Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Geographic and Demographic Differences in Studies of the Five Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.: Evidence from Peer-Reviewed Literature
Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Literature review examining the extent to which studies on mortality related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke included individual measures of rurality, race, and ethnicity, and analyzes the findings of these studies. Discusses differences in research on a condition-by-condition basis and suggests directions for future health disparities research.
Author(s): Alva O. Ferdinand, Timothy Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Rural-Urban Differences in the Prevalence of Chronic Pain Among Adult Cancer Survivors
Examines chronic pain differences among rural and urban cancer survivors, using data from the 2019-2021 and 2023 National Health Interview Survey. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Hyojin Choi, Emily Hallgren, Maija Reblin, J. Kathleen Tracy, Erika Ziller
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2549972
Date: 12/2025
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Examines chronic pain differences among rural and urban cancer survivors, using data from the 2019-2021 and 2023 National Health Interview Survey. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Hyojin Choi, Emily Hallgren, Maija Reblin, J. Kathleen Tracy, Erika Ziller
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2549972
Date: 12/2025
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Rural Health Transformation Program State Application Summary: State-level Initiatives & Proposed Activities
Summarizes focus areas for each state in the applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program and highlights common themes across all applications.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Summarizes focus areas for each state in the applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program and highlights common themes across all applications.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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American Cancer Society's Report on the Status of Cancer Disparities in the United States, 2025
Reports on cancer disparities by various demographic factors, socioeconomic status, geography, and other factors, utilizing 2018-2022 North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) data. Contains metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan data comparisons throughout, and discusses factors influencing access to cancer screening and treatment, including rurality.
Author(s): Farhad Islami, Gladys Arias, Dongjun Lee, et al.
Citation: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 76(1), e70045
Date: 12/2025
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Reports on cancer disparities by various demographic factors, socioeconomic status, geography, and other factors, utilizing 2018-2022 North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) data. Contains metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan data comparisons throughout, and discusses factors influencing access to cancer screening and treatment, including rurality.
Author(s): Farhad Islami, Gladys Arias, Dongjun Lee, et al.
Citation: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 76(1), e70045
Date: 12/2025
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Developing a Research Agenda to Improve Rural Health Access and Quality in West Virginia
Presents a research agenda to identify health problems, infrastructure issues, and healthcare workforce gaps in rural West Virginia. Discusses interventions to improve access, create policy, and address knowledge and data gaps. Provides county-level maps showing health and social issues across the state.
Author(s): Julia Rollison, Zara Fatima Abdurahaman, Lisa H. Jaycox, Viviana Mercado
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Presents a research agenda to identify health problems, infrastructure issues, and healthcare workforce gaps in rural West Virginia. Discusses interventions to improve access, create policy, and address knowledge and data gaps. Provides county-level maps showing health and social issues across the state.
Author(s): Julia Rollison, Zara Fatima Abdurahaman, Lisa H. Jaycox, Viviana Mercado
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Bone Density Scan (DEXA) Utilization Among Women Without Diagnosed Osteoporosis Aged 50 and Older in the United States, 2022
Statistical brief examining likelihood of having ever received low bone density screening (DEXA) among women aged 50 and older without a diagnosis of osteoporosis. See Figure 7 for a comparison between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Terceira A. Berdahl
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining likelihood of having ever received low bone density screening (DEXA) among women aged 50 and older without a diagnosis of osteoporosis. See Figure 7 for a comparison between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Terceira A. Berdahl
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural Small Businesses in the North Central Region: Workforce Development
Discusses the landscape of rural businesses in the North Central Region (NCR). Provides rural versus urban data on number of employees, staffing shortages, lost sales opportunities, and issues recruiting and retaining employees, including childcare availability, housing affordability, access to healthcare, and more.
Author(s): Renee D. Wiatt
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Discusses the landscape of rural businesses in the North Central Region (NCR). Provides rural versus urban data on number of employees, staffing shortages, lost sales opportunities, and issues recruiting and retaining employees, including childcare availability, housing affordability, access to healthcare, and more.
Author(s): Renee D. Wiatt
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Thriving Communities Transportation Toolkit
A transportation toolkit that provides resources, guidance, and success stories related to transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. Focuses on finding opportunities, building teams, developing a project, financing, and maintaining infrastructure.
Author(s): Shane Hampton
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Main Street America
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A transportation toolkit that provides resources, guidance, and success stories related to transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. Focuses on finding opportunities, building teams, developing a project, financing, and maintaining infrastructure.
Author(s): Shane Hampton
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Main Street America
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2025 West Virginia Health Sciences and Rural Health Report
Review of medical school enrollment, licensing rates, student debt ratios, residency training, and retention rates in West Virginia, with special focus on the Rural Health Initiative Program. Includes dental and pharmacy program profiles, and describes the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences Service Program, providing financial awards to health professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of West Virginia.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
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Review of medical school enrollment, licensing rates, student debt ratios, residency training, and retention rates in West Virginia, with special focus on the Rural Health Initiative Program. Includes dental and pharmacy program profiles, and describes the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences Service Program, providing financial awards to health professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of West Virginia.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
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Changes in Bed-Based Measures of Surge Capacity from 2018 to 2022 among Rural and Urban Hospitals
Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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