Research Topics
Rural Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 15 percent of Americans live in a rural area, and those individuals are at increased risk for certain health conditions. Some rural areas have characteristics that put residents at higher risk of death—such as long travel distances to specialty and emergency care, or exposures to specific environmental hazards. In addition, rural-dwelling Americans tend to have higher rates of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. Rural residents also have higher rates of poverty, less access to healthcare, and are less likely to have health insurance. All of these factors can lead to poor health outcomes. For Veterans dwelling in rural areas, those existing health concerns are compounded by experiences unique to military service. HSR research into rural health comprises everything from lack of access to care, to telehealth services, to social work outreach and suicide prevention.
Each section below is populated by a search of the HSR website. Search results are generated based on the search term "Rural". Results are updated as new data are available.
VIEW: Citations | Publication Briefs | Studies | HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters | Cyberseminars | Videos | Podcasts | Other Resources
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Citations
(5 of more than 775 RURAL focused publications)
- Caloudas AB, Williams JB, Day G, Singh RS, Shapiro M, McCorkindale A, Menefee D, Lindsay JA, Boykin D. Engaging Rural Women Veterans in Mental Health Research: A Call to Action. Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. 2025 May 5 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2025.03.004.
- Singh JA, Chandrupatla SR. Rural-dwelling patients with rheumatoid arthritis have higher risk of myocardial infarction hospitalization: an observational study using the National Inpatient Sample. The Journal of rheumatology. 2025 Apr 1 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2024-1036.
- Goodman M, Strouse M, Boucher C, Glatt S, Jacobs J, Waliski A, Fonseca E, Osterberg T, Patel S. Pilot implementation of a telehealth safety planning group intervention for suicidal rural Veterans enhanced by lived experience veteran peer participation. Frontiers in psychiatry. 2025 Mar 18; 16:1512523, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1512523.
- Caloudas AB, Arredondo K, Beauchamp G, Anastas S, Marchant-Miros K, Frosio K, Day G, Bay K, Day S, Lindsay J, Shore J. Developing Culturally Centered Outreach Materials for Rural Native Veterans. Journal of community health. 2025 Mar 6; DOI: 10.1007/s10900-024-01435-5.
- Karim SA, Bogulski CA, Tilford JM, Hayes CJ, Eswaran H. Financial Performance of Hospital Telehealth Adopters, Nonadopters, and Switchers: A Rural-Urban Comparison. Journal of Healthcare Management / American College of Healthcare Executives. 2025 Mar 1; 70(2):93-107.
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Publication Briefs
(5 of more than 51 RURAL focused publication briefs)
- Veterans Using VA Benefits Experience High Rates of Adverse Pregnancy Events and Pregnancy-Associated Death, with Black Veterans Most at Risk
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of adverse events during pregnancy and up to 42 days after pregnancy, and pregnancy-associated death (death from any cause while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of pregnancy), and to compare prevalence of adverse events by Veteran race/ethnicity. Findings showed that nearly 3% of pregnancies recorded an adverse event. Pregnancies among Black Veterans ...
Date: September 20, 2024
- Post-MISSION Act Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Use and Wait Times for VA and Community Care Primary Care
This study used VA and Community Care (CC) outpatient and consult data for FY2021–FY2022 to examine whether utilization of and wait times for primary care differed between Black and Hispanic Veterans compared to White Veterans in rural and urban areas post-MISSION. Findings showed that Black and Hispanic Veterans waited significantly longer for primary care in CC, but Hispanic Veterans in urban ar...
Date: June 21, 2024
- Veterans with a Racial/Ethnic Minority Background, Rural Residence, or Mental Health Disability History Were Less Likely to Complete Preoperative Goals of Care Documentation
This study assessed factors – including race, ethnicity, rurality, history of mental health disability, and VA facility type – that are known or hypothesized to be linked with disparities in preoperative life-sustaining treatment (LST) documentation. The study also described the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on completion of preoperative LST. Findings showed that Veterans with a racial or ethnic mino...
Date: December 19, 2023
- Despite Equal Access and Use of VA Care, Black Veterans are More Likely to Experience Postpartum Rehospitalization and Low-Birthweight Infants
This study sought to determine whether Black/white racial disparities in access, use, and outcomes are present among pregnant and postpartum Veterans and their infants using VA maternity care. Findings showed no statistically significant racial disparities in access or use of care during the perinatal period; nevertheless, Black Veterans were more likely than white Veterans to experience postpartu...
Date: July 1, 2023
- Thirty-Day Mortality Higher for Older Veterans Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Community vs. VA Hospitals
This study compared outcomes among Veterans ages 65+ admitted for COVID-19 in VA and community hospitals. Findings showed that admission to community hospitals was associated with higher unadjusted (27% vs. 18%) and risk adjusted 30-day mortality compared to admission to VA hospitals. Readmission within 30 days was less common following admission to community compared to VA hospitals (13% vs. 14%)...
Date: May 30, 2023
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Studies
( 5 of more than 4 RURAL focused projects
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| Project No. |
Title |
PI |
Funding Start |
| SDR 21-001
|
Addressing Social Determinants of Health Among Rural Veterans |
Gurewich, Deborah |
2022-09-01 |
| CDA 20-261
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Understanding Community-based Mental Healthcare for Rural Veterans with Military Sexual Trauma |
Boykin, Derrecka |
2022-04-01 |
| CDA 18-192
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Veteran Engagement Implementation Strategies to Prevent Rural Veteran Suicide |
Woodward, Eva |
2020-07-01 |
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SDR 21-001
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Addressing Social Determinants of Health Among Rural Veterans |
Gurewich, Deborah |
2022-09-01 |
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CDA 20-261
|
Understanding Community-based Mental Healthcare for Rural Veterans with Military Sexual Trauma |
Boykin, Derrecka |
2022-04-01 |
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HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters
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Videos
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Podcasts
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