Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
Geographic Disparities in Unpaid Caregiving
Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
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Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
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Effects of Using Different Rural Measurements on Estimates of Hospitalizations for Depression and Substance Use
Explores how using different rural measurements can affect estimates of hospitalization rates for behavioral health conditions. Highlights how Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) codes, Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), Urban-Rural Category 4 (URCategory4), and Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) affect hospitalization estimates. Discusses the consequences these difference can have on policy.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 818
Date: 06/2025
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Explores how using different rural measurements can affect estimates of hospitalization rates for behavioral health conditions. Highlights how Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) codes, Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), Urban-Rural Category 4 (URCategory4), and Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) affect hospitalization estimates. Discusses the consequences these difference can have on policy.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 818
Date: 06/2025
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Economic Factors Associated With County-Level Mental Health – United States, 2019
Explores the correlation between economic factors, such as household income, education, and supplemental income and nutritional support, and county-level mental health. Breaks down economic factors, such as employment, income and wealth, and expenses by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michele L.F. Bolduc, Parya Saberi, Torsten B. Neilands, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(6), e0300939
Date: 06/2025
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Explores the correlation between economic factors, such as household income, education, and supplemental income and nutritional support, and county-level mental health. Breaks down economic factors, such as employment, income and wealth, and expenses by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michele L.F. Bolduc, Parya Saberi, Torsten B. Neilands, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(6), e0300939
Date: 06/2025
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Patient-Centered Medical Homes: How the Federally Supported Model Minimizes Healthcare Access Disparities for Older Adults in Rural Areas
Examines the impact of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model on healthcare access in the southern United States. Utilizes data from 746 older adults to analyze access to healthcare, with breakdowns according to PCMH use, demographics, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Elisa M. Childs, Orion Mowbray
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model on healthcare access in the southern United States. Utilizes data from 746 older adults to analyze access to healthcare, with breakdowns according to PCMH use, demographics, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Elisa M. Childs, Orion Mowbray
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 06/2025
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Impact of COVID-19 on Clinical Trials Costs to Patients
Examines the direct and indirect costs of COVID-19 clinical trial participation to patients and the impact of utilizing remote technologies. Presents an environmental scan of articles published between 2010 and 2023 and discusses barriers to clinical trial participation experienced by underrepresented and rural populations.
Author(s): Keri Calkins, Emily Crabtree, Emily Harrison, Nyna Williams, Kirsten Barrett
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Examines the direct and indirect costs of COVID-19 clinical trial participation to patients and the impact of utilizing remote technologies. Presents an environmental scan of articles published between 2010 and 2023 and discusses barriers to clinical trial participation experienced by underrepresented and rural populations.
Author(s): Keri Calkins, Emily Crabtree, Emily Harrison, Nyna Williams, Kirsten Barrett
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Assessing Neighborhood Deprivation Reveals Rural-Urban Disparities in CGM Access Among Children With Type 1 Diabetes
Examines disparities in access to continuous glucose monitor (CGM) technology in rural versus urban and high deprivation versus low deprivation areas, utilizing 2016-2023 pediatric endocrine patient encounter data for a region including parts of Missouri and Kansas. Highlights interactions between rurality, deprivation, access, and neighborhood demographics.
Author(s): Daniel R. Tilden, Christie A. Befort, Brent Lockee, et al.
Citation: Diabetes Care, dc250077
Date: 05/2025
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Examines disparities in access to continuous glucose monitor (CGM) technology in rural versus urban and high deprivation versus low deprivation areas, utilizing 2016-2023 pediatric endocrine patient encounter data for a region including parts of Missouri and Kansas. Highlights interactions between rurality, deprivation, access, and neighborhood demographics.
Author(s): Daniel R. Tilden, Christie A. Befort, Brent Lockee, et al.
Citation: Diabetes Care, dc250077
Date: 05/2025
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Access to CCTA at Safety-Net Hospitals Across the United States
Examines the availability of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) at safety-net hospitals to evaluate patients with chest pain. Analyzes 391 safety-net hospitals according to bed size, state, academic status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Jonah Delshad, Trevor Weis, Caleb Bayona, et al.
Citation: Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 19(3), 340-343
Date: 05/2025
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Examines the availability of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) at safety-net hospitals to evaluate patients with chest pain. Analyzes 391 safety-net hospitals according to bed size, state, academic status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Jonah Delshad, Trevor Weis, Caleb Bayona, et al.
Citation: Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 19(3), 340-343
Date: 05/2025
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Current Approaches to Rural Health Workforce Challenges Need Improvement
Describes rural health disparities using data from New York's provider recruitment efforts. Features statistics on the percentage of New York-trained physicians in the states with the highest rural populations, and workforce recruitment program outcomes with breakdowns by medical specialty and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Gaetano Forte
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of American Medical Colleges
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Describes rural health disparities using data from New York's provider recruitment efforts. Features statistics on the percentage of New York-trained physicians in the states with the highest rural populations, and workforce recruitment program outcomes with breakdowns by medical specialty and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Gaetano Forte
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Association of American Medical Colleges
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America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2025
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health for older adults across 55 measures using data from 24 unique data sources. Covers social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors, and health outcomes. Highlights health disparities, including rural-urban disparities, across five categories of health. Includes state-by-state summaries and county-level maps for risk of social isolation by state.
Additional links: Executive Brief, Risk of Social Isolation County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health for older adults across 55 measures using data from 24 unique data sources. Covers social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors, and health outcomes. Highlights health disparities, including rural-urban disparities, across five categories of health. Includes state-by-state summaries and county-level maps for risk of social isolation by state.
Additional links: Executive Brief, Risk of Social Isolation County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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