Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
HCAHPS Toolkit for Critical Access Hospitals
Designed to assist Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in reporting and utilizing Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) data. Provides a detailed description of HCAHPS as a Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) core measure, strategies for improving HCAHPS survey response rates, and answers to common HCAHPS questions. Offers recommendations for utilizing HCAHPS data reports from vendors and the Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) and improving HCAHPS scores.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Designed to assist Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in reporting and utilizing Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) data. Provides a detailed description of HCAHPS as a Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) core measure, strategies for improving HCAHPS survey response rates, and answers to common HCAHPS questions. Offers recommendations for utilizing HCAHPS data reports from vendors and the Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) and improving HCAHPS scores.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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2025 Indiana State Rural Health Report
Examines the state of rural health in Indiana and provides data on the health of rural citizens. Focuses on access, healthcare workforce shortages, health insurance, healthcare facilities availability, mobile health, telehealth services, maternal and infant health, mental health, substance use, and rural health finances and funding.
Author(s): Amnah Anwar, Kasia Hamman, Anureet Sandhu, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Rural Health Association
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Examines the state of rural health in Indiana and provides data on the health of rural citizens. Focuses on access, healthcare workforce shortages, health insurance, healthcare facilities availability, mobile health, telehealth services, maternal and infant health, mental health, substance use, and rural health finances and funding.
Author(s): Amnah Anwar, Kasia Hamman, Anureet Sandhu, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Rural Health Association
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U.S. Obesity Rate Changes Differ for Rural and Urban Areas, as Well as Across Regions
Reports on rural versus urban and regional differences in obesity prevalence among U.S. adults between 2019 and 2024. Identifies changes in obesity prevalence over time and discusses the geographic factors influencing obesity prevalence.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on rural versus urban and regional differences in obesity prevalence among U.S. adults between 2019 and 2024. Identifies changes in obesity prevalence over time and discusses the geographic factors influencing obesity prevalence.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Health-Related Internet Use among Adults In The Midwest, Metro and Nonmetro Geographies
Examines trends in health-related internet use in Midwestern adults. Utilizes data from 1,220 adult survey respondents and provides metro versus nonmetro data breakdowns on drive to seek online health information, internet searching literacy, device use, utilization of health-related social media and videos, and more. Discusses differences in rural and urban populations' abilities to utilize the internet for health needs.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines trends in health-related internet use in Midwestern adults. Utilizes data from 1,220 adult survey respondents and provides metro versus nonmetro data breakdowns on drive to seek online health information, internet searching literacy, device use, utilization of health-related social media and videos, and more. Discusses differences in rural and urban populations' abilities to utilize the internet for health needs.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Rural–Urban Differences in Health Care Access for Postpartum Parent and Infant Dyads
Details a study on differences in perinatal health among postpartum parents and infants in rural and urban areas. Bases findings on National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, perceived barriers, and perceived health along rural and urban locations.
Author(s): Sara C. Handley, Julia D. Interrante, Emily F. Gregory, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70062
Date: 08/2025
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Details a study on differences in perinatal health among postpartum parents and infants in rural and urban areas. Bases findings on National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, perceived barriers, and perceived health along rural and urban locations.
Author(s): Sara C. Handley, Julia D. Interrante, Emily F. Gregory, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70062
Date: 08/2025
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Examining Geographic Disparities in Access to No-Cost Naloxone in North Carolina: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Naloxone Distribution Programs
Presents a study exploring the geographic distribution of no-cost naloxone in North Carolina. Bases findings on a survey of naloxone distributors in the state and breaks down data by user demographics and distributor type.
Author(s): Grace Marley, Caroline Shubel, Carolyn T. Thorpe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70069
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study exploring the geographic distribution of no-cost naloxone in North Carolina. Bases findings on a survey of naloxone distributors in the state and breaks down data by user demographics and distributor type.
Author(s): Grace Marley, Caroline Shubel, Carolyn T. Thorpe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70069
Date: 08/2025
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Understanding the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Symptom Reporting in Pediatric Cancer
Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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Highlights a study on the social determinants of health of caregivers of children with cancer in Appalachia. Discusses the symptom burden of child cancer and breaks down data by child's age, rurality, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian location, among other measures.
Author(s): Micah A. Skeens, Adelaide Booze, Mark Ranalli, Anna Olsavsky
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70071
Date: 08/2025
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Mental and Physical Health of US Rural/Urban Caregivers of Persons With Dementia
Presents a study on the physical and mental health of caregivers of people with dementia in rural and urban areas. Highlights access challenges for both physical and mental health in rural areas and compares rates of mental and physical issues among rural and urban caregivers.
Author(s): Phoebe Tran, Fei Wang, E-Shien Chang
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0329260
Date: 08/2025
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Presents a study on the physical and mental health of caregivers of people with dementia in rural and urban areas. Highlights access challenges for both physical and mental health in rural areas and compares rates of mental and physical issues among rural and urban caregivers.
Author(s): Phoebe Tran, Fei Wang, E-Shien Chang
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0329260
Date: 08/2025
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Stalled Progress and Emerging Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Mortality among U.S. Older Adults (> 65 Years) with Renal Failure, 1999–2023
Examines mortality trends related to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and renal failure in older adults. Analyzes 288,801 AMI-related renal-failure deaths from 1999-2023 according to patient demographics, U.S. region, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Bazil Azeem, Yumna Fatima, Iffat Ambreen Magsi, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, 565
Date: 08/2025
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Examines mortality trends related to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and renal failure in older adults. Analyzes 288,801 AMI-related renal-failure deaths from 1999-2023 according to patient demographics, U.S. region, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Bazil Azeem, Yumna Fatima, Iffat Ambreen Magsi, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, 565
Date: 08/2025
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Video and Telephone Telehealth Use and Web-Based Patient Portal Activation Among Rural-Dwelling Patients: Retrospective Medical Record Review and Policy Implications
Analyzes patient characteristics associated with telehealth use among rural California adults, utilizing electronic health record data of 9,359 patients dwelling in rural California ZIP codes. Provides data on patients' telehealth modality, provider type, portal activation, level of rurality, age, primary language, and other clinical and demographic characteristics. Discusses policy approaches to improving telehealth access in rural areas.
Author(s): Meghan Rowe Ferrara, Gina Intinarelli-Shuler, Susan A Chapman
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e67226
Date: 08/2025
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Analyzes patient characteristics associated with telehealth use among rural California adults, utilizing electronic health record data of 9,359 patients dwelling in rural California ZIP codes. Provides data on patients' telehealth modality, provider type, portal activation, level of rurality, age, primary language, and other clinical and demographic characteristics. Discusses policy approaches to improving telehealth access in rural areas.
Author(s): Meghan Rowe Ferrara, Gina Intinarelli-Shuler, Susan A Chapman
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e67226
Date: 08/2025
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