Application of Spatial Methods in Rural Cancer Control Research in the United States

Whitney E Zahnd; Jan M Eberth; Sarah H Nash; Amy L Tran; Gabriel A Benavidez; Michelle B Shin; Malesa Pereira; Arrianna Marie Planey

doi:10.1007/s40471-026-00380-2

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Application of Spatial Methods in Rural Cancer Control Research in the United States

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Application of Spatial Methods in Rural Cancer Control Research in the United States

Whitney E Zahnd, Jan M Eberth, Sarah H Nash, Amy L Tran, Gabriel A Benavidez, Michelle B Shin, Malesa Pereira and Arrianna Marie Planey

Current epidemiology reports, Vol.13(1), 4

2026

DOI: 10.1007/s40471-026-00380-2

PMCID: PMC12923432

PMID: 41726313

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Abstract

The 66 million Americans who live in rural areas experience notable cancer disparities. It is imperative to examine the spatial elements of these disparities to know how to best target policies and interventions. Our review summarizes spatial methods in rural cancer control research. Spatial methods relevant for rural cancer control research range from identifying patterns to spatial accessibility to regression approaches. Recent applications have adapted to the new rural health landscape by considering the role of telehealth in spatial accessibility measures and the impact of rural hospital closures in multilevel regression modeling with spatial considerations. Further, research continues to innovate on small area estimation techniques to provide useful risk factor and burden estimates to inform interventions. As rural cancer disparities persist, it is critical that researchers continue to develop and adapt spatial methods that will best inform policies and interventions to reduce these disparities.

Spatial epidemiology

Cancer, rural health, mapping and visualization

Spatial statistics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Application of Spatial Methods in Rural Cancer Control Research in the United States
Creators: Whitney E Zahnd - University of Iowa
Jan M Eberth - Virginia Tech
Sarah H Nash - University of New Mexico
Amy L Tran - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gabriel A Benavidez - Baylor University
Michelle B Shin - University of Washington
Malesa Pereira - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
Arrianna Marie Planey - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Current epidemiology reports, Vol.13(1), 4
DOI: 10.1007/s40471-026-00380-2
PMID: 41726313
PMCID: PMC12923432
NLM abbreviation: Curr Epidemiol Rep
ISSN: 2196-2995
eISSN: 2196-2995
Publisher: Springer Nature
Grant note: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: U48DP006840, U48DP006872
The authors wish to acknowledge Michele Josey and Parisa Bozorgi for their review and suggestions on this paper. The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This publication was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS (Cooperative Agreement Number U48DP006840 and U48DP006872). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Language: English
Date published: 2026
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9985139314602771

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