RAND Health 2010 Research Archive
December
November
October
September
A model for understanding health disparities — September 27, 2010
SES, health, and mortality are linked through lifestyle factors, working conditions, retirement, living conditions and curative care.
How prepared is the U.S. for terrorist or other public health threats? — September 27, 2010
This document presents a broad overview of the U.S. public health response system, recent efforts to improve preparedness, challenges faced, and options for moving forward.
China's Aging Population Poses Looming Health Care Challenges — September 20, 2010
This study of health outcomes among the elderly in two Chinese provinces noted several challenges surrounding health care for the elderly, including underdiagnosis of hypertension among the elderly, suggesting the current health system is not well prepared to address the rapid aging of the Chinese population.
Improving systems for reporting adverse events — September 3, 2010
The two sets of survey data described in this article provide measurable information that documents need and highlights priorities for improvements in the internal adverse event reporting systems and practices of U.S. hospitals.
Home may be the best place for elderly patients leaving the hospital after a stroke or hip fracture — September 15, 2010
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities improve health outcomes for hip fracture patients but are far more expensive than discharging patients to their homes.
Improving laboratories in resource-limited settings — September 15, 2010
Review of published reports, interviews with major donor organizations, and case studies of laboratory systems in 3 countries shed light on how countries and donors have worked together to improve laboratory services in resource-limited settings.
August
How Schools Overcome Barriers to Providing On-Site Mental Health Services — August 26, 2010
Schools with greater support from administrative leadership and clinician networks are more successful in implementing evidence-based mental health program to help students deal with the impact of traumatic events.
Design Changes Can Boost the Effects of Pay for Performance Programs — August 10, 2010
Although pay for performance incentives are increasingly popular, the healthcare literature shows that these have had minimal effect. Design improvements in these programs can enhance their effectiveness.
New perspectives on the treatment of kidney disease — August 6, 2010
A fundamental change in the treatment of chronic kidney disease has focused on slowing the disease earlier in its progression before it reaches end-stage renal disease.
Examining the link between religiosity and substance use — August 6, 2010
Research has shown that the more religious people are, the less likely they are to have substance use disorders. This study found that this relationship is not affected by how much social support people have or their mental health status.
Abstract
More Mental Health researchMore Substance Use Disorder research
Is there a shortage of anesthesia providers in the United States? — August 5, 2010
This study of labor markets for anesthesia providers suggests that the United States is experiencing a shortage of anesthesiology specialists.
Evaluating Pennsylvania's Safety Committee Program — August 5, 2010
Since 1994, Pennsylvania has provided a 5 percent discount on workers' compensation premiums for firms with a certified joint labor-management safety committee. This study found that injury rates at participating firms with good compliance records dropped more than at other firms.
Achieving consensus on quality improvement interventions — August 3, 2010
The variety of quality improvement interventions has impeded the use of evidence review to advance quality improvement activities. Addressing this problem will require development of a generalizable framework for identifying evaluations of quality improvement initiatives.
Eating disorders—more likely among depressed women — August 2, 2010
During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, women with higher levels of depression were more likely than other women to develop eating pathologies when romantic attachments failed.
July
It's not always good to be caring — July 29, 2010
Young women who describe themselves as too caring are more likely than young men to experience stress.
How effective are programs to help kids exposed to violence? — July 28, 2010
This report describes results of RAND's evaluation of 15 programs designed to promote the chances of future social and psychological well-being of children who have been exposed to violence.
Full Document
More Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Mental Health research
The pain of a break-up might not be the same for all co-eds — July 27, 2010
Among a group of college age women, interpersonal style was a strong indicator of stress arising from romantic conflict and of depression.
Does substance use make middle school students more popular? — July 26, 2010
More-popular middle school students are more likely to be cigarette smokers, drinkers, and marijuana users, as well as past-month drinkers, suggesting that popularity is a risk factor for substance abuse.
Casting a smaller net — July 26, 2010
Interview time in personal network studies can be reduced by randomly sampling a smaller set of the alters named by the respondent and simulating the error that results when data are collected from the smaller group.
Where's dad? — July 23, 2010
Mothers who perceive that their child's father is supportive are less likely to have mental health problems five years after birth; married mothers report the highest levels of supportiveness.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Mental Health research
Physicians circumvent cost controls on certain drugs by switching to other drugs — July 23, 2010
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act reduced payment for certain chemotherapy drugs. The changes increased the likelihood that lung cancer patients received chemotherapy, but physicians switched to other high margin drugs.
Public awareness of government vaccination recommendations for seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza — July 22, 2010
Despite comprehensive media coverage of the H1N1 pandemic, awareness of government influenza vaccination recommendations among adults is low.
What's the role of interpersonal relationships in adolescent depression? — July 22, 2010
There may be culturally-relevant differences in the etiology of depression in Canadian and Chinese adolescents.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Mental Health research
The U.S. has much to learn from other countries about disaster management — July 22, 2010
Successful disaster recovery efforts in other countries emphasized local empowerment, organization and leadership, and planning for sustainability—providing potential lessons for U.S. disaster management.
AbstractMore Public Health researchMore Public Health Systems and Preparedness research
The net benefits of controlling cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes patients — July 21, 2010
This study examined the benefits of aggressively controlling blood pressure and cholesterol in diabetes patients and found that the potential benefits depend on a patient's underlying risk for cardiovascular disease.
Improving maternal and child health care in Allegheny County — July 21, 2010
This community-based collaborative project tested evidence-based approaches for improving the quality of care for mothers and their children in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Quality of Care research
Understanding firefighter injuries in California — July 20, 2010
This book describes the frequency and severity of work-related injuries experienced by California firefighters and the economic consequences for individuals and the state.
Does smoking in the movies influence teens' desire to smoke? — July 20, 2010
This experimental study found that the way that smoking is portrayed in movies can be important in determining its effect on adolescent smoking.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Substance Use Disorder research
How could marijuana legalization in California affect consumption and public budgets? — July 20, 2010
There is uncertainty about the impact of legalizing marijuana in California, with even minor changes in assumptions (e.g., taxes, structure of the regulatory regime, demand), leading to very different outcomes for public budgets and consumption.
Developing cross-national health measurements — July 19, 2010
This project addressed the lack of comparable health measures and indices across nations by developing a cross-national model for measuring health status. In applying the measures to several nations, the study found significant variability in genuine health that correlates most closely with national income.
Improving quality of care for end-of-life patients — July 16, 2010
This study of end-of-life care received by hospitalized adults identified deficiencies in planning and palliative care that can be targeted to improve the quality of care for patients dying in the hospital.
Evaluating Arkansas' tobacco settlement health-related programs — July 16, 2010
This report is the fourth in a series by RAND assessing health-related programs created by Arkansas using proceeds from tobacco settlement funds. The report evaluates the progress of each program and also updates trends in outcome measures developed to monitor program effects.
Full DocumentMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Substance Use Disorder research
Three years later, where are we with nonprescription syringe sales in California? — July 15, 2010
Many California local health jurisdictions with significant numbers of HIV cases have approved disease prevention demonstration projects, which permit limited sale of syringes to adults without a prescription.
A snapshot of vaccination rates from the end of the 2009-2010 vaccination season — July 15, 2010
Summarizes results of a survey of a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized adults age 18 and over (n=4,040) to collect data on the receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine in the United States.
Local policies probably influence use of syringe exchange programs — July 15, 2010
Syringe exchange programs can reduce HIV risk among injecting drug users but their use may depend heavily on contextual factors such as local syringe policies.
Detailed survey tables for the 2009-2010 vaccination season — July 14, 2010
Provides details of a survey of a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized adults age 18 and over (n=4,040) to collect data on the receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine in the United States.
Is physician cost profiling ready for prime time? — July 13, 2010
Summarizes a body of work analyzing the methods used to construct physician cost profiles.
Syringe exchange programs and pharmacies make syringe acquisition, use, and disposal safer — July 13, 2010
Syringe exchange programs still provide the majority of syringe distribution and disposal services to San Francisco injection drug users; however, pharmacies now augment syringe access.
Toolkit and GIS mapping application designed to help public health agencies improve emergency preparedness plans — July 12, 2010
Describes a toolkit and a Web-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool to enable public health planners to account for special needs populations in their emergency preparedness efforts.
Participation in non-prescription syringe sales depends on pharmacists' perceptions of HIV prevention — July 9, 2010
California pharmacies are more likely to participate in a voluntary program allowing limited sale of syringes to adults without a prescription if they think syringe access is important for preventing HIV among drug users.
Are recommendations for lobectomy influenced by patient age? — July 2, 2010
Lower rates of lobectomy (resection of early-stage non-small-cell lung carcinomas) among older patients do not seem to be explained by age-related biases among surgeons for otherwise healthy patients.
The effect of functional status on life expectancy — July 1, 2010
Functional status has a dramatic impact on life expectancy. 75-year-olds without limitations can expect to live 5 years longer than those with limitations in performing daily activities and more than 1 year longer than those with limited mobility.
June
Medical home capabilities of primary care practices in sociodemographically vulnerable neighborhoods — June 29, 2010
Primary care practices in sociodemographically vulnerable neighborhoods were more likely than other practices to have medical home capabilities (e.g., interpreters, multilingual physicians), making them potentially eligible for enhanced payments.
Treating anxiety in the primary care setting — June 28, 2010
For patients with anxiety disorders, a flexible primary care treatment model called CALM (which allows a choice of cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or both) led to improvement in anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and other areas.
Could health reform have covered more people at a lower cost? — June 25, 2010
Using the COMPARE (Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts) microsimulation model, this study evaluated how the recently enacted health reform law performed compared with alternative designs on measures of effectiveness and efficiency and found that only a few different approaches would cover more individuals at a lower cost to the government; however, these appeared politically untenable because they included substantially higher penalties, lower subsidies, or less generous Medicaid expansion.
Effect of "grandfathering" in the small group health insurance market — June 25, 2010
This paper uses the Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts (COMPARE) microsimulation model to analyze the effects of grandfathering (that is, exempting existing health insurance plans from new regulations under the recent health care reform act) in the small group market. Results suggest that, while grandfathering may lead to slightly higher exchange premiums, grandfathering is also associated with higher employer-sponsored insurance enrollment and lower government spending.
Using a community-based research approach to improve health care for mothers and children — June 24, 2010
Drawing on the experiences of a learning collaborative of maternal and child healthcare stakeholders in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, this article describes steps for operationalizing key community-based participatory research principles in the context of local health system change.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Providing access to treatment for uninsured women with breast cancer — June 24, 2010
This evaluation study found that the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Treatment Program provides access to high-quality care for insured women with breast cancer; however, many are treated at an advanced stage, which is associated with worse outcomes.
New directions in Health Information Technology — June 22, 2010
This article discusses the range of health information technology initiatives included in the 2009 economic stimulus legislation that collectively are known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) initiative; these include proposed regulations on "meaningful use" of information technology and standards; funding of regional extension centers; and support for the development and use of clinical registries and linked health outcomes research networks.
How are children best told that their parents are HIV positive? — June 15, 2010
Findings from interviews with HIV-infected parents, their minor and adult children, and caregivers suggest that disclosure of HIV status should be done within a family context.
AbstractMore HIV, STDs, and Sexual Behavior researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Can radio frequency identification technology help with cost and quality? — June 14, 2010
This study suggests that radio frequency identification can substantially affect both the cost (e.g., efficiency) and the quality (e.g., timeliness, capacity for continuous improvement) of care delivery.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Health Information Technology researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
Is cognition in later life influenced by height and education? — June 11, 2010
This study investigates the relationship between anthropometric markers (height and knee height), early-life conditions, education, and cognitive function in later life among urban elderly from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Controlling the rising costs of cancer care — June 10, 2010
Rising costs of cancer treatment raise questions about how to ensure that patients receive access to the best therapy that is a "good value"—both from the perspective of the patient and all who pay for health care (i.e., through taxes, insurance).
Safety concerns limited uptake of H1N1 vaccine — June 9, 2010
Information campaigns made more adults concerned about a pandemic, but didn't reassure them sufficiently about H1N1 vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The role of social networks for people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda — June 9, 2010
People living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda have social networks that enable them to feel fairly protected and supported in discussing HIV and prevention, and those on antiretroviral treatment may be better prepared to act as prevention advocates.
AbstractMore HIV, STDs, and Sexual Behavior researchMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Global Health research
Grandfathering in the small group market under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — June 7, 2010
Grandfathering may be an effective policy if the goal includes maximizing the number of people enrolled in employment-based coverage.
Characteristics of troubled nursing homes — June 3, 2010
This descriptive study of nursing home characteristics found that facilities targeted by a CMS improvement initiative typically have fewer nurses and nurse aides and higher rates of quality of care citations.
The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication and iron supplementation on the nutritional status in children — June 2, 2010
The eradication of H. pylori plus iron supplementation increases the pool of functional iron. Iron supplementation increases the storage of iron in school-age children with iron deficiency.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Public Health research
May
A profile of California's Medicare population — May 28, 2010
This profile of California's Medicare population—the nation's largest—provides a factual framework for understanding this population and informing efforts to design programs and policies that meet beneficiaries' needs.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Aging and Health research
Few California parents know about Paid Family Leave Program — May 27, 2010
California's Paid Family Leave Insurance program has not increased the percentage of parents who took leave to care for a sick child; fewer than 15 percent of qualified parents knew about it.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Physician cost profiling can vary wildly — May 27, 2010
The choice of attribution rule affects how costs are assigned to a physician and can substantially affect the cost category to which a physician is assigned.
Cross-National comparison of approaches to funding intensive care — May 25, 2010
This study comparing various national approaches to funding intensive care using diagnosis-related groups found that there is no obvious example of "best practice" or dominant approach used by a majority of systems: each approach has advantages and disadvantages.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Global Health research
Interactive mapping tool will help target low health literacy in Missouri — May 25, 2010
To help healthcare decisionmakers in Missouri identify neighborhood-level "hotspots" of suboptimal health or healthcare that may be due to low health literacy, RAND developed a prototype interactive web-based mapping tool.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Public Health researchMore Health Information Technology research
How reliable are performance measures used to assess practice sites and individual physicians? — May 19, 2010
In a multipayer collaborative, sample sizes were adequate to assess clinical processes and outcomes at practice sites; for individual physicians, samples were adequate to assess preventive care, but may not be feasible for chronic care assessment.
Is the increase in retail clinics undermining the growing interest in the medical home by fragmenting care? — May 18, 2010
This study identified three types of relationships between retail clinics and primary care providers; some types of relationships pose no conflict although others raise potential concerns.
Social role expectations, recent socioeconomic change, and methamphetamine's pharmacological properties create vulnerability to meth use in Appalachia — May 18, 2010
Comparisons of methamphetamine use among American Indian men in Appalachia and that in other populations and regions suggest that similar motivations and contextual factors may influence meth use across diverse cultural and regional contexts.
AbstractMore Substance Use Disorder researchMore Diversity and Health research
The long-term economic damages of childhood psychological problems are large — May 14, 2010
Childhood psychological conditions have large effects on children's ability to work and earn as adults—a lifetime cost in lost family income of approximately $300,000, and total lifetime economic cost for all those affected of 2.1 trillion dollars.
AbstractNews ReleaseMore Mental Health researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
Evidence for the prevalence and management of food allergy is greatly limited... — May 12, 2010
A systematic review of the literature on the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of food allergies finds that trends in their prevalence are unclear and that it is difficult to assess the evidence supporting any particular management strategy because of the lack of uniformity in the criteria for making a diagnosis.
AbstractFull DocumentNews ReleaseMore Public Health researchMore Genetics and Health research
Could performance-based payments increase disparities in care? — May 11, 2010
Practices serving higher shares of racial and ethnic minorities and people of low socioeconomic status received lower performance-based payments per practice compared to other practices.
AbstractNews ReleaseMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Diversity and Health research
Parental investments in early childhood tend to reinforce differences in birth weight between children — May 11, 2010
Normal birthweight children are 5 to 11 percent more likely than their low-birthweight siblings to receive parental "investments" such as breast-feeding, well-baby visits, immunizations, and preschool.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Will improved primary care lead to better health outcomes and lower health care costs? — May 11, 2010
Evidence suggests that initiatives to increase providers' ability to serve primary care functions and to reorient health systems to emphasize delivery of primary care are linked to health care quality, outcomes, and costs.
AbstractNews ReleaseMore Quality of Care researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
A universal, long-term flu vaccine has pluses and minuses — May 5, 2010
This study modeled the likely impact of universal flu vaccines and found that short-term vaccines are likely to result in frequent but small epidemics, whereas universal vaccines that provide long-term protection are likely to result in less frequent but more severe epidemics.
April
Identifying mental health problems after facial surgery — April 29, 2010
This article reviews some common short screeners for PTSD and major depression.
Better disease control, but not necessarily lower costs — April 28, 2010
Increased use of leukotriene inhibitors reduces ED visits for asthma but not enough to offset the drug costs, except for high-risk patients.
The most effective treatment for bladder cancer — April 27, 2010
Radical cystectomy is the best treatment for patients with invasive bladder cancer.
Do safer hospitals lead to fewer malpractice claims? — April 21, 2010
Policy options that improve patient safety may offer a new avenue for reducing malpractice pressure on physicians while also improving clinical outcomes.
Helping urban congregations fight HIV/AIDS — April 15, 2010
A community based participatory approach is helping to define a role for urban congregations in preventing HIV/AIDS.
More people ages 50-64 need help with personal care — April 14, 2010
The proportion of people ages 50-64 who need help with the activities of daily living increased significantly from 1997-2007 while disabilities for individuals 65 and older declined.
Individuals recovering from serious mental illness can help others with mental health problems — April 14, 2010
Peer support technicians—individuals recovering from mental health problems—and clinicians at the VA have developed consensus about key elements of the peer support technician role.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Military Health Policy researchMore Mental Health research
Housing is a great unmet need for individuals living with HIV/AIDS — April 13, 2010
Project New Hope in Los Angeles, CA, may be the nation's first housing program exclusively designed for people with HIV/AIDS.
Taking care of children's mental health after a disaster — April 7, 2010
New Orleans schoolchildren who received either group or individual mental health treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 15 months after Hurricane Katrina experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms.
AbstractMore Mental Health researchMore Public Health Systems and Preparedness researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Does pay for performance clash with medical professionalism? — April 2, 2010
This analysis examines concerns about potential conflicts between pay for performance and medical professionalism and concludes that properly designed pay-for-performance models can support professional objectives.
March
When do teens and their parents discuss sex? — March 31, 2010
Many parents and their teen-age children do not discuss key sexual topics before teens become sexually active.
AbstractResearch BriefMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore HIV, STDs, and Sexual Behavior research
Addressing barriers to mental health care for returning veterans — March 30, 2010
Interventions developed to remove barriers to mental health care for returning veterans should address motivation for seeking treatment as well as traditionally targeted structural barriers.
AbstractMore Mental Health researchMore Military Health Policy research
Efforts to promote use of lower-cost physicians may be based on misleading profiles — March 26, 2010
Increasingly common insurance plans that encourage patients to receive care from physicians who keep medical costs lower are based on unreliable estimates of doctor performance and may not achieve the intended savings.
AbstractNews ReleaseFull DocumentMore Health Economics and Financing research
Post-Katrina health assessment helps develop partnership for post-disaster recovery in New Orleans — March 25, 2010
A community-based participatory research project assessed health needs and health care capacity in post-Katrina New Orleans and produced a sustainable community-academic partnership dedicated to improving access to quality health care.
AbstractResearch BriefMore Public Health Systems and Preparedness research
Do older colon cancer patients suffer more adverse effects from adjuvant chemotherapy? — March 25, 2010
Older patients with stage III colon cancer are less likely than younger patients to receive an effective treatment known as adjuvant chemotherapy, perhaps because of concern about adverse effects; however, this study found that older patients who received this treatment had fewer adverse events than younger patients.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Aging and Health research
Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and pediatric exams: The role of physician commentary — March 25, 2010
This study found that pediatricians who engaged in ongoing commentary to parents during children's physical exams were more likely to overprescribe antibiotics in cases involving viral illnesses (which typically are not treated with antibiotics).
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Health Information Technology research
Why are patients seeking care at retail clinics? — March 24, 2010
This study found that patients were satisfied with the overall experience and were attracted to retail clinics because of their convenient locations and fixed, transparent pricing.
Is medicalization driving up the costs of care? — March 24, 2010
This study estimated that medicalized conditions, i.e., non-medical problems that become defined and treated as medical problems, accounted for $77 billion in medical spending in 2005, 3.9% of total domestic expenditures on health care.
Perceived problems with drinking water in a California school district — March 24, 2010
This study of perceptions of drinking water in a California school district found that school staff and public health officials have a range of concerns about water quality and availability; as some schools move to replace sugary drinks in schools and develop policies to promote water consumption, they should explore ways of addressing these concerns.
Assessing the costs of care — March 22, 2010
This study compared two methods for identifying high-cost and low-cost physicians, finding that nearly 30% of physicians were assigned to a different cost category depending on the method used.
End-of-life care for disadvantaged men with prostate cancer — March 18, 2010
End-of-life care for low-income, uninsured men dying of prostate cancer, who enroll in a comprehensive statewide assistance program, is high-quality.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore End-of-Life Care researchMore Diversity and Health research
Employee turnover and related costs in emergency medical services — March 17, 2010
Annual rates of employee turnover and costs associated with turnover vary widely across types of emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.
For adolescents, today's friends may shape tomorrow's behavior — March 17, 2010
Adolescents' social networks have long-lasting associations with their smoking behavior.
AbstractMore Substance Use Disorder researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Cleaner air would be good for everyone in California — March 16, 2010
Not meeting federal air standards in California was responsible for nearly 30,000 hospital admissions and ER visits throughout California over 2005-2007, at a cost of more than $193 million dollars.
AbstractNews ReleaseFull DocumentMore Health Economics and Financing research
Understanding the supply side of illicit drugs in the EU — March 16, 2010
RAND Europe staff used an extensive literature review and elite interviews to develop recommendations for assessing drug supply reduction strategies.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Substance Use Disorder researchMore Global Health research
Low rates of condom use among HIV+ individuals in Uganda — March 15, 2010
In Uganda, the most significant factor in whether HIV+ couples in stable relationships use condoms is their sense of self-efficacy about condom use.
When do you really need that cigarette? — March 15, 2010
Smokers' diaries show that craving is higher when they are eating or drinking, are with other people, during work, and during activities.
AbstractMore Neighborhoods and Health researchMore Substance Use Disorder research
Assessing quality of psychotherapy for depression requires new tools — March 12, 2010
Assessments from more than 700 clinicians helped to develop a practical tool for describing the quality of cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
Pay-for-performance may not pay off — March 12, 2010
So far, pay-for-performance has produced neither major quality improvements nor major care disruptions.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
Assessing the UK's 2008 drug strategy — March 10, 2010
The UK's focus on the most significant harms from drug use is both helpful and risky.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Substance Use Disorder researchMore Global Health research
Analysis of President Obama's proposal for health reform — March 10, 2010
New analysis from RAND COMPARE assesses how the President's health reform proposal of February 22 and the U.S. House and Senate health reform bills affect the number of uninsured and government and personal health care spending.
AbstractFull Document
Visit RAND COMPAREMore Health Economics and Financing research
The effects of communication between primary care physicians and specialists — March 8, 2010
Collaborative care models that enable timely, two-way communication between primary care physicians and specialists can contribute to better patient outcomes.
Comparing quality of care across borders — March 5, 2010
This report describes indicators that could be used to compare healthcare quality in different countries and discusses specific problems in making comparisons at this level of detail.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Quality of Care researchMore Global Health research
Study estimates of PTSD prevalence rates for returning service members vary widely — March 3, 2010
Published estimates of PTSD rates among military personnel vary substantially because of differing methods and study samples.
AbstractFull DocumentMore Mental Health researchMore Military Health Policy research
Physician-patient communication in the context of life-threatening illness — March 3, 2010
This study found that patients with life-limiting illness who had a poor understanding of prognosis were less likely to discuss care preferences with family members, suggesting the importance of provider communication with patients regarding prognosis.
More older workers are staying on the job — March 2, 2010
The shift in the skill composition of the workforce and technological change are among the forces raising labor force participation among older men and women.
AbstractMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Aging and Health research
All types of anxiety disorders are disabling — March 2, 2010
Any kind of anxiety reduces well-being and functioning; social anxiety disorder seems to be the most disabling.
RAND COMPARE assesses effects of health reform — March 1, 2010
Analysts for RAND COMPARE estimated how the U.S. House and Senate health care reform bills could potentially affect the number of uninsured people, the costs to the federal government and the nation of implementing the policy, and consumers' health care spending.
Full DocumentNews ReleaseVisit RAND COMPAREMore Health Economics and Financing research
February
The relationship between PTSD and general distress — February 26, 2010
All symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly associated with those of general distress, which calls into question a model that separates the two.
Less risk for users leads to increased use of marijuana — February 26, 2010
Lowering the legal risks for marijuana users increases the demand for the drug, and consequently, increases prices and profits for drug dealers.
Political context can influence health and longevity — February 24, 2010
Norwegian women born in 1906, the year after Norway's separation from Sweden, lived longer, healthier lives.
How widespread is PTSD among veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan? — February 24, 2010
As many as 50% of veterans seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screen positive for PTSD, though many fewer receive a PTSD diagnosis.
AbstractMore Mental Health researchMore Military Health Policy research
Prostate cancer treatment varies by type of provider — February 23, 2010
Treatment patterns for disadvantaged men in care for prostate cancer differ depending on whether they are being treated by private or public providers.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Diversity and Health research
RAND COMPARE analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) — February 23, 2010
A new analysis conducted by RAND COMPARE shows that health reform legislation passed by the U.S. Senate would cut the number of uninsured Americans by about half and cost the federal government about $899 billion by 2019.
Full DocumentNews ReleaseVisit RAND COMPAREMore Health Economics and Financing research
The relationship of food prices to body fat — February 22, 2010
The price of energy-dense foods can increase the percentage of body fat to risky levels even without substantial weight gain.
AbstractMore Obesity and Health researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
Sensitivity to anxiety and PTSD — February 18, 2010
Individuals who are sensitive to anxiety are likely to suffer from more severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
AbstractMore Military Health Policy researchMore Mental Health research
Improving quality of care for dementia — February 17, 2010
This pilot study found that an adaptation of the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders (ACOVE)-2 intervention can increase referral to Alzheimer's Association chapters and improve quality of dementia care.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Aging and Health research
Advances in social psychology can deepen understanding and improve treatment of clinical problems — February 16, 2010
In this volume, leading experts in social, clinical, and counseling psychology examine the role of basic psychological processes in mental health and disorder.
Low rates of condom use among HIV+ individuals in Uganda — March 15, 2010
In Uganda, the most significant factor in whether HIV+ couples in stable relationships use condoms is their sense of self-efficacy about condom use.
Does drinking alcohol lead to unprotected sex? — February 12, 2010
The findings of this study challenge the common belief that women's alcohol use before sex necessarily increases the likelihood of unprotected sex.
Is a comparative effectiveness center feasible for Massachusetts? — February 12, 2010
This analysis discusses the feasibility of several options, including a new center that synthesizes existing findings, one that supports new research, a collaboration with an existing center, or no center at all.
Does drinking alcohol lead to unprotected sex? — February 12, 2010
The findings of this study challenge the common belief that women's alcohol use before sex necessarily increases the likelihood of unprotected sex.
Improving assessment of pain in older adults — February 10, 2010
This study provides a methodological crosswalk between two response scales for measuring pain in older adults so that either can be used in practice, depending on the preference of the clinician and respondent.
Neighborhoods and health: A new approach to defining their relationship — February 10, 2010
This study used an innovative methodology to characterize neighborhoods according to factors associated with physical and mental well-being.
Findings from the Teen Depression Awareness Project — February 9, 2010
This study explored how depression affects teens, including the factors that facilitate and form barriers to teens' readiness to seek treatment.
AbstractResearch BriefMore Mental Health researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
The effectiveness of emotional disclosure interventions — February 8, 2010
Individuals with a propensity to pay attention to negative information showed greater improvement in mood following an intervention known as emotional disclosure (in which individuals write or talk about emotionally stressful material) than did those with a propensity to avoid such information.
State liquor sales policies may affect drinking and risk behavior among HIV-positive individuals — February 4, 2010
This study of national survey and state policy data found that restrictive alcohol sales policies may reduce drinking and transmission risk in HIV-positive populations.
AbstractMore Substance Use Disorder researchMore HIV, STDs, and Sexual Behavior research
Effectiveness of anti-smoking public service announcements — February 2, 2010
This study found that messages in anti-smoking public service announcements that were delivered explicitly (directly with concrete statements) were more effective among teens than those delivered implicitly (indirectly via metaphor).
A new tool to help school children cope with exposure to trauma — February 1, 2010
Based on the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), this new toolkit—Supporting Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET)—is intended to assist school-based mental health professionals, child welfare social workers, and school personnel who work with students affected by trauma.
Full DocumentMore Violence and Health researchMore Mental Health researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
January
Biomedical research in Singapore: an overview — January 29, 2010
This report discusses the structure of the health research system in Singapore, the performance of the Singapore health research system, Singapore's science commercialization and technology transfer initiatives, and key topics related to the future of Singapore's health research system.
Controlling risk factors for diabetes — January 29, 2010
A significant proportion of people with diabetes failed to achieve blood pressure and cholesterol targets, despite using high doses of multiple, conventional treatments.
It might matter more what you do eat than what you don't — January 26, 2010
Increasing physical activity and vegetable consumption won't do much to limit obesity unless consumption of salty, high calorie snacks is cut.
Providing incentives to reduce disparities in care — January 26, 2010
Hospital executives are hesitant about using pay-for-performance programs to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in care.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Diversity and Health research
Children feel the burden of parental deployment — January 25, 2010
School staff feel that multiple, extended deployments often negatively affect children's emotional well-being and academic performance.
Children feel the burden of parental deployment — January 25, 2010
School staff feel that multiple, extended deployments often negatively affect children's emotional well-being and academic performance.
What will the Affordable Health Care for America Act achieve? — January 21, 2010
COMPARE's microsimulation model projects that by 2019 the health reform bill passed by the House will reduce the number of uninsured by more than 55%.
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High calorie snacks are the real culprits — January 20, 2010
Reducing consumption of salty snacks, candy, and cookies may be more effective than exercise in combating obesity.
AbstractMore Obesity and Health researchMore Diversity and Health research
Selection or peer influence: what affects adolescent smoking? — January 20, 2010
The effects of peer influence and selection on adolescent smoking may be much weaker than earlier studies assumed.
AbstractMore Substance Use Disorder researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Ensuring the safety of prescribing medications for older patients — January 15, 2010
A test of the pharmaceutical care approach for prescribing medications for older patients, which involves collaboration between GPs, pharmacists, patients, and carers, did not find any significant change in prescribing or health outcomes.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Aging and Health research
Limits on product liability and FDA regulation — January 15, 2010
Limits on liability for drugs and other medical products regulated by the FDA could reduce prices without affecting vaccine safety.
AbstractMore Quality of Care researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
How long will people live in 2050? — January 14, 2010
Life expectancy for U.S. men and women in 2050 may be higher than predicted in official government forecasts, with the result that the costs of Medicare and Social Security could be significantly higher than currently estimated.
AbstractMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Aging and Health research
Reducing inequities among children with asthma in Puerto Rico — January 13, 2010
This project has implemented successful interventions to improve the quality of life and reduce disparities for children with asthma in Puerto Rico.
AbstractMore Public Health researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Diversity and Health research
The cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical care for older patients — January 12, 2010
This study found that pharmaceutical care for older patients, which involves collaboration between GPs, pharmacists, patients, and carers, is cost-effective, although further research into its long-term benefits may be worthwhile.
AbstractMore Health Economics and Financing researchMore Aging and Health research
SCHIP eligibility and coverage for children with special health care needs — January 11, 2010
This study found a dramatic increase between 2001 and 2005 in the number of uninsured children with special health care needs who were eligible for SCHIP.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Health Economics and Financing research
PTSD symptoms among injury survivors differ for Hispanics — January 8, 2010
This study, one of the first to examine ethnic disparities in PTSD symptoms among adult injury survivors, found that Hispanics reported higher levels of intensified sensory and cognitive symptoms than non-Hispanics.
AbstractMore Mental Health researchMore Diversity and Health research
Studying the relationship between giftedness and mental health in children — January 8, 2010
This study reviewed the scientific literature on giftedness among children and concluded that studies of this relationship would benefit from adopting a broader perspective, including studies of non-gifted youth.
AbstractMore Mental Health researchMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health research
Reducing attrition among the Air Force Medical Corps — January 7, 2010
This study found that historic attrition among Air Force physicians has been slowed by a program to supplement their pay in return for multi-year commitments. Results also showed that physicians trained at military medical centers are much more likely to accept the supplemental pay package than other Air Force physicians.
Cherokee and white youth in Appalachia have divergent views on childbearing — January 6, 2010
American Indian groups exhibit some of the highest and earliest fertility. This comparison between Cherokee and white youth in Appalachia found that the main difference in attitudes toward childbearing was the degree of latitude for the timing of having children vis-à-vis other major life events.
AbstractMore Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health researchMore Diversity and Health research
A model for predicting cardiovascular risk — January 4, 2010
This study assessed whether the General Cardiovascular Risk Profile model could identify individuals with advanced coronary artery calcium. Results showed that the model does identify an emerging indication for this condition, and that incorporating family history provides some prognostic value.
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