ABSTRACT
Despite decades of progress in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease, its prevalence continues to grow in both developed and developing countries. We have constructed a model, the "cycle of quality," which connects the innovation of initial scientific discovery with validated methods of translating research into effective delivery. This model can serve as a basis for evaluating proposed efforts to improve interactions among private and public aspects of health care to accelerate development and appropriate adoption of new treatments, and to achieve greater penetration of effective behavioral therapies and established technologies, resulting in major improvements in cardiovascular health.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Evidence-Based Medicine , Health Care Sector/organization & administration , Health Policy , Interinstitutional Relations , Models, Organizational , Total Quality Management , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Diffusion of Innovation , Health Care Reform , Humans , United StatesABSTRACT
This study assesses six states' allocation decisions for funds from tobacco settlement agreements, using information from newspaper articles and other public sources. State allocation decisions were diverse; substantial shares were allocated to areas other than tobacco control and health, including capital projects and budget shortfalls. The allocations did not reflect the stated goals of the lawsuits leading to the settlements. This outcome reflects a lack of strong advocacy from public health interest groups, an unreliable public constituency for tobacco control, and inconsistent support from state executive and legislative branches, all combined with sizable budget deficits that provided competing uses for settlement funds.
