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Health-Related Quality of Life

Urologic Disorders
commentary
Waking Up to the Costs of Nocturia
Marco Hafner, Christian Van Stolk
Jun 18, 2019
The RAND Blog
Nocturia is a troublesome lower urinary tract condition that causes people to wake up two or more times a night to empty their bladder. Researchers calculated the overall economic cost associated with nocturia in a working-age population across six countries.
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Health and Wellness Promotion
commentary
Measuring Progress Toward a Culture of Health... at the Library
Carolyn Miller, Anita Chandra
Nov 21, 2018
Health Affairs Blog
Libraries can provide much more than books and internet access. Libraries across the United States are evolving to play a bigger role in community health. Many offer nutrition programs, mental health support, and even free bike-shares.
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Community Health and Well-Being
commentary
Local Development of a Culture of Health: Learning from Sentinel Communities
Anita Chandra, Todd Rogers, Margaret Tait
Aug 1, 2018
Health Affairs Blog
The Culture of Health project focuses on making health a priority in communities. As the United States grapples with health care spending and changing demographics, the Sentinel Communities project will illuminate stories from local communities and paint a picture of the ways communities strive to improve population health.
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Homelessness
essay
Supportive Housing Reduces Homelessness—and Lowers Health Care Costs by Millions
Jun 27, 2018
Los Angeles County has moved some of its most chronically homeless and vulnerable residents into permanent housing. Providing them with social services and health care has dramatically reduced their use of emergency rooms and other services, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
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Homelessness
commentary
Housing for Health: Los Angeles County's Department of Health Tackles Homelessness with an Innovative Housing Program That Saves Money
Sarah B. Hunter
Jan 18, 2018
USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism
Los Angeles County's Housing for Health program addresses an important public health issue by providing housing and supportive services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. The program also saves taxpayers money.
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
commentary
Raising Awareness of the Need for Collaborative Care to Treat PTSD
Lisa S. Meredith
Jun 23, 2017
The RAND Blog
Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8 percent of American adults from all walks of life. Research suggests that more work is needed to improve and adapt models of care for PTSD.
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Sleep
commentary
A New Prescription for Sleepless Americans: Take Advice, Not a Pill
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Judith Owens
May 9, 2016
The Huffington Post
New guidelines from the American College of Physicians favor behavioral therapy over meds as the first-line treatment for insomnia. However, the ACP's recommendation will not in itself raise the level of access to optimal care for insomnia patients.
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Economic Development
commentary
China at Home: Marrying Prosperity and Well-Being
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich
Aug 21, 2015
The RAND Blog
As China strives to sustain its upward economic trajectory, it must also address its domestic problems—such as its air pollution and the challenges presented by its aging population—if its people are to share fully in the rewards of economic development and expansion.
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End of Life Care
commentary
Let People Make Their Own End-of-Life Decisions
Sangeeta C. Ahluwalia, Neil S. Wenger, Karl Lorenz
Jul 15, 2015
Newsweek
Major advances in health technology have helped people to live longer, but not necessarily better, lives. Medicare recently announced plans to reimburse providers for time spent counseling patients and their caregivers about the kind of care patients would want to receive near the end of their lives.
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Caregivers
commentary
Caregivers in England Report Poorer Health and Healthcare Experiences
Catherine L. Saunders
Jun 17, 2015
The RAND Blog
Caregivers in England have poorer health-related quality of life than non-caregivers, reporting an average of 11 fewer days of full health per year.
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Community-Based Health Care
announcement
Community Partners in Care Receives Accolade
Jun 10, 2015
Community Partners in Care, a partnership that uses a unique approach to improve depression care in under-resourced communities, has received the 2015 Community-Campus Partnerships for Health Award.
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Patient Experience
commentary
More Long-Term Health Conditions, Poorer Health Care Experiences
Catherine L. Saunders, Charlotte Paddison
Apr 23, 2015
The RAND Blog
Patients with multiple long-term health conditions are more likely to report poorer experiences in primary care than those with fewer health problems. A patient-centered model that takes into account the severity of disease — and the impact of combinations of diseases, on patient quality of life and health care experiences — could make a difference.
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Asthma
commentary
Can the Affordable Care Act Help Asthma Sufferers Breathe Easier?
Marielena Lara
Nov 20, 2013
The RAND Blog
ACA reforms can potentially address barriers that get in the way of individuals with asthma getting the care they need. At the population level, the law has the potential to improve outcomes and efficiency and equity of services for chronic conditions such as asthma for which cost-effective preventive treatments exist.
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Global Climate Change
commentary
Removing Road Blocks to Climate Change Adaptation Planning
Melissa L. Finucane @MelissaFinucane, Regina A. Shih @ReginaShih
Oct 3, 2013
The RAND Blog
Despite increasing interest and investments in climate adaptation science, the implementation of adaptation plans through institutional policies or other actions designed to reduce health vulnerabilities has been slow. Institutionalized assumptions are an important roadblock.
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