Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention
The Impact of Rural Hospital Closures and Mergers on Health System Ecologies: A Scoping Review
Examines 46 studies on rural hospital closures and mergers between 2010 to 2023, with a focus on understanding health system impacts, finances, workforce, utilization, access to facilities and services, and community and economic well-being.
Author(s): Alison Coates, Janice Probst, Kanika Sarwal, Suhaib Riaz, Agnes Grudniewicz
Citation: Medical Care Research and Review, 82(5)
Date: 07/2025
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Examines 46 studies on rural hospital closures and mergers between 2010 to 2023, with a focus on understanding health system impacts, finances, workforce, utilization, access to facilities and services, and community and economic well-being.
Author(s): Alison Coates, Janice Probst, Kanika Sarwal, Suhaib Riaz, Agnes Grudniewicz
Citation: Medical Care Research and Review, 82(5)
Date: 07/2025
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New Resource Webinar: CRC Screening in Rural Communities Best Practices Guidebook
Webinar introducing the ACS NCCRT Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening in Rural Communities Best Practices Guidebook. Includes an overview of CRC disparities in rural communities and offers guidance for organizations working to improve CRC screening rates in their communities. Highlights successes of CRC screening programs in Alaska and Arizona administered by the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation and Mariposa Community Health Center.
Additional links: Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Communities Best Practices Guidebook, Presentation Slides
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT)
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Webinar introducing the ACS NCCRT Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening in Rural Communities Best Practices Guidebook. Includes an overview of CRC disparities in rural communities and offers guidance for organizations working to improve CRC screening rates in their communities. Highlights successes of CRC screening programs in Alaska and Arizona administered by the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation and Mariposa Community Health Center.
Additional links: Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Communities Best Practices Guidebook, Presentation Slides
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT)
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Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Communities: A Practical Guide
Provides an overview of rural colorectal cancer (CRC) disparities and guidance for community organizations on improving CRC screening in rural areas. Includes recommendations related to recognizing and addressing barriers to screening, organizational planning and strategy, service delivery models, and more.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT)
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Provides an overview of rural colorectal cancer (CRC) disparities and guidance for community organizations on improving CRC screening in rural areas. Includes recommendations related to recognizing and addressing barriers to screening, organizational planning and strategy, service delivery models, and more.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT)
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Solar Panel Installation Workers Exposed to Pesticides During Two Agricultural Applications — Michigan, August 2023 and May 2024
Reports on two instances of nonagricultural workers operating on or adjacent to farmland who were exposed to farm-related pesticides. Describes each event and the exposure response and discusses ways to reduce the risk of these types of exposures.
Author(s): Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D. Rosenman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(28), 450-454
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on two instances of nonagricultural workers operating on or adjacent to farmland who were exposed to farm-related pesticides. Describes each event and the exposure response and discusses ways to reduce the risk of these types of exposures.
Author(s): Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D. Rosenman
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(28), 450-454
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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"If We Can Get Them to Stop, They Can Have Such a Better Life": Implementing Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence Treatment Services in Community Pharmacies in North Dakota
Discusses the role of community pharmacies in North Dakota in providing smoking cessation treatment, including medication provision and behavioral therapy referrals. Highlights rural tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment as a public health priority.
Author(s): Hailey M. Wanner, Kelley Corr
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 250088
Date: 07/2025
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Discusses the role of community pharmacies in North Dakota in providing smoking cessation treatment, including medication provision and behavioral therapy referrals. Highlights rural tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment as a public health priority.
Author(s): Hailey M. Wanner, Kelley Corr
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 250088
Date: 07/2025
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Cost-Effectiveness of the Rural Lifestyle Eating and Activity Program (Rural LEAP)
Analyzes the cost-effectiveness of telephone-based coaching sessions after participation in a weight loss intervention, utilizing data from a trial conducted from 2013-2018 in rural Florida counties. Discusses the importance of delivering cost-effective treatment for obesity in rural areas.
Author(s): Tiffany A. Radcliff, Murray J. Côté, Meena N. Shankar, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(7), e0326383
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes the cost-effectiveness of telephone-based coaching sessions after participation in a weight loss intervention, utilizing data from a trial conducted from 2013-2018 in rural Florida counties. Discusses the importance of delivering cost-effective treatment for obesity in rural areas.
Author(s): Tiffany A. Radcliff, Murray J. Côté, Meena N. Shankar, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(7), e0326383
Date: 07/2025
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AAAs' Partnership With School of Medicine Expands Dementia Caregiving Services
Case study highlighting the implementation of a program promoting wellness for unpaid caregivers in Indiana, including in rural areas. Discusses collaboration between Area Agencies on Aging and community and state partners.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Case study highlighting the implementation of a program promoting wellness for unpaid caregivers in Indiana, including in rural areas. Discusses collaboration between Area Agencies on Aging and community and state partners.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Vermont Partnership Offers Caregivers Wellness Programs and Respite
Case study highlighting a partnership between a Area Agency on Aging in Vermont and a regional nonprofit health plan to offer respite opportunities to rural and suburban caregivers.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Case study highlighting a partnership between a Area Agency on Aging in Vermont and a regional nonprofit health plan to offer respite opportunities to rural and suburban caregivers.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers
Examines screen use and its correlation to health outcomes in teenagers aged 12 to 17. Utilizes self-reported data from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) to analyze physical activity, sleep, weight, and mental health, further broken down by respondent demographics, including metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Examines screen use and its correlation to health outcomes in teenagers aged 12 to 17. Utilizes self-reported data from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) to analyze physical activity, sleep, weight, and mental health, further broken down by respondent demographics, including metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
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Using Implementation Strategies to Promote the Maintenance Of Kids SIPsmartER In Rural Appalachian Middle Schools: A Process Evaluation
Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J. Porter, Annie L. Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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Examines implementation data from the Kids SIPsmartER nutrition behavioral intervention, which was implemented in 12 rural Appalachian middle schools. Utilizes data from 24 teachers and 11 principals to examine intervention fidelity, delivery, perceptions, and student impact. Discusses the importance of implementation evaluation and the scalability of evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBBIs) in schools.
Author(s): Kathleen J. Porter, Annie L. Reid, Theresa Markwalter, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2324
Date: 07/2025
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