Arkansas Researchers Present First-Ever Statewide Health Survey
| LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas researchers combined efforts to conduct the inaugural Arkansas Health Survey, information that will help create tailored solutions to improve the health and well-being of Arkansans. Only one other state has a similar statewide health survey.
Nearly 10,000 Arkansans participated in the survey, which gathered in-depth data on the state’s health status.
“Year after year, Arkansas ranks near or at the bottom in national health outcomes. For the first time, we have place-based data that shows us what’s driving these patterns and how we can start to change them,” said Michael Niño, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Sociology & Criminology at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Niño led the project with co-principal investigator Benjamin Amick, Ph.D., associate dean for research and professor of epidemiology in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
“The state of Arkansas needs a source of health information that everybody can use,” Amick said. “The motivation for the survey is to produce something that’s evidence-based and helps policy makers determine where they need to do health-related work and how successful the work is. Our goal is to provide useful place-based information to decision makers to support evidence-informed decisions.”
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, Arkansas State University and Southern Arkansas University will join the U of A and the UAMS College of Public Health in analyzing and disseminating survey data.
“This is the first time in the history of the state that we’ll have this level of in-depth health information about the citizens of Arkansas,” said Mark Williams, Ph.D., professor and dean of the UAMS College of Public Health. “The data collected is at a census tract level. In the history of the U.S., this is only the second time this has been done at a state level. California was the first state to conduct a health survey that provides this level of data. The Arkansas health survey will allow the state’s policy makers to have sufficient data to create policies based on valid health information.”
“For the first time, we have health data at this scale, giving us critical insights into the social and structural factors shaping outcomes in Arkansas,” said Brian Raines, dean of U of A’s Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “The University of Arkansas is proud to lead this effort to drive meaningful, data-driven change for the well-being of Arkansans and impact our communities.”
The information gathered from the survey spotlighted several aspects of health, including maternal health, chronic conditions, tobacco use and behavioral health.
However, the survey captures more than health conditions, Niño said. “It measures social drivers and community-level factors that shape health and well-being, offering researchers and stakeholders the insights needed to understand and address differences in health across Arkansas.”
A total of 70,000 Arkansans were invited to participate. The researchers used a state-of-the-art survey methodology to collect data from Arkansans in all 75 counties.
The Arkansas Health Survey is housed in the Arkansas Health Equity and Access Lab at U of A and supported by a multidisciplinary team of scientists from institutions across the state. The work was funded by U of A and UAMS.
The group plans to make survey data available in early 2026 via an online dashboard, AR-COMPASS (Community Outcomes Mapping Platform for Arkansas State Survey). Also, faculty will meet with different organizations throughout the state to help spread the word about the dashboards and its value to the well-being of Arkansans.
About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.
About UAMS: UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,553 students and 902 medical residents and fellows. It is the state’s largest public employer with about 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###