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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
Bridging the Gap Between Basic Science and Clinical Practice: A Role for Community Clinicians
A paradigm shift involving acknowledgement of the value of clinicians in the context of community research, establishment of a stable infrastructure to support a cohort of clinicians across time and research studies, and realignment of incentives to encourage participation in clinical research is required.
Apr 6, 2011
Journal Article
Bridging the Gap Between Basic Science and Clinical Practice: The Role of Organizations in Addressing Clinician Barriers
This paper identifies several approaches that healthcare organizations can use to overcome barriers to clinician participation in research studies.
Apr 4, 2011
Journal Article
Partnered Evaluation of a Community Engagement Intervention: Use of a Kickoff Conference in a Randomized Trial for Depression Care Improvement in Underserved Communities
This article evaluates a community engagement strategy employed in the Community Partners in Care (CPIC) study, the first randomized controlled trial of the role of community engagement in adapting and implementing evidence-based depression care.
Jan 1, 2011
Journal Article
Assessing the Evidence for Context-Sensitive Effectiveness and Safety of Patient Safety Practices: Developing Criteria
This report addresses the need for clearer understanding of the evidence base regarding the effectiveness and context-sensitivity of patient safety practices and presents recommendations for future research on this topic.
Dec 1, 2010
Report
Achieving Strong Teamwork Practices in Hospital Labor and Delivery Units
To learn how hospital labor and delivery units can achieve effective and sustainable teamwork practices and how much such practices affect staff experiences and patient outcomes, RAND researchers studied five units as they implemented improvements.
Oct 7, 2010
Journal Article
Usual Care Psychotherapy for Depression in a Large Managed Behavioral Health Organization
Many depressed patients are receiving recommended psychotherapy but better tools are needed to monitor and improve the quality of usual psychotherapeutic care.
Jan 1, 2010
Journal Article
A Collaborative Approach to Identifying Effective Incentives for Mental Health Clinicians to Improve Depression Care in a Large Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization
Giving incentives to mental health clinicians in managed behavioral health organizations to provide evidence-based care is feasible, but administrative barriers and limited clinical data may make implementation challenging.
Jan 1, 2010
Journal Article
Reducing Inequities Among Children with Asthma in the Island of Puerto Rico: Experiences of a Community-Based, Trans-Sectoral Effort
This project has implemented successful interventions to improve the quality of life and reduce disparities for children with asthma in Puerto Rico.
Nov 1, 2009
Journal Article
Strengthening Prevention Performance Using Technology: A Formative Evaluation of Interactive Getting to Outcomes®
This article reports on a formative evaluation of efforts to build community-based prevention capacity in two states (Tennessee and Missouri) using an Internet-based system known as interactive Getting To Outcomes® (iGTO).
Oct 1, 2009
Journal Article
A Social Marketing Approach to Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in VHA QUERI: The TIDES Depression Collaborative Care Model
This study found that social marketing, which applies marketing techniques to promote behavioral change, is a promising approach for promoting implementation of evidence-based interventions in integrated healthcare systems.
Sep 27, 2009
Brochure
Health Research Observatory brochure
This brochure describes the Health Research Observatory, whose mission is to provide insights to support evidence-based decision making in the policy and practice of health research through identifying and assessing international evidence.
Sep 3, 2008
Journal Article
The Getting to Outcomes Demonstration and Evaluation: an Illustration of the Prevention Support System
Communities are increasingly being required by state and federal funders to achieve outcomes and be accountable, yet are often not provided the guidance or the tools needed to successfully meet this challenge.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Rigorous Development Does Not Ensure That Guidelines Are Acceptable to a Panel of Knowledgeable Providers
Guideline acceptability should be independently and formally evaluated before dissemination.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Interventions in Organizational and Community Context: A Framework for Building Evidence on Dissemination and Implementation in Health Services Research
The effective dissemination and implementation of evidence-based health interventions within community settings is an important cornerstone.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
The Adoption and Implementation of an Evidence Based Practice in Child and Family Mental Health Services Organizations: A Pilot Study of Functional Family Therapy in New York State
Numerous challenges persist in providing evidence-based treatments to children and families in community-based settings.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Providing Evidence-Based Practice to Ethnically Diverse Youths: Examples from the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) Program
Discusses implementing evidence-based treatments for ethnically diverse youths.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Using Existing Systematic Reviews in Complex Systematic Reviews
Drawing from their collective experience, the authors outline a series of steps that can help reviewers reach reasoned decisions about the incorporation of existing systematic reviews and enumerate potential hazards to consider in doing so.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
The Cumulative Effects of Quality Improvement for Depression on Outcome Disparities Over 9 Years: Results from a Randomized, Controlled Group-Level Trial
Quality improvement (QI) programs for depression can improve outcomes of care and reduce outcome disparities.
Nov 1, 2007
Report
Assessment of the AHRQ Patient Safety Initiative: Focus on Implementation and Dissemination Evaluation Report III (2004-2005)
Evaluates progress of the patient safety initiative led by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), focusing on assessment of health information technology projects and dissemination of improved patient safety practices.
Oct 7, 2007
Report
Hospital-Based Integrative Medicine: A Case Study of the Barriers and Factors Facilitating the Creation of a Center
Presents the results of a five-year study of a hospital-based center for integrative medicine.
May 28, 2007

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RAND Topic:
Evidence Based Health Practice

Topic Synonyms:
EBP;
Evidence-Based Practice

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