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Evidence Based Health Practice

Evidence-based health practice applies the scientific method to use the best available evidence—from physical exams, diagnostic reviews, medical research, and known risks and benefits of treatment options—when making medical decisions. RAND has investigated the impact of adopting evidence-based health practices on patient care and health care policies, and the greater implications of using a national quality measurement and reporting system.

Journal Article
Integrating Traditional Practices and Social Network Visualization to Prevent Substance Use: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Among Urban Native American Emerging Adults
A community-informed and culturally grounded opioid prevention intervention can be developed for urban AI/AN emerging adults and can help to build resilience and hopefully decrease opioid use among this underserved population.
Jun 21, 2023
Journal Article
Trends in Geographic Proximity to Substance Use Disorder Treatment
This study aims to assess trends in the number and characteristics of substance use disorder treatment (SUDT) facilities within the county of residence of adults aged 50+ over time.
Apr 18, 2023
Journal Article
Artificial Intelligence Applications Used in the Clinical Response to COVID-19: A Scoping Review
The authors identified 66 AI applications used to perform a wide range of diagnostic, prognostic, and triage functions in the clinical response to COVID-19. Some saw widespread use, though only a few were independently evaluated.
Oct 19, 2022
Journal Article
A National Retrospective Study of Antidepressants' Effects on Overdose and Self-Harm Among Adults Treated With Opioid Analgesics
Individuals with a history of depression who received opioid analgesics had a significantly lower risk for overdose and self-harm after they had been taking antidepressants for at least 6 weeks.
Oct 19, 2022
Journal Article
Comparing Two Federal Financing Strategies on Penetration and Sustainment of the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach for Substance Use Disorders: Protocol for a Mixed-Method Study
The project will advance understanding of effective financing strategies to support the implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices for the treatment of adolescent substance use disorders.
Oct 13, 2022
Tool
Getting To Outcomes® (GTO) Toolkit
The Getting To Outcomes®: Improving Community-Based Substance-Use Prevention project assesses the effectiveness of participatory methods meant to assist community coalitions in preventing substance abuse and to improve community health.
Sep 28, 2022
Commentary
Setting Standards for Delivering High-Quality Care to Veterans with Invisible Wounds
Posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders are common among post-9/11 veterans and can interfere with their employment, family life, engagement with their communities, and overall well-being. A shared definition and standards for high-quality care can help organizations better support veterans.
Sep 12, 2022
Journal Article
The Need for a Measurement-Based Care Professional Practice Guideline
In connection with the APA's Advisory Committee for Measurement-based Care and the Mental and Behavioral Health Registry, this article provides support for the development and implementation of a measurement-based care professional practice guideline.
Jul 8, 2022
Research Brief
Standards for Delivering High-Quality Care to Veterans with Invisible Wounds
Depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders interfere with veterans' employment, family life, community engagement, and well-being. There are effective treatments but also barriers to accessing them. A set of standards can help identify providers who serve veterans and deliver high-quality care.
May 9, 2022
Report
Recommended Standards for Delivering High-Quality Care to Veterans with Invisible Wounds
The authors identified ten standards for the delivery of high-quality care for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorders, and mild traumatic brain injury.
May 9, 2022
Journal Article
Stepped Care for Depression at Integrated Chronic Care Centers (IC3) in Malawi: Study Protocol for a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
This study will compare the effects of an evidence-based depression care model versus usual care on depression symptom remediation as well as physical health outcomes for chronic care conditions.
Mar 29, 2022
Journal Article
Coordination of Sustainable Financing for Evidence-Based Youth Mental Health Treatments: Protocol for Development and Evaluation of the Fiscal Mapping Process
This protocol describes a mixed-methods research project designed to (1) develop and (2) evaluate a novel Fiscal Mapping Process that guides strategic planning efforts to finance the sustainment of evidence-based treatments in youth mental health services.
Jan 7, 2022
Journal Article
Value of Family Involvement in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Aligning Clinical and Financing Priorities
Family support has important impacts on recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). This paper illustrates how financing gaps limit SUD service systems from offering family services. We offer two sets of recommendations for funding family involvement in SUD services.
Jan 7, 2022
Journal Article
Methods for Identifying Health Research Gaps, Needs, and Priorities: A Scoping Review
The purpose of this review is to characterize methods conducted or supported by research funding organizations to identify health research gaps, needs, or priorities.
Nov 10, 2021
Essay
Advances in Care for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries or PTSD
A new standard of care proposed by RAND researchers aims to redefine high-quality care for veterans with a traumatic brain injury or posttraumatic stress disorder. But it also could serve as a template for making health care more effective, more consistent, and more responsive for more patients.
Nov 8, 2021
Report
Methods for Identifying Health Research Gaps, Needs, and Priorities: A Scoping Review
This scoping review provides a roadmap of methods used for identifying health research gaps, establishing research needs, and determining research priorities.
Nov 8, 2021
Report
Communicating research evidence to boards in health and care organisations: A scoping study
Boards in health and care organisations play a key role in the governance, strategy, direction and culture of an organisation. We conducted a scoping study on how health and care boards use research evidence and how this can be improved.
Sep 27, 2021
Journal Article
"What We Have Here, Is a Failure to [Replicate]": Ways to Solve a Replication Crisis in Implementation Science
This article reviews what is known about replication of implementation trials, and identifies the gaps and next steps to continue increasing the transparency, openness, and replicability of implementation research.
Aug 13, 2021
Journal Article
Translating Economic Evaluations Into Financing Strategies for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices
We use three case examples to illustrate the importance of implementation financing strategies, which secure and direct funds to support Evidence-Based Practices adoption and continued use.
Jul 14, 2021
Tool
How to Integrate Pharmacotherapy for Substance Use Disorders at Your Mental Health Clinic: A Step-By-Step Guide for Screening and Treating Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Alcohol and/or Opioid Use Disorders with Pharmacotherapy in Mental Health Clinics
RAND researchers provide a toolkit to support the delivery of effective, evidence-based pharmacotherapy for clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and simplify care implementation in mental health clinics.
Jul 8, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Evidence Based Health Practice

Topic Synonyms:
EBP;
Evidence-Based Practice

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Alina I. Palimaru

Policy Researcher

Alina I. Palimaru is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her journey to date has spanned government, commerce, and the media, but primarily academia, where she has garnered extensive mixed methods research experience under world-class tutelage. At UCLA, she expanded her interest and…
Breanne Johnsen

Research Assistant

Breanne C. Johnsen has been a research assistant at RAND since July 2007. She specializes in health sciences, and is part of large research team aiming to produce evidence reports and technology assessments. She assists the Director of Evidence-based Practice Center, along with other Principle…

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