A new study by the RAND Corporation suggests that a voluntary after-school program focusing on substance use can help middle school-aged children avoid alcohol. The CHOICE program, presented in five 30-minute sessions, was found to reduce alcohol use among all students at intervention schools.
The financial burden of prescription drugs is decreasing, with generic medications playing a key role. In 2008, over 8 million nonelderly Americans faced high drug-cost burdens, with nearly 1/4 living in families where out-of-pocket costs accounted for more than half of all healthcare expenses.
A RAND Corporation study concludes that few small employers will choose to self-insure or maintain grandfathered plans due to significant financial risk. The analysis found that stricter regulations will be essential to keep premiums affordable in small business insurance exchanges.
A California occupational safety program can help prevent workplace injuries, but only if it is adequately enforced. The study found that businesses cited for noncompliance with the program's specific safety mandates saw a 20% decline in injury rates.
A new RAND Corporation study emphasizes the importance of office-based medical practice in promoting adult vaccinations. Despite the high efficacy of vaccines, adult vaccination rates remain low, with only 70% of those at highest risk exceeding recommended inoculation rates for influenza. To address this issue, researchers propose stra...
The RAND Corporation's new online guide helps hospitals and health care organizations anticipate and address problems when adopting electronic health records. Experts have compiled known-best practices for mitigating unintended consequences of EHR adoption.
A new study by the RAND Corporation finds that the number of young people becoming registered nurses has grown sharply since 2002, approaching numbers not seen since the mid-1980s. This trend reverses a pattern first observed in the early 1980s and is projected to become the largest group of nurses ever observed.
A new RAND Corporation study reveals a 10-fold increase in retail clinic usage between 2007 and 2009, driven by factors such as age, health status, income, and proximity. Retail clinics are found to be more effective for managing simple acute conditions like upper respiratory infections and ear infections.
A new study found that bundling payments to healthcare providers to reduce costs proves difficult to implement, despite its potential benefits. Researchers identified technical and cultural barriers as major obstacles to the approach.
A new RAND Corporation study found that the US Department of Veterans Affairs provides high-quality mental health care to its veterans, comparable to privately insured and Medicare/Medicaid populations. The study highlights areas for improvement, including increasing evidence-based treatments and addressing regional variations in care.
A new study found that patients with consumer-directed health plans have more control over healthcare costs, with two-thirds of the reduction in total healthcare costs coming from reduced utilization of medical services. This is due to lower use of name-brand medications, less in-patient care, and lower use of specialists.
Researchers found significant benefits of atypical antipsychotics in reducing symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and behavioral symptoms in elderly patients with dementia. However, evidence for efficacy was insufficient for treating eating disorders, substance abuse, and insomnia.
A new study by RAND Corporation reveals that fast-rising health costs have eaten nearly all the income gains made by a median-income American family of four over the past decade. The family would have had an additional $545 per month to spend if healthcare costs had risen only as fast as other goods and services.
A new study by RAND Corporation suggests that increased consolidation among health plans nationally can benefit consumers by lowering hospital prices. In metropolitan areas with the fewest health plans, hospital prices were found to be about 12 percent lower.
A new RAND Corporation study found that older women who live in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods exhibit lower cognitive functioning compared to those in more affluent areas. The study analyzed data from over 6,000 women and found that neighborhood socioeconomic status was significantly associated with cognitive function.
The RAND book examines America's response to terrorism since 9/11, outlining successes like al Qaeda's degradation and improved intelligence systems. However, it also critiques mistakes such as the US involvement in Iraq and detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison.
Fewer Mexican immigrants returned to Mexico from the US during the 2008 and 2009 recessions than in previous years. The study found declines in return migration among certain groups, such as labor migrants and those with less education, but no rush to return home.
Researchers have developed a new method called ExpertLens to gather and analyze opinions from experts and laypeople, leveraging online and social media technologies. The system has performed well in early tests and could have wide application across various fields such as public policy, healthcare, finance, and marketing.
A new study found that depression is a significant risk factor for poor medication adherence among patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. The researchers discovered that depressed patients had 76% greater odds of non-adherence compared to their non-depressed counterparts.
A recent study by the RAND Corporation has confirmed a link between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare type of immune system cancer. The disease takes a slow course and can be controlled by surgical removal of the implant and surrounding tissue.
A RAND Corporation study examined high-deductible health plans and found that medically vulnerable families are not at greater risk of cutting back on needed healthcare. Medical spending declined among all families enrolled in high-deductible plans, with reductions being similar for vulnerable and non-vulnerable families.
A new study found that childhood psychological problems can have significant negative impacts on an individual's life, including reduced earnings and decreased chances of establishing long-lasting relationships. The study, which followed a group of British residents for 50 years, found that family income was approximately one-fourth lo...
A new RAND Corporation study found that high-deductible health plans reduce healthcare spending, but also lead to cuts in preventive care such as childhood vaccinations and cancer screenings. Costs only decrease significantly when deductibles reach $1,000 per person.
The US military faces a growing crisis of suicide among its personnel, with rates increasing sharply since 2001. To address this issue, researchers recommend improving access to quality behavioral health care and raising awareness about the importance of seeking help.
A new study by the RAND Corporation found that Hispanic seniors are less likely to be immunized against flu and pneumonia compared to similar White seniors. Researchers discovered that Hispanic seniors who prefer speaking Spanish and live in linguistically isolated communities have the lowest immunization rates.
A new RAND Corporation study found that electronic medical records have only a limited impact on improving the quality of hospital care. Hospitals with basic electronic health records showed a significant increase in quality of care for patients with heart failure, but no similar gains were noted among those with advanced electronic he...
A new study found that most Massachusetts physician groups are using patient feedback to improve patient experiences, with a focus on staff courteousness, scheduling practices, and electronic health records. However, only a small number of groups are prioritizing the role of physicians in improving patient care.
A RAND Corporation study finds that home health care technology can empower patients to self-manage their conditions, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs. Despite its promise, adoption faces obstacles such as restrictive insurance coverage, limited patient readiness, and concerns about product design.
A new study found that antibiotics provide only modest benefits for treating acute ear infections in children, while also increasing the risk of side effects. The review of published research suggests that careful examination of the eardrum by a clinician is critical for accurate diagnosis.
A new study of married couples in the US found that those who score well on a simple test of numeracy ability accumulate more wealth by middle age. Couples where both spouses answered three numeracy-related questions correctly averaged $1.7 million in household wealth, compared to $200,000 for those with poor numeracy skills.
Researchers found that Americans aged 55 to 64 have higher rates of chronic diseases than their peers in England, but died at the same rate. In contrast, Americans age 65 and older had a lower death rate than similar people in England due to better medical care.
A new US study links larger waist sizes to significantly higher diabetes rates among American adults compared to their English peers. The research suggests that waist circumference, rather than traditional risk factors like obesity, poses a substantial health risk for Americans, particularly women.
A study from RAND Corporation and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that three characteristics - being female, board certified, and graduating from a domestic medical school - had a small association with better quality medical care. However, these findings highlight the need for better physician performance data to hel...
A new study by the RAND Corporation found that up to 27.1% of hospital emergency department visits could be treated at retail medical clinics or urgent care centers, which could save $4.4 billion annually in healthcare costs. These conditions include minor infections, strains, fractures, and lacerations.
A new RAND Corporation study concludes that providing body armor to all US police officers nationwide is worth the cost, with a potential saving of at least eight lives annually. The study estimates that outfitting all 236,000 officers without body armor would cost $26 million annually.
Legalizing marijuana in California could lead to a significant drop in prices, with estimates suggesting a reduction of up to 80%. This, in turn, could result in increased consumption as prices fall below those ever studied. The magnitude of the consumption increase is uncertain, but researchers predict it could be substantial.
Patients admitted to teaching hospitals for end-of-life illnesses receive high-quality medical care, but more family communication is necessary. The study found that timely efforts to keep patients comfortable and better discussions about goals of treatment can improve the quality of care.
A RAND Corporation study finds that faith-based organizations in Central America can play a crucial role in the HIV response by raising awareness and providing access to healthcare. Researchers recommend building on these groups' existing reach and influence to improve services and support for those affected by the disease.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that physician cost profiles can vary widely depending on the attribution rules used by insurance companies. This variability has important implications for both patients and physicians, highlighting the need for transparency and consistency in cost profiling methods.
A study found that childhood psychological disorders can diminish people's ability to work and earn as adults, with effects lasting up to 40 years. The conditions also lead to reduced income by about 20%, lower education attainment, and an increased risk of marriage problems.
A new study by RAND Corporation suggests that pay-for-performance programs could worsen medical disparities, particularly in communities with lower-income and minority populations. The study found that practices serving these communities would receive lower payments under typical pay-for-performance programs.
A RAND Corporation study found that reducing preventable patient injuries in California hospitals from 2001 to 2005 led to a corresponding drop in malpractice claims against physicians. The study suggests that improving safety performance in healthcare settings could benefit both providers and patients.
A new study suggests that older Americans delaying retirement will continue and accelerate, alleviating pressure on Social Security and Medicare. The trend is driven by increased education, longer life expectancy, and more women in the workforce, leading to a shift in work patterns.
A new study by RAND Corporation and University of Michigan found a significant increase in middle-aged Americans reporting mobility-related disabilities. The proportion of people aged 50-64 who reported difficulties with daily activities increased significantly from 1997 to 2007.
A new study by the RAND Corporation finds that small soda taxes have no significant effect on reducing consumption among children. However, larger taxes may be more effective in curbing obesity among high-risk groups, such as those with access to soft drinks at school.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that about one-fourth of physicians would be misclassified under cost ranking systems, raising questions about their utility for high-stakes activities like tiered health plans. Only about 40% of physicians had cost profile scores at least 70% reliable, and fewer than 10% were at least 90% reliable.
A RAND-UCLA study found that patients with stage III colon cancer receive chemotherapy at a lower rate than recommended, with older patients being less likely to receive the strongest treatment. Despite this, older patients do not experience more adverse outcomes compared to younger patients.
A new RAND Corporation study finds California's failure to meet air pollution standards costs over $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005-2007. Exposure to ozone and particulate pollution causes nearly 30,000 emergency room visits and hospital admissions.
A RAND study examines five directions for NATO to take: refocusing on Europe, the greater Middle East, fragile states, nonstate threats, or a global alliance of liberal democracies. The alliance may need to combine various roles to stay relevant and avoid overextending itself.
The Rand Corporation study recommends that Israel prioritize conservation measures and diversify its fuel mix to reduce security risks. The nation should invest in combined-cycle natural-gas power plants, maintain a wide range of fuels, and regulate wholesale and retail prices to defray supply and cost risks.