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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

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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Vermont Firearm Injury and Death
Offers data on firearm-related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits in Vermont through 2025. Features county-level maps showing rates of injury per 100,000 hospital visits and deaths per 100,000 Vermont residents.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Community-Based Participatory Approaches to Improve Diet Quality and Food Security in Rural Appalachia: Outcomes from the Laurel HARVEST Study
Examines the community-based participatory research (CBPR) intervention, Laurel HARVEST (Helping Appalachia Restore a Vibrant Food Environment for Self-Sufficiency, Together), on food security and nutritional quality in rural Appalachian areas of Kentucky. Analyzes follow-up data from 147 participants in the intervention and provides results related to fruit and vegetable intake, healthy eating index (HEI) scores, food security, and more.
Author(s): Makenzie Barr-Porter, Courtney Luecking, Stacey Slone, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(17), 2813
Date: 08/2026
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The Rural Adult and Youth Skin Protection Study (RAYS): Protocol for a Sun Protection Intervention Trial in Rural Utah and West Virginia Sports Programs
Protocol to examine the effectiveness of a sun protection intervention focused on improving cancer prevention among children ages 3-6 via baseball and softball programs in rural Utah and West Virginia.
Author(s): Yelena P. Wu, Jonathan Chipman, Dannell Boatman, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials, 169, 108417
Date: 08/2026
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Community-Based Training and Impact on Care of Socially Disadvantaged Populations
Results of a study examining the association between community-based training of primary care physicians and subsequent practice in rural and underserved areas. Features demographics and and a state-level map showing distribution of family physicians who trained in Teaching Health Centers or Rural Training Tracks and graduated between 2017-2022.
Author(s): Freesia Quezada, Peter Manfredonia, Trenten L. Fenster, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 18(4), 424-431
Date: 08/2026
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Annual Scientific Review of Ultra-Processed Food, Dietary Patterns, and Chronic Disease and Dietary Guidelines for Texans: As Required by Senate Bill 25, 89th Legislative Session
Reports current evidence on nutrition, diet, and chronic disease, and provides recommendations for Texas's public health infrastructure. Mentions rural populations throughout, including rural access to nutritional food, prevalence of chronic disease and mental illness, nutrition education in schools, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee
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Rural–Urban Differences in Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Compares cervical cancer screening rates and experiences among rural and urban women, using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Provides data on likelihood of ever receiving cervical cancer screening, time since most recent screening, screening type, abnormal test results, and more.
Author(s): Anika Eldien, Laura Hankins, Taylor Neilson, Ingrid Jacobson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70210
Date: 08/2026
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Kansas RHT Program Annual Report - Year 1
Reports on the first year of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in Kansas. Details the state policy actions, uses of funds, recipients of funds, and progress reports for each program funded by RHTP.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
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Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2017-2024
Analyzes disparities in Diabetes Self-Management Training use among Medicare beneficiaries, using data from 2017-2024. Expands on a 2020 study to assess whether disparities have persisted, widened, or narrowed over time, and to examine broader trends in service availability, provider participation, and beneficiary use. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Wanying Zhu, Aleksandr Taraskin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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High-Deductible Health Plans in Rural and Urban Populations: Outpatient Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Costs
Policy brief exploring rural-urban differences in High-Deductible Health Plan enrollment, subsequent healthcare use, and out-of-pocket costs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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