Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
Lifespan Exposures to Rural-Urban Conditions and Later-Life Cognitive Function
Examines associations between rural or urban residence during childhood and adulthood and cognitive outcomes, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia, among older adults, utilizing 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) data of 3496 individuals aged 65 years or older.
Author(s): Lingzhi Chu, Yingyan Wu, Heidi Karjalainen, Olivia E Atherton
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(6), e70267
Date: 06/2025
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Examines associations between rural or urban residence during childhood and adulthood and cognitive outcomes, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia, among older adults, utilizing 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) data of 3496 individuals aged 65 years or older.
Author(s): Lingzhi Chu, Yingyan Wu, Heidi Karjalainen, Olivia E Atherton
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(6), e70267
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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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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Social Determinants of Health and Rehabilitation Service Areas: An Urban and Rural Mediation Analysis
Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and community discharge rate disparities in rural and urban communities, utilizing AHRQ Social Determinants of Health Database data alongside other ZCTA-level datasets. Identifies key factors for addressing disparities in post-acute rehabilitation services.
Author(s): Sanghun Nam, Susanne Schmidt, Julianna M. Dean, Alex F. Bokov, Timothy A. Reistetter
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1562610
Date: 06/2025
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Evolution of the US Nonmetropolitan Mortality Disadvantage by Sex, State, and Year, 1999–2019
Highlights rural and urban disparities in mortality by sex and state from 1999 to 2019. Breaks down data by year, sex, and Census division, among other measures.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Irma T. Elo, Samuel H. Preston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70040
Date: 06/2025
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Highlights rural and urban disparities in mortality by sex and state from 1999 to 2019. Breaks down data by year, sex, and Census division, among other measures.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Irma T. Elo, Samuel H. Preston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70040
Date: 06/2025
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Compendium of Rural Oral Health Best Practices - 2025
Highlights examples of the best practices in rural oral healthcare across the country. Presents a number of models regarding workforce development and training, integration of care, telehealth, clinical care, and policy.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, National Rural Health Association
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Highlights examples of the best practices in rural oral healthcare across the country. Presents a number of models regarding workforce development and training, integration of care, telehealth, clinical care, and policy.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, National Rural Health Association
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The Role of Rurality, Travel Time, and Neighborhood Socioeconomics on Patterns of Adjuvant Therapy Receipt among Patients with Endometrial Cancer
Analyzes associations between rurality, distance to care, and community socioeconomics on receipt of any adjuvant therapy, including vaginal brachytherapy, external beam radiation, and chemotherapy, for the treatment for endometrial cancer. Utilizes SEER data of patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2017.
Author(s): Victoria M. Petermann, Stephanie B. Wheeler, Jennifer L. Lund, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 34(8), 1277-1285
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes associations between rurality, distance to care, and community socioeconomics on receipt of any adjuvant therapy, including vaginal brachytherapy, external beam radiation, and chemotherapy, for the treatment for endometrial cancer. Utilizes SEER data of patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2017.
Author(s): Victoria M. Petermann, Stephanie B. Wheeler, Jennifer L. Lund, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 34(8), 1277-1285
Date: 06/2025
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School-Based Health Centers and the Utilization of Primary Care in Rural Communities
Examines utilization patterns of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in 4 rural New York counties. Utilizes 2011–2017 electronic health record data to analyze students with or without access to SBHCs, utilization of SBHCs, and SBHC services used, such as primary care, immunizations, and chronic disease management.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Sharon Tennyson, Chris L Kjolhede, Wendy M Brunner
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 69(4), 107962
Date: 06/2025
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Examines utilization patterns of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in 4 rural New York counties. Utilizes 2011–2017 electronic health record data to analyze students with or without access to SBHCs, utilization of SBHCs, and SBHC services used, such as primary care, immunizations, and chronic disease management.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Sharon Tennyson, Chris L Kjolhede, Wendy M Brunner
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 69(4), 107962
Date: 06/2025
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Linkage of Parent-Infant Health Care Claims Reveals Prenatal Care Gaps and Facilitates Congenital Heart Outcomes Study
Examines disparities in prenatal ultrasound and fetal echocardiogram utilization by demographic group, utilizing care data of infants who underwent congenital heart surgery between 2006 and 2019 in New York. Includes data on rural-urban disparities in receipt of prenatal care.
Author(s): Joyce L. Woo, Kacie L. Dragan, Sarah Crook, et al.
Citation: JACC: Advances, 4(7), 101871
Date: 06/2025
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Examines disparities in prenatal ultrasound and fetal echocardiogram utilization by demographic group, utilizing care data of infants who underwent congenital heart surgery between 2006 and 2019 in New York. Includes data on rural-urban disparities in receipt of prenatal care.
Author(s): Joyce L. Woo, Kacie L. Dragan, Sarah Crook, et al.
Citation: JACC: Advances, 4(7), 101871
Date: 06/2025
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