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Populations: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 09/2026
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Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
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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Annual Scientific Review of Ultra-Processed Food, Dietary Patterns, and Chronic Disease and Dietary Guidelines for Texans: As Required by Senate Bill 25, 89th Legislative Session
Reports current evidence on nutrition, diet, and chronic disease, and provides recommendations for Texas's public health infrastructure. Mentions rural populations throughout, including rural access to nutritional food, prevalence of chronic disease and mental illness, nutrition education in schools, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee
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Reports current evidence on nutrition, diet, and chronic disease, and provides recommendations for Texas's public health infrastructure. Mentions rural populations throughout, including rural access to nutritional food, prevalence of chronic disease and mental illness, nutrition education in schools, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee
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Rural–Urban Differences in Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
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Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
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Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2017-2024
Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Program: Annual Data Report, 2024
Reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Program, which focuses on increasing the size and skills of the HIV clinical workforce, improving HIV care outcomes, and decreasing HIV transmission. Provides AETC Program data for the years 2019-2024 on participants' rural/suburban/urban employment settings and training events focused on rural populations.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
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Reports on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Program, which focuses on increasing the size and skills of the HIV clinical workforce, improving HIV care outcomes, and decreasing HIV transmission. Provides AETC Program data for the years 2019-2024 on participants' rural/suburban/urban employment settings and training events focused on rural populations.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
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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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Lung Cancer Screening Access and Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Among American Indian and White Patients
Examines the association between geographic access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening facilities and stage at diagnosis among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) adults in North Carolina. Utilizes 2016-2020 cancer registry and health insurance claims data to analyze 18,154 lung cancer patients according to distance to nearest LDCT, sociodemographic variables, and geography.
Author(s): Bradford E. Jackson, Madison Uhrin, Stephanie B. Wheeler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70207
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the association between geographic access to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening facilities and stage at diagnosis among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) adults in North Carolina. Utilizes 2016-2020 cancer registry and health insurance claims data to analyze 18,154 lung cancer patients according to distance to nearest LDCT, sociodemographic variables, and geography.
Author(s): Bradford E. Jackson, Madison Uhrin, Stephanie B. Wheeler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70207
Date: 08/2026
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Evaluating the Impact of the Ripe for Revival Mobile Market with Vouchers on Food and Nutrition Security, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Blood Pressure in Rural Eastern North Carolina: A Quasi-Experimental Trial Design Study Protocol
Outlines a study protocol that focuses on the impact of produce vouchers to improve fruit and vegetable intake and health status in rural North Carolina residents. Discusses participant eligibility and recruitment, data collection, and study measures and assessments.
Author(s): Basheerah Enahora, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(8), e114071
Date: 08/2026
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Outlines a study protocol that focuses on the impact of produce vouchers to improve fruit and vegetable intake and health status in rural North Carolina residents. Discusses participant eligibility and recruitment, data collection, and study measures and assessments.
Author(s): Basheerah Enahora, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(8), e114071
Date: 08/2026
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