Public Health Research Briefs

2011

Building Community Resilience to Disasters: A Roadmap to Guide Local Planning — 2011

Examines ways in which communities can improve their ability to withstand and recover from adversity.

The Public Health System a Decade After 9/11: Key Successes and Continuing Challenges — 2011

Despite substantial improvements in public health systems and preparedness since 9/11, significant challenges remain, and a cultural shift is needed to engage all sectors of society in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination: Why Don't More Americans Get It? — 2011

RAND researchers found that less than half of U.S. adults received flu vaccinations in 2010. Strategies to increase flu vaccination rates should include stronger efforts to address public skepticism and negative perceptions.

Why Are Many Emergency Departments in the United States Closing? — 2011

Between 1990 and 2009, the number of emergency rooms (ERs) in nonrural U.S. hospitals declined by 27 percent (from 2,446 to 1,779). Economic factors play a central role in an ER's ability to remain open.

2010

Lessons Learned from Disaster Case Management in Louisiana — 2010

Louisiana implemented a disaster case management pilot program five years after the 2005 hurricanes. Challenges in client identification, interagency communication, and invoice approval led to delays; half the expected number of cases were opened.

Post-Katrina Project Demonstrates a Rapid, Participatory Assessment of Health Care and Develops a Partnership for Post-Disaster Recovery in New Orleans — 2010

Stakeholders in communities in which health care access was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina were engaged in an assessment of health priorities, as well as in data interpretation and plan design, to produce a sustainable community-academic partnership.

Where Do Americans Get Acute Care? Not at Their Doctor's Office — 2010

Less than half of acute care visits in the United States involve a patient's personal physician. Emergency physicians, who comprise only 4 percent of doctors, handle 28 percent of all acute care encounters and nearly all after-hours and weekend care.

2009

Are Communities Ready to Conduct Rapid and Large-Scale Dispensing of Medications During a Public Health Emergency? — 2009

This research highlight summarizes the findings of RAND's initial evaluation of the Cities Readiness Initiative and the program's impact on communities' readiness to conduct mass dispensing of medications and other medical supplies.

Hold the Salt: Lowering Sodium Intake Would Improve Health and Save Money — 2009

Details the benefits that would accrue from reducing sodium consumption among Americans, including a reduced prevalence of high blood pressure, lower medical costs, and improved quality of life.

Risk Communication in the Early Stages of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Alert: How Effective Were State and Local Public Health Departments? — 2009

Presents an assessment of how effectively state and local health departments communicated information regarding the April 2009 H1N1 virus (swine flu) outbreak via the Web to their constituents.

Using Civilian Facilities to Maintain Military Medical Skills — 2009

To maintain relevant medical skills, some military medical personnel stationed at military treatment facilities could be stationed in civilian emergency rooms and trauma centers, where cases more closely resemble those found during deployment.

2008

Constrained Choice: Why Are Some Women and Men Able To Create and Maintain Healthy Lifestyles, While Others Are Not? — 2008

This fact sheet describes a model of constrained choice that explains how policy decisions at the family, work, community, and government levels can have unintended consequences that ultimately produce differences in men's and women's health.

Modeling the Health and Medical Care Spending of the Future Elderly — 2008

This research brief summarizes studies showing that medical innovations will improve health and extend life but will likely increase Medicare spending; eliminating obesity and better prevention could save Medicare money and improve health.

A Step Forward in Accountability for Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Developing Standards for Mass Antibiotic Dispensing — 2008

This fact sheet summarizes the results of a RAND initiative to develop performance standards for distributing antibiotics and other lifesaving medical countermeasures on a large scale within the critical first 48 hours of a public health emergency.

Why People Overeat: Rethinking the Causes of Obesity — 2008

This research brief summarizes a study suggesting that though lack of will power is blamed for failure to maintain a diet, the more likely culprit is automatic responses to cues to eat and the availability of cheap, convenient, high-calorie foods.

2007

Bioterrorism with Zoonotic Disease: Public Health Preparedness Lessons from a Multiagency Exercise — 2007

This fact sheet describes tabletop exercises in six Georgia health districts and at the state level to understand what coordination and public health response are required among groups with diverse responsibilities and at different government levels.

How Neighborhoods Can Reduce the Risk of Obesity — 2007

This research brief explores the relationship of a neighborhood's characteristics to obesity in its residents.

How Schools Responded to Student Mental Health Needs Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — 2007

This fact sheet summarizes a study that examined how schools in the U.S. Gulf Coast region perceived the mental health needs of students after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and how schools responded.

Obesity and Disability: The Shape of Things to Come — 2007

This research brief summarizes studies that found that individuals who are obese face greater challenges in terms of disability and chronic disease than do their non-obese counterparts.

Perennial Cornucopia: Planning the Next Agricultural Revolution — 2007

This research brief summarizes information about perennial polyculture farming and discusses its potential for reducing worldwide hunger and malnutrition, reversing environmental degradation, and redressing the loss of biodiversity.