Assessing the benefits of HRB research — 12 May 2008

In the first Irish study of its kind, the Health Research Board (HRB) in Dublin has assessed the cumulative outcomes of a selection of HRB-funded research projects over time to demonstrate the impact that HRB funding is having on people's health and the Irish economy. RAND Europe led the research with the Health Economics Research Group (HERG) in Brunel University. Using a pioneering approach called the 'Payback Framework' developed by the research collaborators, the HRB has been able to identify and assess these benefits. Top line results show that the eight projects, which received a combined total of 1.5 million euros of HRB funding in the early and mid 1990's, have had a direct impact or cumulative effect that has contributed significantly to health and economic benefits in Ireland.

Full Report (www.hrb.ie)

Can the London 2012 Olympics help curb obesity? — 02 April 2008

It is often claimed that the London 2012 Games could help to address the UK's growing obesity problem. RAND Europe's Setting the Agenda for an Evidence-based Olympics examines the evidence of the health impacts of previous Games and highlights the lessons of the past.

Read MoreRAND Europe London 2012 Olympics Web Site

RAND Europe informs European Commission's thinking on food labelling — 06 February 2008

RAND Europe was commissioned by the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General (DG SANCO)of the European Commission to conduct two assessments of the possible impacts of revisions to the European food labelling regulations. These impact assessments informed the Commission's recent proposals to introduce mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling in all pre-packaged food, to extend allergen labelling to all foods and to set minimum standards for food labels in Europe. The RAND Europe reports highlight the importance of providing clear and consistent information to consumers to help them make informed choices, and discuss possible impacts on European retailers and food producers.

Full DocumentFull DocumentEU food Safety Web Site (ec.europa.eu)

International comparison of neonatal services — 21 December 2007

A new study, commissioned by the UK National Audit Office (NAO), analyses the provision of neonatal services in seven countries: the UK nations of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, Canada, Sweden, and Australia. The report aims to provide a compendium of relevant data to facilitate comparisons and benchmarking of neonatal services across countries. It examines trends in high-risk births, the organisation and scale of neonatal services, neonatal transport, costs and best practices. The study found that all countries studied use neonatal networks, although with varying levels of formalisation, that low staffing is a pervasive problem for UK neonatal services, and that a few international regions are leading the way in the development of high-quality neonatal service provision.

Full Report (www.nao.org.uk)

Prescribing in primary care: Understanding what shapes GPs' prescribing choices and how might these be improved — 18 May 2007

The National Audit Office (NAO) asked RAND Europe to conduct a qualitative study into General Practitioners' (GP) prescribing behaviour. The study aims to understand what shapes GPs' prescribing decisions, and how the cost efficiency of prescribing might be improved in the future. This qualitative study contributes to the NAO's larger investigation into primary care prescribing in England and more specifically, how financial savings can be delivered by helping primary care prescribing to deliver better value for patients.

Full DocumentNAO Report (www.nao.org.uk)

Tackling Obesity and Promoting Health in Europe — 28 March 2007

The report presents the Platform's achievements by summarising information contained in 121 monitoring forms that were provided by Platform members. Achievements are organised into the following sections, which represent the range of activities being undertaken by Platform members:

• promoting healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, and physical activity;
• labelling;
• advertising and marketing;
• product development and reformulation;
• dissemination activities;
• policy development; and
• research into areas of relevance to the Platform.

As well as presenting the Platform's achievements, the report also analyses the quality of the Platform members' monitoring practices. A quantitative scoring system was used to assess the quality of practices based on their relevance to members and their potential for improvement. The quantitative analysis suggests that the monitoring being undertaken is just below a standard defined as "adequate".

Full Document

RAND Europe evaluates EC's Scientific Committees in areas of consumer products, and health and environmental risks. — 31 January 2007

RAND Europe released its report conducted for the European Commission's Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General (SANCO). The report provides an interim evaluation of the procedures and functions of the three non-food Scientific Committees that provide the EC with scientific advice on existing and emerging issues related to consumer safety, and health and environmental risks.

RAND Europe's report concluded that the Scientific Committees are functioning adequately so far, and make substantial contributions to the evidence-base upon which related EC decision making relies. However, the evaluation identified practical recommendations, which could lead to improvements in the process of providing scientific advice and its implementation in SANCO policy making.

Full Document

Grant given for continued Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) study — 03 January 2007

Governments worldwide are searching for ways to cope with ageing populations. This trend threatens the affordability of public pensions and health care systems, and sparks concern over future economic sustainability in general.

RAND Europe released the results of its preliminary study in June 2006, which examined the potential contribution of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as IVF, to reverse declining birth rates in some European countries. The study (DB-507-FER) found that the impact of facilitated access to ART on birth rates is in a similar order of magnitude as other policy measures such as increasing child benefit. An unrestricted grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals made this research possible.

Ferring has recently asked RAND Europe to build on previous findings to investigate the demographic, economic, and wider social and health effects of an ART policy. In particular the study will widen its geographic scope; deepen understanding of the economic implications of changes in fertility; and develop models to understand couples' behaviour related to the decision to undergo reproductive treatment. Results are expected in fall 2007. Contact Stijn Hoorens (stijn_hoorens@rand.org) for more information.

Full DocumentNews SummaryRelated ReportBBC Interview

Use of Evidence in Illegal Drug Classification — 03 March 2006

Four case studies examine the scientific, medical and social harms caused by illegal drugs, and the issues surrounding the types of evidence used in classifying them. The studies focus on drug policy making in the UK, with comparisons to the U.S., Netherlands, and Sweden.

Full Document

Evaluation of the London Patient Choice Project — 01 July 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