RAND advances understanding of health and health behaviors and examines how the organization and financing of care affect costs, quality, and access. RAND's body of research—conducted primarily through the RAND Health division—includes innovative studies of health insurance, health care reform, health information technology, and women's health, as well as topical concerns such as obesity, complementary and alternative medicine, and PTSD in veterans and survivors of catastrophe.
In this article, we synthesize the empirical literature on the influence of peers and friends on youth's eating and physical activity.
This study suggests four timely US actions to address today's competing realities of globalization and economic austerity: raise awareness among clinicians and local health departments; capture and share exemplary disaster management practices across countries; ensure that US global health investments are effective, efficient, and sustainable; and think globally while acting locally to enhance US health security.
A review of menu nutrition information in U.S. sit-down chain restaurants found that 96 percent of main entrées exceeded the daily limits for calories, sodium, fat, and saturated fat recommended by the USDA.
Probiotics are believed to improve health by maintaining a normal balance of microorganisms in the human intestines. Evidence shows that they can reduce the risk of developing diarrhea, which is a common side effect of taking antibiotics.
If consumer-directed health plans grow to account for half of all employer-sponsored insurance in the United States, health costs could drop by $57 billion annually—about 4 percent of all health care spending among the nonelderly.
This editorial uses a recent meta-analysis on the effects of vitamin C on blood pressure to highlight pitfalls in nutrition research design.
Affirming norms and attitudes are not a prerequisite for urban congregations to initiate HIV prevention and care activities, a finding relevant for HIV services providers and researchers seeking to engage congregations on this issue.
Respondents in a representative sample of the US adult thought combination vaccines were safe and were willing to pay extra to avoid minor side effects and increase vaccination coverage in their communities.
The objective of this article was to provide background information about medication adherence and its measurement, the development of the conceptual model for use in adherence research, and supportive intervention strategies such as pharmaceutical care by pharmacists to improve chronic medication use in older adults.
This study assesses, from a Swedish societal perspective, the cost effectiveness of interferon β-1b (IFNB-1b) after an initial clinical event suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) (ie, early treatment) compared with treatment after onset of clinically definite MS (CDMS) (ie, delayed treatment).
This study seeks to evaluate longitudinal trends in people's risk perceptions and vaccination intentions during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
The authors evaluated the benefit of socioeconomic support (S-E support), comprising various financial and nonfinancial services that are available based on assessment of need, in reducing mortality and lost to follow-up (LTFU) at Reach Out Mbuya, a community-based, antiretroviral therapy program in Uganda.
Tailored measurement and quality improvement resources, coupled with policy mandates to give all patients a voice, would improve the quality of patient-centered care in safety-net organizations.
The authors of this study examined the extent to which youths being prescribed antipsychotic medications were receiving concurrent mental health therapy.
Investigators recently tested the effectiveness of a collaborative-care intervention for anxiety disorders, Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management(CALM), in 17 primary care clinics around the United States.
A culturally relevant web-based Motivational Interviewing in English and Spanish was developed to serve as a standalone or adjunctive program in DUI educational settings. This study evaluated its feasibility and acceptability among clients.
This study estimated how healthy people value insurance coverage of specialty drugs, defined as high-cost drugs that treat cancer and other serious health conditions like multiple sclerosis, by quantifying willingness to pay via a survey.
The higher-cost US system of cancer care delivery may be worth it, although further research is required to determine what specific tools or treatments are driving improved cancer survival in the United States.
Public reporting of health care costs is intended to motivate consumers to choose lower cost providers, and motivate providers to lower costs to retain market share. Measures should be chosen based on which pathway policymakers intend to influence.
The availability of junk food does not significantly increase BMI or obesity among a group of fifth-graders even though they are likely to buy junk food.
RAND® is a registered trademark. Copyright © 1994-2012 RAND Corporation.