Chronic diseases and conditions

Current Projects

Environmental Influences on Child Health: A Snapshot of Children's Health in the United States
The environment in which a child grows up strongly influences their health in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Using data for 2022 and 2023 from five national data sets, this project will provide a comprehensive update on rural-urban differences in child health in the U.S.
Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Children and adolescents, Chronic diseases and conditions, Healthcare access, Obesity, Oral health, Poverty, Public health, Social determinants of health
Exploring Rural and Urban Medicare Beneficiaries' Use of Home Health Services
This study maps the geographic distribution of home health services provided to Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries and assesses how these patterns align with Medicare-approved home health agencies' service areas.
Research center: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Home health, Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), Post-acute care
Health Care Spending in Rural vs. Urban U.S. by Health Condition
Health care spending patterns vary substantially between rural and urban areas in the U.S. This project will examine detailed health care spending patterns using insurance claim data in U.S. counties by specific health conditions across the rural-urban continuum.
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Healthcare access, Healthcare financing, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Private health insurance, Quality
Preventive Cancer Screenings and Behaviors Among Rural and Urban Populations
This study examines rural use of preventive cancer screenings and related behaviors using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. It will examine rural-urban differences in adherence to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for cancer screenings and explore associated behavioral risk factors.
Research center: Northeast Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Cancer, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention, Healthcare access, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Women
Rural-Urban Differences in Health and Health Care Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries Under 65
Information is urgently needed about the health and health care access characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries under 65, in order to best allocate resources to meet their needs. This project will examine characteristics and health care use among rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries under 65, and explore challenges and opportunities regarding rural residents younger than 65 applying for and accessing Medicare.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Healthcare access, Medicare, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
Rural-Urban Differences in Provider Counseling About Physical Activity Among U.S. Adults
This study examines rural-urban differences in health professional counseling about physical activity among U.S. adults, using NHIS data (2020-2024). It explores how advice relates to meeting activity guidelines and whether differences vary by age, chronic condition prevalence, and other factors.
Research center: Northeast Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Children and adolescents, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention, Healthcare access, Obesity, Physicians, Public health
Rural/Urban Differences in Forgoing Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Several surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that adults delayed or skipped healthcare services during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines changes in healthcare utilization for primary and preventative care among rural and urban Medicare fee-for-service enrollees since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research center: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Diabetes, Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Medicare, Mental and behavioral health, Telehealth
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Penetration in Rural vs. Urban Healthcare Settings in the U.S.
This study will include an analysis of 2018/2019 Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial claims to compare the penetration of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and its different components in rural compared to urban healthcare settings. Within the overarching analysis, the study team will examine the type of interventions conducted within the SBIRT framework stratified by provider type, healthcare setting, and rural and urban provider ZIP codes. Findings will be analyzed within the context of county-level substance use rates, historical enactment of state SBIRT billing codes, overdoses, and alcohol poisoning-based hospital admissions contrasting trends in SBIRT administration with a proxy for community need.
Research center: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare, Mental and behavioral health, Private health insurance, Public health, Substance use and treatment
The Impact of Chronic Pain on the Functional Wellbeing of Rural Residents
Research indicates that rural adults experience chronic pain at higher rates than urban adults. This study uses National Health Interview Survey data to examine rural-urban differences in chronic pain impacts on functioning, quality of life, and treatment use.
Research center: Northeast Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Healthcare access, Mental and behavioral health, Public health, Social determinants of health, Substance use and treatment