RAND Corporation

About: RAND Corporation is a nonprofit organization based out in Santa Monica, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Health care & Population. The organization has 9602 authors who have published 18570 publications receiving 744658 citations.

Effect of Content and Format of Prescription Drug Labels on Readability, Understanding, and Medication Use: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Objective:To evaluate the evidence regarding the optimal content and format of prescription labels that might improve readability, understanding, and medication use.Data Sources:We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews from MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database (1990–June 2005), supplemented by reference mining and reference lists from a technical expert panel.Study Selection:We selected studies that focused on the content of physician–patient communication about medications and the content and format of prescription drug iabels.Data Extraction:Two reviewers extracted and synthesized information about study design, populations, and outcomes,Data Synthesis:Of 2009 articles screened, 36 that addressed the content of physician–patient communication about medications and 69 that were related to the content or format of medication labels met review criteria. Findings showed that patients request information about a drug's indication, expected b...

Private interhousehold transfers of money and time: new empirical evidence

Abstract: Within the family workers are born goods are produced tastes are formed decisions to work are made and resources are redistributed. This paper investigates the last of these roles that is the transfer of resources (money and time help) among family members and friends. We are interested in private transfers because first they provide a means through which individuals can transmit their well-being to others. Second private transfers have potential consequences for the effectiveness of government redistribution policies. For example if publicly provided benefits to an individual become more generous then that individuals family members and friends may respond by decreasing the amount of private assistance they give to the individual. If public transfers merely supplant private transfers then in the extreme public transfers do nothing to alter the income of a program participant they only increase the income of family members or friends who would have otherwise provided greater private support. (excerpt)

Can quality improvement programs for depression in primary care address patient preferences for treatment

Abstract: BACKGROUND Depression is common in primary care, but rates of adequate care are low. Little is known about the role of patient treatment preferences in encouraging entry into care. OBJECTIVES To examine whether a primary care based depression quality improvement (QI) intervention designed to accommodate patient and provider treatment choice increases the likelihood that patients enter depression treatment and receive preferred treatment. METHODS In 46 primary care clinics, patients with current depressive symptoms and either lifetime or current depressive disorder were identified through screening. Treatment preferences, patient characteristics, and use of depression treatments were assessed at baseline and 6 months by patient self-report. Matched clinics were randomized to usual care (UC) or 1 of 2 QI interventions. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS For patients not in care at baseline, the QI interventions increased rates of entry into depression treatment compared with usual care (adjusted percentage: 50.0% +/- 5.3 and 33.0% +/- 4.9 for interventions vs. 15.9% +/- 3.6 for usual care; F = 12.973, P <0.0001). Patients in intervention clinics were more likely to get treatments they preferred compared with those in usual care (adjusted percentage: 54.2% +/- 3.3 and 50.7% +/- 3.1 for interventions vs. 40.5% +/- 3.1 for usual care; F = 6.034, P <0.003); however, in all clinics less than half of patients preferring counseling reported receiving it. CONCLUSIONS QI interventions that support patient choice can improve the likelihood of patients receiving preferred treatments. Patient treatment preference appears to be related to likelihood of entering depression treatment, and patients preferring counseling may require additional interventions to enhance entry into treatment.

Factors that influence mental health stigma among 8th grade adolescents

Abstract: Unmet mental health need is a significant problem for adolescents. Although stigma is identified as a major barrier to the use of mental health services among youth, there is limited research on this topic. In-depth interviews (n=57) among a sample of 8th grade students in a suburban, mid-Atlantic community portray adolescent mental health attitudes and how these views are shaped. Satisfactory personal experiences with mental health services as well as accurate mental health knowledge contribute to positive mental health attitudes among teens. The anticipation of negative responses towards mental health care-seeking from family members, peers, and school staff are key factors in teens’ comfort and willingness to address mental health concerns. The research provides critical information on the factors that contribute to the development of stigma and emphasizes the need to address stigma in youth mental health education, programs, and treatment plans.

Bounds for the Optimal Scheduling of n Jobs on m Processors

Abstract: The problem of scheduling n jobs on m identical processors has been introduced by R. McNaughton, but as yet no efficient algorithm has been found for determining an optimal sequencing of jobs. In this paper lower and upper bounds are given for the cost of an optimal schedule. Since the two bounds are not far apart, they may be helpful in practical scheduling problems. A procedure is described for obtaining a schedule which costs less than the given upper bound.