Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use among US Youth in 10th and 12th Grade, 2023–2025: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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Rural-Urban Differences for Integrated First Responder and Drone Automated External Defibrillator Delivery in North Carolina
Models the impact of equipping first responders with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or utilizing drone networks on median AED arrival time in rural and urban areas of North Carolina. Compares interventions against historical response times using 2013-2019 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) data.
Author(s): Jamal Chu, K.H. Benjamin Leung, Audrey L. Blewer, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 303, 107604
Date: 11/2026
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Models the impact of equipping first responders with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or utilizing drone networks on median AED arrival time in rural and urban areas of North Carolina. Compares interventions against historical response times using 2013-2019 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) data.
Author(s): Jamal Chu, K.H. Benjamin Leung, Audrey L. Blewer, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 303, 107604
Date: 11/2026
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Building a Rural, Coalition-Based Approach to Youth Substance Use Prevention: The Drug Free Dickson Coalition Model
Presents a rural coalition-based initiative to address youth substance use in Dickson County, Tennessee. Details a coalition, including local government, schools, healthcare providers, faith-based institutions, and law enforcement, among others, that works to engage youth across the county using evidence-based strategies.
Author(s): Karrie R. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S185-S188
Date: 11/2026
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Presents a rural coalition-based initiative to address youth substance use in Dickson County, Tennessee. Details a coalition, including local government, schools, healthcare providers, faith-based institutions, and law enforcement, among others, that works to engage youth across the county using evidence-based strategies.
Author(s): Karrie R. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S185-S188
Date: 11/2026
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Developing Community Partnerships and Authentically Engaging Youth to Prevent Substance Use: Successes from the Pyramid Coalition in Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Explores the Pyramid Coalition, a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program initiative, in rural Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Discusses the coalition's work in preventing youth substance use and highlights best practices for engaging youth in rural and frontier communities.
Author(s): Christina Johnson, Joni Kerr
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S181-S184
Date: 11/2026
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Explores the Pyramid Coalition, a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program initiative, in rural Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Discusses the coalition's work in preventing youth substance use and highlights best practices for engaging youth in rural and frontier communities.
Author(s): Christina Johnson, Joni Kerr
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 32(6S), S181-S184
Date: 11/2026
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How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Chronic Pain among Adults: Demographic and Behavioral Health Insights
Report explores chronic pain by demographic and behavioral health indicators. Compares rates of chronic pain by large metro, small metro, and nonmetro areas.
Citation: NSDUH Data Spotlight, 3(6)
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report explores chronic pain by demographic and behavioral health indicators. Compares rates of chronic pain by large metro, small metro, and nonmetro areas.
Citation: NSDUH Data Spotlight, 3(6)
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Patient Preferences for Portable Versus Table-Mounted Visual Field Devices in Rural Alabama: A Mixed Methods Study Within a Telemedicine Setting
Evaluates patient preference and satisfaction with the use of table-mounted, tablet-based, and virtual reality-based visual field screening devices among 271 patients receiving telemedicine services at 3 Federally Qualified Health Centers in rural Alabama.
Author(s): Ellen K. Antwi-Adjei, Sourav Datta, Christopher A. Girkin, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(10), e0348821
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluates patient preference and satisfaction with the use of table-mounted, tablet-based, and virtual reality-based visual field screening devices among 271 patients receiving telemedicine services at 3 Federally Qualified Health Centers in rural Alabama.
Author(s): Ellen K. Antwi-Adjei, Sourav Datta, Christopher A. Girkin, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(10), e0348821
Date: 10/2026
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County-Level Differences in Fee-for-Service Medicare Quality Measures by Rurality and Disability Status
Results of a study examining county-level differences in 3 fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare quality measures to address differences in quality of care by rurality and disability status. Features statistics on percent of FFS enrollees receiving flu vaccine and mammogram screening, and rate of hospital stays for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study examining county-level differences in 3 fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare quality measures to address differences in quality of care by rurality and disability status. Features statistics on percent of FFS enrollees receiving flu vaccine and mammogram screening, and rate of hospital stays for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Operational Challenges During Public Health Emergencies in Safety-Net Hospitals
Results of a study identifying challenges faced by safety net hospitals (SNHs) and approaches to strengthen future emergency response capacity. Based on data from 10 SNHs, including 3 in rural areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Tara Kirk Sell, Vanessa Grégoire, Madisen S. Neufeld, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2640799
Date: 10/2026
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Results of a study identifying challenges faced by safety net hospitals (SNHs) and approaches to strengthen future emergency response capacity. Based on data from 10 SNHs, including 3 in rural areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Tara Kirk Sell, Vanessa Grégoire, Madisen S. Neufeld, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2640799
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Skin Cancer Patients Tend to 'Slip Through the Cracks.' These Programs Are Trying to Change That
Provides a brief overview of barriers to accessing dermatology healthcare services and highlights programs to improve dermatology care in rural areas. Features a mobile unit offering skin cancer screenings and other dermatology services in rural areas of California, Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, and Utah; a rural dermatology residency training track in Mississippi; and a Wisconsin program that provides dermatology training for rural primary care providers, equipping them with the hands-on skills to provide basic care when access to a specialist is limited.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides a brief overview of barriers to accessing dermatology healthcare services and highlights programs to improve dermatology care in rural areas. Features a mobile unit offering skin cancer screenings and other dermatology services in rural areas of California, Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, and Utah; a rural dermatology residency training track in Mississippi; and a Wisconsin program that provides dermatology training for rural primary care providers, equipping them with the hands-on skills to provide basic care when access to a specialist is limited.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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