Comparison of health systems in China and India — June 19, 2008
Health care has improved in China and India, but little has been done to protect patients against financial risk. This paper compares the two health systems along key dimensions and recommends improvements in the areas of financing, access, overuse of care, monitoring emerging diseases, and matching hospital capabilities with local needs.
Full document
More global health research
Reducing child malnutrition in India — December 14, 2007
A RAND evaluation of a UNICEF India nutrition initiative finds that it has the potential to reduce child malnutrition cost effectively.
Read abstract More global health research
Can neighborhood design stimulate walking? — April 18, 2007
Data from the US 2000 Census and other sources were used to test whether the New Urbanism Smart Scorecard criteria would be useful in designing walkable communities. Results indicate neighborhood designs that contain dense businesses districts alongside four-way intersections were associated with more walking.
Read abstract More neighborhood influences on health research
Addictive behaviors and self-efficacy — April 18, 2007
Researchers examine whether or not people can effectively identify and avoid situations that will compel them to smoke, particularly if they already know similar internal cues that encourage their desire to smoke a cigarette. Results indicate a need to develop better assessment tools for detecting and explaining people's ability to avoid addictive behaviors.
Read abstract More substance abuse research
Tai Chi shown effective in reducing headache impact in adults
— April 4, 2007
Adults suffering from tension-type headaches were randomly assigned to either a control group or a 15 week intervention program of Tai Chi. The study found that Tai Chi reduced the effects of headaches and improved perceptions of some aspects of physical and mental health.
Read abstract More complimentary and alternative medicine research
Social context of food purchasing and preparation poses constraints to low–income women with children
— April 4, 2007
This study conducted focus groups with 44 low–income mothers to explore patterns of food preparation and purchasing in the daily life of U.S. and foreign–born mothers. The study found that scarcity of food and access to food stores did not influence food purchasing as much as limited time for shopping and cooking, and difficulties getting to stores and childcare. Policies designed to improve diet qualty would benefit from considering the social context in which food is purchased and prepared.
Read abstract More neighborhood influences on health research
RAND Health partners with National University of Singapore on new health services research Center — Aug. 2006
The RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security is partnering with the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to establish the NUS Centre for Health Services Research. The center will be a national resource to develop the research and education programs from which high-quality, credible data are generated for health care providers and policymakers in Singapore and the region.
News release at nus.edu.sg 
More on global health research
Qatar Supreme Council for Family Affairs database of social indicators — Aug. 2006
This report addresses questions related to the implementation of a social indicators database by the Qatar Supreme Council for Family Affairs for the promotion of the well-being of families.
Full document More on global health research
Assessing the economic impacts of alcohol policies in the European Union — Aug. 2006
Presents an evidence-based assessment of a proposed communication on alcohol policy in the European Union, with a focus on the economic impacts. The proposed policy aims to reduce the harmful impacts of alcohol use, especially in youth, while preserving its beneficial economic and social value.
Full document More research on health economics
Understanding patients' choices at the point of referral — June 2006
This report details joint research by RAND Europe, City University and the Kings Fund to investigate which factors might drive patients' health care choices at the point of referral in the United Kingdom. The research team explored patients' priorities to gain insight into the types of information patients require and the value patients place on hospital performance and characteristics.
Full document More on international health care research
Lessons learned for reducing child mortality in developing countries — June 2006
Reductions in child mortality in developing nations is influenced more by targeted health intervention, foreign aid, and technical assistance than by contextual factors such as economic development, governance, and strong health care systems.
Read abstract More on global health research
Advanced countries to benefit most from technological progress — June 2006
An examination of 29 countries' science and technology capacity indicates that the global technology revolution—including advances in health, economic development, environmental quality, and military power—will continue unabated over the next 15 years, but some countries will be in a better position than others to take full advantage of it.
News release Research brief Executive summary Full report
International comparisons of drug control policies and systems — May 2006
This study provides an evidence base for the classification of drugs and selected additional information about drug use, strategy, punishment and treatment regimes, and drug education in several countries.
Full document More on substance abuse research
Nation-building efforts hampered by failures to address health problems — Apr. 2006
The United States missed opportunities to help win the support of the public in Iraq and Afghanistan by failing to make health a bigger focus of reconstruction efforts after U.S.-led invasions of the nations.
News release Full document More on global health research
Preparing health providers to treat trauma in conflict-affected countries — Apr. 2006
Extensive training in mental health services can better prepare primary healthcare providers to treat people traumatized by widespread violence in developing nations.
News release Read abstract More on global health research
Breast cancer screening recommended up to age 75 for Dutch women — Mar. 2006
A study of breast cancer screening among older Dutch women found that age 75 was an appropriate upper age limit for breast cancer mammography screening, particularly in consideration of the balance between screening benefits and harmful side effects after a certain age.
Read abstract More research on aging and health
RAND's Executive Vice President discusses a vision for a successful, independent Palestine — Dec. 2005
Recent commentary about RAND's research on Palestine presents a vision for the success of an independent Palestinian state. The RAND study includes a comprehensive set of recommendations to provide access to jobs, food, water, health care, housing and public services, along with improved internal and external security.
Read commentary Related documents Related global health research
RAND's Palestine study receives design award from American Institute of Architects — Nov. 2005
The Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects has presented its highest design award in the Next LA Awards category to RAND's study on "The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State".
News release at AIA websiteAIA homepageResearch briefFull document
RAND's Palestine study on The Arc featured in the Los Angeles Times — Aug. 2005
RAND's study on "The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State" was featured in the August 24, 2005 issue of the Los Angeles Times. The proposed Arc is a landmark rail, highway and infrastructure link between the West Bank and Gaza that would create access to jobs, food, water, education, health care, housing and services.
Read article at latimes.com Full document
RAND's Palestine study featured in Foreign Affairs — Aug. 2005
RAND's study on "Building a Successful Palestinian State" was reviewed in the Sept/Oct issue of Foreign Affairs. The report examines whether an independent Palestine can be made successful through stronger governance, security, and access to basic resources.
Read article at foreignaffairs.org Full document
RAND study on Palestine featured in Urban Land — Jul. 2005
The magazine from the Urban Land Institute is featuring RAND's study on building a successful Palestinian state.
Read article at uli.org Full document
Evaluation of the London Patient Choice Project — Jul. 2005
The London Patient Choice Project (LPCP) was established to offer choices to patients who were clinically eligible for treatment and had been waiting for treatment at an NHS London hospital beyond a target waiting time. This report covers the choice process and the trade-offs patients are willing to make in order to obtain earlier treatment.
Full document
Infrastructure Arc would help future Palestinian state succeed — May 2005
A landmark rail, highway and infrastructure link between the West Bank and Gaza would open the door to dramatic new development, giving Palestinians new access to jobs, food, water, education, health care, housing and public services.
Full document Research brief More on the Palestine project NY Times article
Helping a Palestinian state succeed — Apr. 2005
Creating a Palestinian state poses myriad political, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Overcoming these obstacles requires a comprehensive plan for nation-building and a design to meet the population's infrastructure needs.
News release Full Documents RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security
Tracking global health resources — Mar. 2005
Governments, international organizations, and for-profit and nonprofit organizations throughout the world regularly provide cash and in-kind resources to developing countries to help them address their health needs. These resources need to be tracked on a global basis so that policymakers can identify gaps, target assistance, avoid duplication of effort, and track progress.
Full document More on informatics and technology research
Immigration alone will not solve Europe's pension crisis — May 2004
Europe cannot deal with the challenges of its aging population by depending on immigration alone. A new study assesses which policies can prevent or mitigate the adverse consequences of current low fertility and population aging.
News release Full document
Do quality improvement collaboratives work? — Dec. 2002
Many countries are using collaboratives to improve health care. Evaluations of the collaboratives suggest that they can improve patient care and organizational performance, but there is lots of variation across collaboratives. This paper recommends ways to make collaboratives more effective. Read about RAND's evaluation of three chronic illness collaboratives.
Journal abstract at bmjjournals.com Other RAND collaborative research
Biosecurity 2002 is first international meeting focused on threat of bioterrorism — Nov. 2002
The RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security is a conference sponsor.
Read more at biosecuritysummit.com RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security
Should we redesign our public health infrastructure? — Nov. 2002
The events of September 11, 2001 revealed our public health system's state of disarray. Yet the public still lacks an understanding of what the public health infrastructure is intended to do. A recent commentary explores the question of whether our decaying public health system can simply be rebuilt or whether a paradigm shift is needed to design a system that serves the needs of the 21st century.
Read commentary More public health research
How well is our public health system prepared to cope with an act of bioterror? — Oct. 2002
According to Ken Shine, MD, director of the RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security, we have only to look at the public health response to the emerging West Nile Virus threat. While not an act of terror, the spread of the mosquito-borne virus nevertheless demonstrates problems in the public health infrastructure: In spite of long-standing belief in the importance of mosquito abatement efforts, local public health departments have complained that they lack adequate funding to pursue such efforts.
More on the RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security
Where do international medical graduates tend to practice? — Sep. 2002
A newly released study by RAND Health researchers examines the factors that influence where graduates of international (foreign) medical schools (IMGs) will choose to practice. The location of postgraduate medical training (residency) is the most important influence on practice location. Thus, policymakers who wish to influence the flow of new IMGs may do so by changing the availability of residency positions.
Read abstract Related research brief
Treatment for depression in the Netherlands doesn't meet guidelines — Sep. 2002
A recent study in the Netherlands examined the appropriateness of and variation in treatment for depression. The research team found that about one-third of treatment decisions were not consistent with guidelines. Less severe depression, alcohol abuse, psychotic features, and lack of social resources were related to more inappropriate judgements. Psychiatrists made more appropriate choices than the other professions although they had the highest rate of overtreatment.
Read abstract Related research on appropriateness of care Related research on care of depression
Article on international health featured in World Health News — Sep. 2002
The article "Make World Health the New Marshall Plan," by Robert E. Hunter, C. Ross Anthony, and Nicole Lurie is the Spotlight Story in this week's World Health News. The article originally appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of the RAND Review. World Health News is an online news digest from the Center for Health Communication of the Harvard School of Public Health and is designed as a resource for an international audience of policy makers and journalists, public health researchers, practitioners, and advocates.
Read more at worldhealthnews.harvard.edu See RAND Review article
RAND Health launches Center focused on health security at home and abroad — Jul. 2002
RAND Health has announced the creation of the Center for Domestic and International Health Security. The Center's goal is to make health a key component of U.S. foreign policy and to protect the health of the American homeland. Kenneth Shine, MD, the Center's director, discussed the Center at a meeting of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy at the U.S. State Department.
News release More about the Center Related article at upi.com Related article at healthnewsdigest.com Related article at prweekus.com
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