Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
Cancer Survival Differences Between Rural and Urban Populations During the Opioid Epidemic: A SEER Analysis
Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
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Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
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What Telehealth Gets Right and What's Missing: A National Multistakeholder Study of Access and Sustainability
Explores the perspectives of telehealth patients and providers, as well as policymakers and administrators, regarding the impacts of telehealth on increasing healthcare access. Summarizes three sets of themes that emerged from semistructured interviews of 62 participants. Offers recommendations for improving the accessibility and sustainability of telehealth across each theme.
Author(s): Saif Khairat, John Geracitano, Andrea Huang, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal
Date: 09/2026
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Explores the perspectives of telehealth patients and providers, as well as policymakers and administrators, regarding the impacts of telehealth on increasing healthcare access. Summarizes three sets of themes that emerged from semistructured interviews of 62 participants. Offers recommendations for improving the accessibility and sustainability of telehealth across each theme.
Author(s): Saif Khairat, John Geracitano, Andrea Huang, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal
Date: 09/2026
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Unmasking the Rural Substance Use Burden: The Need to Move Beyond Macro-Level Data in Substance Use Policy and Planning
Brief examines health-related differences and service gaps of rural, non-rural, and national communities to better understand substance use trends in order to inform policies and interventions in rural communities. Bases findings on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and details rates of opioid, stimulant, vape, and alcohol use in rural and urban areas in 2023 and 2024.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Technical Assistance
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Brief examines health-related differences and service gaps of rural, non-rural, and national communities to better understand substance use trends in order to inform policies and interventions in rural communities. Bases findings on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and details rates of opioid, stimulant, vape, and alcohol use in rural and urban areas in 2023 and 2024.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Technical Assistance
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Fatigue Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024
Analyzes the prevalence of fatigue and related functioning difficulties and work or social limitations by demographic group, using 2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. See Table 2 for comparisons of frequency of fatigue by level of rurality, among other demographics.
Author(s): Natalie A. E. Young, Julie D. Weeks, Nazik Elgaddal
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Analyzes the prevalence of fatigue and related functioning difficulties and work or social limitations by demographic group, using 2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. See Table 2 for comparisons of frequency of fatigue by level of rurality, among other demographics.
Author(s): Natalie A. E. Young, Julie D. Weeks, Nazik Elgaddal
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Urban-Rural and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Modes of Preconception Cannabis Use among Insured Patients Receiving Prenatal Care at an Integrated Healthcare System in Northern California from 2020 to 2023
Analyzes joint interactions in race and ethnicity and level of rurality on cannabis use and mode of use during preconception, using Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) data of 191,469 pregnancies taking place between February 2020 and September 2023.
Author(s): Qiana L. Brown, Catherine A. Cortez, Joshua R. Nugent, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 286, 113281
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes joint interactions in race and ethnicity and level of rurality on cannabis use and mode of use during preconception, using Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) data of 191,469 pregnancies taking place between February 2020 and September 2023.
Author(s): Qiana L. Brown, Catherine A. Cortez, Joshua R. Nugent, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 286, 113281
Date: 09/2026
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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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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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Non-Metropolitan vs. Metropolitan Variations in Alcohol, Illicit Drug, and Prescription Therapeutic Drug Misuse
Reports on how alcohol use, illicit drug use, and the use of opioid and non-opioid prescription drugs vary by rural or urban area using 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Reports on how alcohol use, illicit drug use, and the use of opioid and non-opioid prescription drugs vary by rural or urban area using 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Urban Versus Rural Differences in Services Requested, Received, and Interest Expressed among Informal Caregivers of Older U.S. Veterans
Results of a study on differences in access to, utilization of, and interest in home and community-based services (HCBS) for caregivers of older veterans in rural and urban communities. Bases findings on an online survey of caregivers of older veterans. Breaks down data by demographic factors of both veterans and their caregivers, veterans' care complexity, and by caregivers' access to services and interest in services to support the veterans under their care.
Author(s): Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, Steven D. Shirk, Victoria Ngo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70218
Date: 08/2026
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Results of a study on differences in access to, utilization of, and interest in home and community-based services (HCBS) for caregivers of older veterans in rural and urban communities. Bases findings on an online survey of caregivers of older veterans. Breaks down data by demographic factors of both veterans and their caregivers, veterans' care complexity, and by caregivers' access to services and interest in services to support the veterans under their care.
Author(s): Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, Steven D. Shirk, Victoria Ngo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70218
Date: 08/2026
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