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Health Disparities

Population-specific differences in access to quality health care, whether caused by gender, race, geography, environment, or other factors, can affect individual and community health. RAND research aims to understand the causes of—and thereby reduce disparities in—health outcomes, access, and care at the individual, community, and international levels.

Commentary

American Views on COVID-19 Health Risks, School and Economy Reopening

Much of the discussion about opening schools and the economy has focused on the educational and economic effects that closures may have on the most vulnerable groups. But some of these groups still remain wary of the increased health risks of opening.

May 4, 2021
Report

COVID-19 and the Experiences of Populations at Greater Risk: Description and Top-Line Summary Data — Wave 3, Winter 2021

This report presents the results of the third of four surveys on how Americans' health views and values have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on populations deemed vulnerable or underserved.

May 4, 2021
Journal Article

Associations Between Individual Demographic Characteristics And Involuntary Health Care Delays As A Result Of COVID-19

We provide the first evidence on associations between individual characteristics and the propensity to experience an involuntary care disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apr 27, 2021
Journal Article

Growing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Buprenorphine Distribution in the United States, 2007–2017

We find ecological evidence consistent with racial/ethnic disparities in buprenorphine distribution. Our finding that initiatives to increase the number of waivered prescribers are insufficient to achieve equitable buprenorphine access.

Apr 27, 2021
Journal Article

Gender Differences in Patient Experience Across Medicare Advantage Plans

We measured gender differences for six patient experience measures and how gender gaps differ across Medicare plans.

Mar 31, 2021
Journal Article

Americans' View of the Impact of COVID-19: Perspectives on Racial Impacts and Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disparate effect on African Americans and Latino groups. But it is unknown how aware the public is of these differences, and how the pandemic has changed perceptions of equity and access to health care.

Mar 30, 2021
Journal Article

Who Is (and Isn't) Receiving Telemedicine Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has affected telehealth utilization disproportionately. The increase in telemedicine use was greatest among patients in counties with low poverty levels, among patients in metropolitan areas, and among adults compared with children.

Mar 18, 2021
Journal Article

Inter-Group and Intraminority-Group Discrimination Experiences and the Coping Responses of Latino Sexual Minority Men Living With HIV

We conducted 30 qualitative interviews with HIV-positive Latino sexual minority men about recent discrimination events (context, details, perpetrator, type) and how they coped with these events.

Mar 18, 2021
Journal Article

Sleep Health: An Opportunity for Public Health to Address Health Equity

In this review, we describe current conceptualizations of sleep health and highlight findings linking sleep with cardiovascular disease, obesity, mental health, and neurodegenerative disease.

Mar 16, 2021
Commentary

The Uncertain Future of Audio-Only Visits and Why We Need Them to Address Disparities

Audio-only health care visits have been instrumental in maintaining access to care during the pandemic. Despite this, coverage for audio-only visits is likely temporary. Devaluing and prematurely casting off a key telemedicine modality could mean the difference between a needed doctor visit and no visit at all.

Mar 12, 2021
Multimedia

Exploring Workplace Financial Wellbeing Interventions

Workplace financial wellbeing interventions could offer a key means for addressing rising financial concerns and mental health issues in the workplace. In this video, Christian van Stolk and Jennifer Bousfield describe their findings from an extensive analysis of British and Asian workplace survey data.

Mar 9, 2021
Q&A

What Communities Need to Thrive: Q&A with Anita Chandra

Anita Chandra, vice president and director of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being, focuses on issues of health, well-being, and equity. She is researching how to create a culture of health, how to address inequities in the U.S. health system, and disaster response and resilience, especially in the context of the pandemic.

Mar 8, 2021
Report

Workplace financial wellbeing interventions for young workers: A review of the evidence and analysis of Britain's Healthiest Workplace (BHW) and Asia's Healthiest Workplace (AHW) surveys

In this study we explore the likely and proven impact of workplace financial wellbeing interventions on the mental health of young workers, through analysis of Britain and Asia's Healthiest Workplace survey data and a literature review.

Mar 8, 2021
Infographic

Workplace financial wellbeing interventions and the mental health of young workers

In this study we explore the likely and proven impact of workplace financial wellbeing interventions on the mental health of young workers, through analysis of Britain and Asia's Healthiest Workplace survey data and a literature review.

Mar 8, 2021
Journal Article

Project SLIP: Implementation of a PrEP Screening and Linkage Intervention in Primary Care

The study developed and pilot-tested a PrEP screener for use in primary care clinics to help facilitate PrEP uptake. Findings suggest that brief HIV risk screening in primary care is acceptable, feasible, and shows preliminary effects in increasing PrEP referral rates.

Mar 5, 2021
Journal Article

Racial Differences in End-of-Life Care Quality Between Asian Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites in San Francisco Bay Area

Compared with caregivers of non-Hispanic whites, caregivers of Asian decedents reported unmet needs for caregiver support and lack of respect for cultural traditions and religious/spiritual beliefs.

Mar 2, 2021
Multimedia

Allocating Scarce Resources During a Pandemic

RAND senior behavioral/social scientist Lori Frank and senior policy researcher Thomas Concannon discuss their work in developing the Core Guidance Checklist for health care resource allocation decisionmaking during a pandemic.

Feb 23, 2021
Journal Article

Racial/ethnic Differences in Prescription Opioid Misuse and Heroin Use Among a National Sample, 1999–2018

We compared relative prevalences across 6 racial/ethnic groups for prescription opioid misuse analyses and 4 racial/ethnic groups for heroin analyses.

Feb 19, 2021
Journal Article

Perspectives on Opportunities and Challenges for Medicare Advantage Plans to Address Social Determinants of Health Via the CHRONIC Care Act

The effect of the 2018 CHRONIC Care Act and how it may evolve before implementation begins in 2020 remains uncertain as we wait to see how MA plans will interpret eligibility criteria and services offered without any additional allotted funding.

Feb 12, 2021
Multimedia

COVID-19 and Mental Health

Senior behavioral/social scientist Joshua Breslau explains how findings from a RAND study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic can help in determining who in the population is most likely to experience significant psychological distress during future disasters.

Feb 4, 2021

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