Background To receive high-quality healthcare, citizens should actively participate in public healthcare programs and share decision-making with medical professionals, especially in rural areas; this requires support for citizens in the form of education. Few studies examine educational interventions’ effects on rural citizens’ motivation to participate in public healthcare efforts or interprofessional collaboration (IPC) perceptions. Thus, the current study investigates rural citizens’ participation and difficulties faced in healthcare efforts and educational intervention effects.Methods As a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study, 277 (156=intervention group; 121=control group) rural Japanese participants were surveyed before and after a healthcare workshop, and scores were compared. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 17 participants post-workshop. The contents of the interviewed were analyzed based on the framework of thematic analysis.Results Regarding pretest–posttest difference, intervention-group participants scored significantly higher regarding participating in planning and managing self-care than control-group participants (p=0.001 and p=0.014, respectively); there was no difference regarding having a dialogue with healthcare staff and sharing knowledge. Interviews revealed three themes: ability to manage health conditions, relationship with medical professionals, and relationship among citizens. Participants reported difficulties in judging symptoms and communicating with medical professionals. Hierarchy and citizens’ low motivation to participate in IPC hindered collaboration. Furthermore, community conditions, including weakening relationships, privacy issues, and social norms, affected healthcare behaviors. Conclusions Educational interventions emphasizing healthcare and IPC may positively impact rural citizens’ healthcare perceptions. However, citizens may experience difficulties changing their community conditions, enhancing limited healthcare knowledge/skills, and maintaining good relationships with medical professionals and other citizens. Both continuous educational information and interventions and dialogue among medical professionals and rural citizens should be promoted.