Public Health
Public health considers health issues from the population level rather than the individual level. Public health policy is shaped by health agencies at the city, county, state, and federal level, as well as by health care and community organizations. RAND Health conducts research in support of policy on many public health issues, including recovery from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; surveillance, prevention, and management of outbreaks of infectious diseases; screening for and prevention of chronic diseases; and strengthening the public health infrastructure. Some of RAND Health's ongoing work in these areas is highlighted here. More public health research can be found in other Current Research On sheets, including Diversity and Health, Health Security, and Neighborhood Influences on Health.
Profiles of Current Research
Highlights of Recent Studies
How Schools Responded to Student Mental Health Needs Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Despite significant efforts to meet the mental health needs of students and staff faced with stressful events such as injury and homelessness after the hurricanes, many schools were limited in their ability to implement disaster-focused programs, indicating a need for better precrisis train-ing in mental health programs.
Does Watching Sex on Television Influence Teens' Sexual Activity?
Teens who watch a lot of television with sexual content are more likely to begin sexual activity at earlier ages.
Forging the Link Between Alcohol Advertising and Underage Drinking
Alcohol advertising appears to promote adolescent drinking; programs that aim to prevent alcohol and drug use can blunt the impact of alcohol ads on youth.
Bioterrorism with Zoonotic Disease: Public Health Preparedness Lessons from a Multiagency Exercise
Tabletop exercises in six Georgia health districts and at the state level reinforced a number of lessons already broadly appreciated and yielded a number of other important lessons.
Why People Overeat: Rethinking the Causes of Obesity
Although obesity is often blamed on lack of willpower, the more likely culprit is automatic responsiveness to environmental cues, combined with the ready availability of cheap, high-calorie foods.
How Neighborhoods Can Reduce the Risk of Obesity
Neighborhoods can promote exercise among residents through parks, school playgrounds that are open on weekends, and a diverse array of businesses.
Cost-Effective Allocation of Government Funds for Preventing HIV
A mathematical model of the cost of HIV prevention interventions found that the most cost-effective interventions are targeted at high-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men and users of intravenous drugs.
Related Web Sites
RAND Gulf States Policy Institute
Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services
RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security
http://www.rand.org/health/centers/healthsecurity
Public Health Preparedness Database
http://www.rand.org/health/projects/php/
Empowering Community Coalitions to Prevent Substance Abuse (Getting To Outcomes)
Working with Congress
RAND's Washington Office of Congressional Relations (OCR) furthers RAND's mission to provide objective analysis and effective solutions by disseminating research results to Congress and federal agencies. The OCR publishes a monthly electronic newsletter featuring current work on health policy. Contact: Shirley Ruhe (Shirley_Ruhe@rand.org) or Kristy Anderson (kristy@rand.org).
The RAND Health Congressional Newsletter
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