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Evidence Based Health Practice

Evidence-based health practice applies the scientific method to use the best available evidence—from physical exams, diagnostic reviews, medical research, and known risks and benefits of treatment options—when making medical decisions. RAND has investigated the impact of adopting evidence-based health practices on patient care and health care policies, and the greater implications of using a national quality measurement and reporting system.

Journal Article

Journal Article

Simulated Effects of Policies to Reduce Diabetes Risk Among Adults With Schizophrenia Receiving Antipsychotics

Policies to promote early diabetes detection among Medicaid patients receiving antipsychotic medication could reduce the rate of diabetes over ten years, but would likely require higher spending.

Sep 28, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Machine Learning Versus Standard Techniques for Updating Searches for Systematic Reviews: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Machine-learning methods can help decrease the effort involved in updating searches for systematic reviews.

Aug 1, 2017
Commentary

Anti-Drug Education: Time for a New Bumper Sticker

Effective drug prevention in America could start by helping school districts adopt programs that work. These evidence-based programs can teach children to make wise and responsible decisions about drugs, and they won't break the bank.

Jul 20, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Quality of Care for Work-Associated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Over 80 percent of a regional system's occupational clinics adhered to recommended care processes for Carpal tunnel syndrome, and differences in care quality were associated more with clinical factors than patient socioeconomics and demographics.

Jul 18, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Predicting Evidence-Based Treatment Sustainment: Results from a Longitudinal Study of the Adolescent-Community Reinforcement Approach

Providers' ability to sustain A-CRA programming beyond initial implementation support depended on factors such as the level of implementation success, staff perceptions toward the intervention, funding stability, and community support.

Jul 18, 2017
Report

Report

Technical Quality and Clinical Acceptability of a Utilization Review Guideline for Occupational Conditions: ODG® Treatment Guidelines by the Work Loss Data Institute

The Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) Medical Treatment Guidelines is a utilization review guideline used in the field of workers' compensation. This report evaluates the ODG's technical quality and clinical acceptability.

Jul 18, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Association Between Implementation Strategy Use and the Uptake of Hepatitis C Treatment in a National Sample

Veterans Health Administration sites that used more ERIC-recommended implementation strategies delivered more evidence-based Hepatitis C treatments.

Jun 6, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A systematic review found little support for promoting acupuncture as an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

May 30, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Validation of New Quality Measures for Transitions Between Sites of Care

New quality measures may improve transition care for children after an emergency department or hospital visit.

May 25, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Does a Quality Improvement Campaign Accelerate Take-Up of New Evidence? A Ten-State Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of the IHI's Project JOINTS

States participating in Project JOINTS, a six-month quality improvement campaign to reduce infection risk after joint replacement surgery, adhered to three new evidence-based practices significantly more than non-participants.

May 23, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Physician Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Following Guideline Changes: Results of a National Survey

Physicians' recommendations for when to start and end breast cancer screening vary, depending on their level of trust with the guideline-issuing organization.

May 23, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Isolation Precautions Use for Multidrug-Resistant Organism Infection in Nursing Homes

To examine factors associated with isolation precaution use in nursing home (NH) residents with multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infection.

Mar 28, 2017
Journal Article

Antibiotics Prescribed as Often During Telemedicine Appointments as In-Person Visits

Patients treated for acute respiratory infections by a doctor on a telephone or live video are as likely to be prescribed an antibiotic as those treated in person. However, patients treated virtually are more often prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is concerning because overuse of the drugs increases costs and contributes to antibiotic resistance.

Mar 28, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Prescribing of Clozapine and Antipsychotic Polypharmacy for Schizophrenia in a Large Medicaid Program

Analysis of prescribing habits for treatment of schizophrenia suggests that some clinicians may underprescribe clozapine and overprescribe multiple antipsychotics; addressing such inconsistencies with the evidence base could improve care.

Mar 16, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Brief Online Interventions Targeting Risk and Protective Factors for Increased and Problematic Alcohol Use Among American College Students Studying Abroad

Interventions that target risky drinking behavior among college students studying abroad are still in their infancy.

Mar 14, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Strategies to Reduce Hospitalizations of Children with Medical Complexity Through Complex Care: Expert Perspectives

Children with medical complexity (CMC) account for disproportionately high hospital use. Researchers developed a structured, reproducible process for the creation of intervention strategies to reduce hospitalizations among CMC.

Mar 14, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Evaluating Surrogate Marker Information Using Censored Data

Given the long follow-up periods that are often required for treatment or intervention studies, the potential to use surrogate markers to decrease the required follow-up time is a very attractive goal. However, previous studies have shown that using inadequate markers or making inappropriate assumptions about the relationship between the primary outcome and surrogate marker can lead to inaccurate conclusions regarding the treatment effect.

Mar 14, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Medical Oncologists' Experiences in Using Genomic Testing for Lung and Colorectal Cancer Care

More research is needed to determine whether the observed variation in genomic testing for lung and colorectal cancer reflects appropriate or inappropriate care.

Mar 13, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Quality of Care Measures for the Management of Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Proposed quality of care measures for unhealthy alcohol use focus on screening, assessment, treatment, and follow-up in outpatient care.

Mar 13, 2017
Multimedia

Time to Re-evaluate Sleep Policies?

In this Call with the Experts, RAND senior behavioral and social scientist Wendy Troxel explains the consequences of sleep loss.

Mar 10, 2017

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RAND Topic:
Evidence Based Health Practice

Topic Synonyms:
EBP;
Evidence-Based Practice

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