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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.

Research Brief
Mapping pathways to HIV prevention: Developing evidence-based, people-centred strategies for the use of antiretrovirals
Mapping Pathways is the first integrated, research-driven and community-led project to synthesise scientific evidence and local perspectives about antiretroviral drug-based HIV prevention strategies, in South Africa, India and the United States.
Jun 19, 2013
Journal Article
Options for Effective Mechanisms to Support Evidence-Informed Policymaking in RMNCH in Asia and the Pacific
This RAND Europe report looks at providing timely, reliable and high-quality evidence to inform decision-making to improve women's and children's health.
May 1, 2013
Journal Article
The Top Patient Safety Strategies That Can Be Encouraged for Adoption Now
This paper describes the first phase of a three-phase effort to conduct an evidence-based assessment of patient safety strategies. The paper describes a framework for reviewing existing studies and prospectively evaluating new studies of the implementation of patient safety practices.
Mar 1, 2013
Journal Article
Reducing Quality-of-Care Disparities in Childhood Asthma: La Red De Asma Infantil Intervention in San Juan, Puerto Rico
The objective of this study was to describe our experience in reducing quality-of-care disparities among Puerto Rican children with asthma by adapting 2 existing evidence-based asthma interventions.
Mar 1, 2013
Content
The Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center
The SC-EPC conducts systematic reviews and technology assessments of all aspects of health care. Sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the center is one of 13 nationwide.
Feb 28, 2013
Journal Article
Shared Decision Making Between Patients and Doctors Will Require Investment by Health Systems
Health care providers are encouraged to implement “shared decision making” in which patients and doctors together choose the treatment that is best for each patient. However, doctors need more instruction on how to engage patients and better information systems to make sure patients know their options and receive individualized care.
Feb 1, 2013
Journal Article
Trajectories of Change in Anxiety Severity and Impairment During and After Treatment with Evidence-Based Treatment for Multiple Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care
This study aimed to identify (1) clusters of participants with similar patterns of change in anxiety severity and impairment (trajectory groups); and (2) characteristics that predict trajectory group membership.
Jan 1, 2013
Research Brief
Providers Influence the Bulk of Health Care Spending in the U.S.
Providers can dramatically improve American health care by focusing on “value” instead of “volume,” eliminating wasteful and inappropriate care, applying the best available evidence to their practices, and enhancing patient safety.
Nov 15, 2012
Report
Dissemination and Adoption of Comparative Effectiveness Research Findings When Findings Challenge Current Practices
An analysis of factors that impede the translation of comparative effectiveness research (CER) into clinical practice and those that facilitate it, based on case studies of five recent CER studies.
Oct 10, 2012
News Release
Changing Financial Incentives, Other Strategies Can Improve Impact of Comparative Effectiveness Studies on Patient Care
Comparative effectiveness research conducted over the past decade has had a limited impact on the way medical care is delivered, but many opportunities exist to help doctors and others in the medical system translate such research into better patient care.
Oct 9, 2012
Journal Article
Lessons Learned from a Quality Improvement Intervention with Homeless Veteran Services
Homeless veterans are a vulnerable population, with high mortality and morbidity rates. Evidence-based practices for homelessness have been challenging to implement.
Aug 1, 2012
Journal Article
Developing Clinical Practice Guidelines: Target Audiences, Identifying Topics for Guidelines, Guideline Group Composition and Functioning and Conflicts of Interest
This study discusses the target audience(s) for guidelines, identifying topics for guidelines, guideline group composition and the processes by which guideline groups function, and managing conflicts of interest in guideline development.
Jul 1, 2012
Journal Article
Developing Clinical Practice Guidelines: Reviewing, Reporting, and Publishing Guidelines ; Updating Guidelines ; and the Emerging Issues of Enhancing Guideline Implementability and Accounting for Comorbid Conditions in Guidelines Development
Clinical practice guidelines are one of the foundations of efforts to improve health care.
Jul 1, 2012
Journal Article
Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Foundation of Efforts to Improve Health Care
Researchers discuss deciding what type of evidence and outcomes to include in guidelines; integrating values into a guideline; incorporating economic considerations; synthesis, grading, and presentation of evidence; and moving from evidence to recommendations.
Jul 1, 2012
Commentary
Promoting Success: Using Data to Inform Decision Making
Many organizations that we have worked with indicate that this approach has helped improve reporting and communication both within and external to their organization, writes Sarah Hunter.
Mar 21, 2012
Report
National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches: Assessing Program Outcomes
Shares the results of Safe Start Promising Approaches, a community-based initiative that implemented and evaluated promising and evidence-based programs to prevent and reduce the impact of children's exposure to violence in 15 U.S. program sites.
Jan 4, 2012
Journal Article
Complementary Alternative and Integrative Medicine: Current Challenges for Outcomes Measurement
Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and integrative medicine (IM) represent non-traditional approaches to health care practice that have become increasingly popular in the United States and throughout the world.
Dec 1, 2011
Journal Article
Updating Comparative Effectiveness Reviews: Current Efforts in AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program
Comparative effectiveness reviews need to be regularly updated as new evidence is produced. Lack of attention to updating may lead to outdated and sometimes misleading conclusions that compromise health care and policy decisions.
Nov 1, 2011
Research Brief
Reducing the Impact of Children's Exposure to Violence: Results of the National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches
RAND's evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches identified program successes and challenges in implementing programs for children exposed to violence. The evaluation results, though largely inconclusive, can inform similar efforts going forward.
Sep 13, 2011
Report
National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches: Assessing Program Outcomes
Shares the results of Safe Start Promising Approaches, a community-based initiative that implemented and evaluated promising and evidence-based programs to prevent and reduce the impact of children's exposure to violence in 15 U.S. program sites.
Aug 25, 2011

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RAND Topic:
Evidence Based Health Practice

Topic Synonyms:
EBP;
Evidence-Based Practice

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Carl Berdahl

Affiliated Adjunct Physician Policy Researcher

Carl Berdahl (he/him) is an affiliated adjunct physician policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Also an emergency physician and health services researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his primary research objective is to improve the quality and safety of emergency care by designing better…
Joachim O. Hero

Associate Policy Researcher

Joachim O. Hero is an associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He applies frameworks and methods in quantitative survey research, systematic literature review, and policy analysis to study topics in health care and public health. In health care his research has covered issues in…

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