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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Navigating Rural Challenges and Promoting Posttraumatic Growth via Expressive Writing: A Qualitative Study among Rural Breast Cancer Survivors
Preprint article discussing findings from an expressive writing therapeutic intervention for rural breast cancer survivors via interviews with 14 participants. Analyzes interview themes related to the impact of expressive writing on emotional regulation, personal strength, relationships to others, and more, including discussion of rural challenges with rural cancer survivorship and access to supportive services.
Author(s): Yusi Aveva Xu, Eunju Choi, Celia C. Y. Wong-Meli, et al.
Citation: Supportive Care in Cancer, 34, 965
Date: 09/2026
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Urban-Rural and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Modes of Preconception Cannabis Use among Insured Patients Receiving Prenatal Care at an Integrated Healthcare System in Northern California from 2020 to 2023
Analyzes joint interactions in race and ethnicity and level of rurality on cannabis use and mode of use during preconception, using Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) data of 191,469 pregnancies taking place between February 2020 and September 2023.
Author(s): Qiana L. Brown, Catherine A. Cortez, Joshua R. Nugent, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 286, 113281
Date: 09/2026
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Trends in Rural and Urban Family Physician Teaching of Health Professions Students and Residents
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, David V. Evans, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(8), 555-563
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Disparities in Rural–Urban Cancer Care Outcomes Among Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Populations: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Literature review examining research on rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes and access to care among children aged 0-18 and adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. Covers topics including distance to care, cancer incidence, social determinants of health, access to specialized oncology services, mortality, financial toxicity, supportive and survivorship care, and clinical trial access.
Author(s): Olivia C. Burke, Wencesley A. Paez
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 09/2026
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The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Health Transformation Toolkit
Provides information and resources for state policymakers regarding rural health and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Links to resources describing how states have approached the RHTP application, policies on maternal health and oral health in rural communities, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2026. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Rural Texas Strong Project Narrative Budget Period 2
Provides proposed updates to the Texas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) for Budget Period 2. Describes programs under each of the six initiatives, including implementation plans, stakeholder engagement plans, metrics and evaluation plans, and more.
Additional links: Rural Texas Strong Budget Narrative Budget Period 2
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Oregon by the Numbers - Key Measures for Oregon and Its Counties
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
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