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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Significant Mediation by Sadness and Self-Injury Is Observed in Associations Between County-Level Cyberbullying Victimization and Youth Suicidality in Rural New York State
Explores the relationship between cyberbullying, traditional bullying, and suicidality in rural counties in New York State. Highlights rates of bullying and cyberbullying, self-harm, recreational screen time, and other measures by demographic characteristic data.
Author(s): Laura E. Jones, Riya Nadkarni, Nicole Krupa
Citation: Journal of Affective Disorders, 401(15), 121270
Date: 05/2026
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Assessing Environmental, Nutritional, and Genetic Factors for Otitis Media-Related Hearing Loss in Rural Alaska Native Children
Highlights a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Alyssa Platt, Rolvix H Patterson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 404-416
Date: 03/2026
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Understanding Risk Factors for Otitis Media in Rural Alaska Native Children: A Cohort Study
Presents a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Bering Strait region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Rolvix H Patterson, Susan D Emmett, Kelli L Scheinman, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 417-428
Date: 03/2026
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State Medicaid & CHIP Toolkit for Children's Behavioral Health Services and the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) Requirements
Toolkit designed to support state Medicaid and CHIP agencies in ensuring that children and youth experiencing behavioral health conditions get the care they need under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) requirements. Offers state examples within each strategy and sub-strategy presented. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Methamphetamine Use, Mental Health Comorbidities, and Treatment in Rural and Urban Areas, 2016-2019
Examines the prevalence of methamphetamine use by level of rurality and U.S. region, with data on methamphetamine use and mental illness, suicide and suicidal ideation, concurrent alcohol use, treatment for methamphetamine use disorder, method of use, and other relating to methamphetamine use prevalence and associated risks.
Author(s): Signe E. Burchim, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Delivering Quality: Maternity Care Innovation in Critical Access Hospitals
Presents case studies of six Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that are high performers on maternity care quality measures. Summarizes interviews with leaders from each CAH regarding the benefits of their Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, use of safety bundles, training activities, and other successes in providing maternity care.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Hamdi Abas, Megan Lahr, Mikayla Reinke
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Community Schools in Rural California: Leveraging Shared Resources in West Kern County
Discusses access challenges related to academic, social, and mental health supports in rural schools and provides a case study of a community school approach in California. Provides findings, lessons, collaborative strategies, and sustainability efforts from the West Kern Consortium for Full-Service Community Schools.
Author(s): Laura E. Hernández Emily Germain
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Learning Policy Institute
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Bypass of Local Surgical Care in North Carolina: Patient-Directed Care Destination and Utilization
Examines patient bypass of nearest surgical hospital (NSH) in North Carolina. Utilizes 2016-2019 patient data to analyze bypassing of local surgery care according to rurality of NSH and facility characteristics, general surgery workforce density by county, and patient characteristics, including residence of metro, micro, small town, or rural area.
Author(s): Mustafa Abid, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes, Anthony Charles
Citation: The American Surgeon
Date: 02/2026
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Nonventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: Prevalence and Hospital and Patient Characteristics, 2019-2023
Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays involving nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP) between 2019-2023. Examines data by patient and hospital characteristics, including patient age group, urban or rural location, Critical Access Hospital status, and hospital ownership status.
Author(s): Rhona Limcangco, David P. Calfee, Melissa A. Miller
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Usual Source of Care for Rural Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries in 2021
Explores Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries' usual source of care in 2021. Describes the types of facilities that serve as primary care providers for rural Medicare FFS beneficiaries. Compares the usual source of care for beneficiaries by demographic characteristics, including degree of rurality.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Melissa Sandahl, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Mark Holmes
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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