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Public health refers to social, cultural, economic, and geographic conditions that affect a population's well-being. To assist local, national, and international health agencies and organizations, RAND conducts research on public health issues including disaster preparedness and recovery; surveillance, prevention, and management of infectious disease outbreaks; screening for and prevention of chronic diseases; and ways to strengthen the public health infrastructure.

Commentary

Why Early School Start Times Are a Threat to Public Health

Apr 20, 2017

Sleep-deprived teens are more likely to be involved in motor vehicle crashes and to abuse drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes — all of which are public health concerns. But delaying school start times remains challenging for many districts.
Project

Informing the Gun Policy Debate

Mar 2, 2018

RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative provides information on what scientific research can tell us about the effects of gun laws. Our goal is to establish a shared set of facts that will improve public discussions and support the development of fair and effective gun policies.

Explore Public Health

Report

Report

Environmental Biodetection and Human Biosurveillance Research and Development for National Security: Priorities for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate

This report examines the Department of Homeland Security's chemical and biological defense research and development portfolio to identify priorities for future investments to effectively address biological threats.

Nov 28, 2018
Commentary

Achieving the Trump Administration's National Biodefense Strategy

The Trump administration recently published its National Biodefense Strategy, which says that managing the risk of biological threats is in the “vital interest” of the United States, however they might present. The document provides a solid foundation, but more may be required to fully realize its goals and objectives.

Oct 2, 2018
Report

How to Solve the Water Crisis in Gaza

Gaza has long had water and sanitation challenges, but today it's in a state of emergency. The crisis could be resolved through greater investment in water and power infrastructure as well as more water or electricity purchases. But political complications and other barriers remain.

Sep 26, 2018
Announcement

Announcement

19th U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy Elected to RAND Board of Trustees

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, 19th Surgeon General of the United States, has been elected to the RAND Corporation Board of Trustees.

Sep 14, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Nursing Home Infection Control Program Characteristics, CMS Citations, and Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Policies: A National Study

National baseline data on nursing home infection control programs will aid evaluations of a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule requiring facilities to include an antibiotic stewardship and employ an infection preventionist.

Jul 6, 2018
Commentary

FEMA's Transformation

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's strategic plan shows several shifts in U.S. disaster relief policy. Redirecting longer-term recovery operations to state and local authorities would allow FEMA to concentrate its assets on the catastrophic disasters it is uniquely designed to handle.

Jun 8, 2018
Commentary

The Royal Wedding's Bouquet to Public Health

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked the public to donate to charities instead of sending wedding gifts. The causes they are passionate about include helping children with HIV, homelessness, hygiene programs for women in the slums of Mumbai, and bringing sport to disadvantaged youth.

May 17, 2018
Commentary

Five Thoughts on Jerusalem, Gaza, and What's in Between

Dozens of people have been killed and over 2,000 injured in protests in the Gaza Strip along the border with Israel. Continued clashes are expected until the fundamental problems of the strip are solved, including the governance vacuum, the Palestinian Authority-Hamas rift, and the conflict with Israel.

May 15, 2018
Dissertation

Dissertation

Value of Information for Policy Analysis

This dissertation considers the viability of applying Value of Information methods in complex systems for policy analysis, concluding that these methods can be applied, but that different methods are appropriate in different cases.

May 15, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Evaluating Community Partnerships Addressing Community Resilience in Los Angeles, California

This study measured a key characteristic of community resilience: the growth of organizational networks and partnerships over time. Information from this research may be useful to local health departments interested in applying a community resilience framework to disaster preparedness.

May 4, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Emotional Well-Being and Public Health: Proposal for a Model National Initiative

This article presents a proposal for a model national public health prevention initiative that focuses on emotional well-being.

Apr 26, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Expanding Home-Based Primary Care to American Indian Reservations and Other Rural Communities: An Observational Study

Expanding home- based primary care to American Indian Reservations and other rural communities increased access to long term care and enrollment for health care benefits; outcomes were similar for Indian Health Service and non-Indian Health Service populations.

Apr 20, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Improving Adjustment and Resilience in Children Following a Disaster: Addressing Research Challenges

This article identifies gaps in the knowledge of how best to intervene with children following disasters.

Apr 11, 2018
Commentary

'This Is Us' Season Finale Offers an Important Public Health Lesson

The TV series “This Is Us” shows how health is not only affected by individuals' decisions, but also by the larger contexts in which they live. These social determinants of health include income, quality of housing, and access to health care.

Mar 23, 2018
Commentary

Gaza on the Brink

The combined risk of violence and pandemic in Gaza makes this small coastal enclave a ticking time bomb. While neither Israel nor the U.S. has the solutions to all of Gaza's water and health woes, the United States' decision to withhold funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency could only make things worse.

Mar 9, 2018
Report

Report

Participatory Modeling of Climate Change Impacts on Public Health in Long Beach, California: Discussion from a Workshop Hosted by the RAND Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition

Participatory modeling, using causal loop diagramming, was employed to identify public health issues; examine connections between climate change and public health; and understand feedback loops among climate change impacts and public health.

Mar 7, 2018
Commentary

Can America Afford to Reduce Global Public Health Funding?

The United States may be preparing to downsize funding for global epidemic prevention. Without renewed funding, the long-term outlook could include an increased likelihood of global disease outbreaks.

Feb 8, 2018
Commentary

Siren Song: How Ambulance Data Could Help Police Forces in England and Wales

Ambulance data is a new form of intelligence which may have value for violence prevention or reduction activities. Police forces can use this data to help identify violent crime that goes unreported to police, and aid problem-solving activities to reduce and prevent violence.

Jan 29, 2018
Commentary

Good Parenting or Good Policy? Both Are Needed to Curb the Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss

More rest improves teens' well-being, public safety, and academic performance. Later school start times promote better sleep for teens. School districts, communities, and parents should consider multi-pronged strategies that start with a later school bell.

Jan 27, 2018
Research Brief

Boosting Disaster Resilience Among Older Adults

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Collaborations between public health departments and organizations that promote aging in place could improve disaster resilience among older populations.

Jan 26, 2018

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