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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

2025 Indiana State Rural Health Report
Examines the state of rural health in Indiana and provides data on the health of rural citizens. Focuses on access, healthcare workforce shortages, health insurance, healthcare facilities availability, mobile health, telehealth services, maternal and infant health, mental health, substance use, and rural health finances and funding.
Author(s): Amnah Anwar, Kasia Hamman, Anureet Sandhu, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Rural Health Association
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The Most Important Thing is to Know What to Wear When Working in the Sun
Presents findings of focus groups with 54 Spanish-speaking crop workers about their access to and preferences regarding optimal workplace clothing for hot conditions. Discusses strategies for increasing access to optimal clothing including the role of the employer.
Author(s): Whitney Pennington, Yessica Martinez, Kayna Hobbs-Murphy, John Resecrance, Morgan Valley
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(4), 692-700
Date: 08/2025
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Drug Overdose Deaths in Kentucky, 2019–2024: Are We Back to Pre-COVID-19 Levels?
Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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Improving Access to Specialty Care for Rural Children Using Enhanced Hearing Screening and Specialty Telehealth Follow-Up in Rural Kentucky Schools: Protocol for a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Stepped Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Appalachian STAR Trial)
A study protocol for the Appalachian Specialty Telemedicine Access for Referrals (STAR) trial which aims to improve access to specialty hearing care for children living in rural Kentucky. Focuses on school hearing screenings of kindergartners and follow-up referrals to specialty care.
Author(s): Tarika Srinivasan, Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Elizabeth Turner, et al.
Citation: JMIR Research Protocols, 14
Date: 08/2025
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Combined Prevalence of Chronic Conditions or Obesity for Adults in 2022
Examines the combined prevalence of obesity and chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, among others, by demographic group, utilizing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data. See Figure 6 for a comparison of prevalence between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs.
Author(s): Zhengyi Fang, Rebecca Ahrnsbrak
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural and Urban Differences in Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Examines rates of prostate cancer recurrence among 778 rural and urban men, utilizing data from the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness Survivor Study. Analyzes the association of rurality and other demographic and clinical factors with recurrence.
Author(s): Julia B. Balmaceda, Aaron J. Katz, Katelyn Kane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2526912
Date: 08/2025
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Evaluating the Impact of Altitudinal Variations on COVID-19 Mortality Rates: A Comprehensive Analysis
Examines the effects of high altitude on county-level COVID-19 mortality, fatality rates, and vaccination outcomes, utilizing January 2020-August 2022 New York Times COVID-19 repository and American Community Survey data. Includes data on fatality by level of rurality in the pre- and post-vaccination periods.
Author(s): Emre Karsli, Damla Anbarli Metin, Arda Kocatas, et al.
Citation: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 25, 413
Date: 08/2025
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The Power of Prevention: "HPV Doesn't Wait – Why Should You?"
Discusses the Nebraska Cancer Coalition's "HPV Doesn't Wait - Why Should You?" public awareness campaign, which focuses on educating healthcare providers and community members throughout Nebraska on the value of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Details disparities in adolescent HPV vaccination rates in rural Nebraska and highlights the importance of rural outreach.
Author(s): Laura Schabloske, Tamara Robinson
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Americans
Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Quantitative Effects of Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Devices in Rural American Emergency Medical Services: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines the effect of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents in rural areas and the usefulness of new technologies on rural emergency medical services (EMS). Utilizes 2017–2019 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data to analyze 585 rural cardiac arrests and the impact of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation on EMS care quality.
Author(s): Peter H. King, Esmaeil Bahalkeh
Citation: International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18, 151
Date: 08/2025
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