Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention
Peer Recovery Supports for Behavioral Health in Rural Communities
Discusses behavioral health peer recovery support services in rural and agricultural communities. Highlights innovative and promising practices for overcoming behavioral health barriers, such as addressing stigma, social isolation, and scarcity of services through community and peer supports.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Discusses behavioral health peer recovery support services in rural and agricultural communities. Highlights innovative and promising practices for overcoming behavioral health barriers, such as addressing stigma, social isolation, and scarcity of services through community and peer supports.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Impact of Food Literacy Education on Rural, Uninsured Patients With Diabetes
Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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Examines changes in food literacy among 140 diabetic or prediabetic adults without insurance participating in the Fresh Start Food is Medicine (FIM) + Food Literacy intervention, which provided group classes on food literacy, direct provision of produce, and health coaching in rural, eastern North Carolina. Provides data on racial and ethnic disparities in food literacy before and after participation.
Author(s): Raven Breinholt, Brandon J. Stroud, Lauren R. Sastre
Citation: Journal of Nutrition and Behavior, 58, 379-393
Date: 04/2026
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Rural Community Engagement and Cultural Considerations in the Design and Deployment of Remote Health Monitoring Systems: A Scoping Review
Presents a literature review exploring whether remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) are designed with rural communities in mind as a solution for healthcare access issues. Details RHMS literature by study design, healthcare focus, and issue being monitored, among other measures.
Author(s): Kelly Reed, Victoria M. Petermann, Rhys D. Nicholas, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70141
Date: 04/2026
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Presents a literature review exploring whether remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) are designed with rural communities in mind as a solution for healthcare access issues. Details RHMS literature by study design, healthcare focus, and issue being monitored, among other measures.
Author(s): Kelly Reed, Victoria M. Petermann, Rhys D. Nicholas, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70141
Date: 04/2026
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Aerobic Physical Activity Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024
Offers data highlighting aerobic physical activity among adults. Includes a data breakdown by 4 levels of urbanization in addition to other demographic characteristics, family income, education, disability status, and body mass index.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data highlighting aerobic physical activity among adults. Includes a data breakdown by 4 levels of urbanization in addition to other demographic characteristics, family income, education, disability status, and body mass index.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Adults' Leisure-Time Physical Activity Preferences and Association with Physical Activity Guidelines by Metropolitan Status, United States, 2019
Compares preferences in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and likelihood of meeting physical activity guidelines among adults by level of rurality, using 2019 BRFSS data. Discusses how rural-urban differences in LTPA can contribute to rural physical activity interventions.
Author(s): Christiaan G. Abildso, Eugene C. Fitzhugh, Alan M. Beck, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(4), e0345026
Date: 04/2026
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Compares preferences in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and likelihood of meeting physical activity guidelines among adults by level of rurality, using 2019 BRFSS data. Discusses how rural-urban differences in LTPA can contribute to rural physical activity interventions.
Author(s): Christiaan G. Abildso, Eugene C. Fitzhugh, Alan M. Beck, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 21(4), e0345026
Date: 04/2026
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HEARTLAND Protocol: A Tiered Clinical Implementation Toolkit for Primary Care-Led Heart Failure Management in Rural and Resource-Limited Settings
Presents a study on the efficacy of the HEARTLAND (Heart failure Evidence-based Access in Rural Treatment, Linking Advanced Network Delivery) protocol at managing heart failure (HF) in rural and low-resourced healthcare settings. Highlights the protocol's structure and the process by which it evaluates patient HF risk, establishes monitoring, and ensures continuity of care.
Author(s): Vicky Muller Ferreira
Citation: Cureus, 18(3), e104817
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study on the efficacy of the HEARTLAND (Heart failure Evidence-based Access in Rural Treatment, Linking Advanced Network Delivery) protocol at managing heart failure (HF) in rural and low-resourced healthcare settings. Highlights the protocol's structure and the process by which it evaluates patient HF risk, establishes monitoring, and ensures continuity of care.
Author(s): Vicky Muller Ferreira
Citation: Cureus, 18(3), e104817
Date: 03/2026
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Food is Medicine Guide Book: A Resource for Expanding Produce Prescription and Voucher Incentive Programs in Illinois
Provides guidance on Food is Medicine initiatives such as produce prescription (PRx) and voucher incentive programs that use nutritious food to help manage chronic disease. Includes best practices and case studies with considerations for implementation in rural areas.
Author(s): Kathryn Bernstein, Courtney Clay, Trevor Johnson, etc.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Public Health Institute
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Provides guidance on Food is Medicine initiatives such as produce prescription (PRx) and voucher incentive programs that use nutritious food to help manage chronic disease. Includes best practices and case studies with considerations for implementation in rural areas.
Author(s): Kathryn Bernstein, Courtney Clay, Trevor Johnson, etc.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Public Health Institute
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Acceptability and Satisfaction of Eat My ABCs: A Mindful Eating Program for Preschoolers in Low-Income Families
Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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Examines a Head Start-based mindful eating program for low-income families in rural Michigan. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative satisfaction data from 192 caregivers and 23 classroom teachers and provides feedback on their perceived program acceptability and satisfaction. Discusses issues such as parent communication, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, child comprehension of the program, recruitment strategies, and more.
Author(s): Hannah Lalonde, Esra'a Sawalmeh, Reese Buhlman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(7), 1103
Date: 03/2026
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The Weight of Our Children: New Mexico Childhood Obesity 2025 Update
Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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A Community Supported Agriculture Produce Prescription Pilot Program in the Northern Black Hills
Examines the impact of Dakota Food Rx, a community agricultural produce prescription program in the rural Northern Black Hills of South Dakota. Evaluates the program according to participant feedback on issues such as food security, nutritional quality, health changes, and overall program satisfaction.
Author(s): Gemma E. Bastian, Sarah Lane, Haley McMahon, Olivia A. Husmann, Evangeline A. Schumacher
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 15(2), 1-19
Date: 03/2026
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Examines the impact of Dakota Food Rx, a community agricultural produce prescription program in the rural Northern Black Hills of South Dakota. Evaluates the program according to participant feedback on issues such as food security, nutritional quality, health changes, and overall program satisfaction.
Author(s): Gemma E. Bastian, Sarah Lane, Haley McMahon, Olivia A. Husmann, Evangeline A. Schumacher
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 15(2), 1-19
Date: 03/2026
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