Kaiser Permanente
Division of Research Spotlight
The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the health and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and society at large. We seek to understand the determinants of illness and well-being, and to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Currently, DOR’s 550-plus staff is working on more than 350 epidemiological and health services research projects.
People who had bariatric surgery to address obesity and later became pregnant had less risk of poor outcomes such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, in comparison with similar pregnant patients who did not have the surgery.
Patients with hypertension and unhealthy alcohol use were more likely to see a decline in their blood pressure if they were asked about their alcohol drinking habits and provided a brief intervention during a visit with their primary care team.
An analysis of Kaiser Permanente Northern California telehealth visits that took place early in the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that handling routine health concerns by phone or video is a safe and effective option alongside in-person visits.
Kaiser Permanente study finds postmenopausal women with cancer report a greater decline in physical function than women who have not had cancer.
A Kaiser Permanente analysis of prenatal exposure to the persistent environmental chemicals known as PFAS found suggestive evidence of an association with autism-related traits in children for just 1 of 8 PFAS chemicals studied.
A Kaiser Permanente study finds more patients starting treatment for an alcohol problem in the pandemic, during a transition to telehealth, suggesting some may be more comfortable with a video or phone visit.
California’s legalization of cannabis for adult-use may have reduced the stigma of using cannabis products during pregnancy and made them easier to obtain, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente investigators.
New Kaiser Permanente research suggests a national clinical guideline on evaluating infant fever may not be ideal in all health care settings.
Kaiser Permanente "Be-Well" study finds long-term history of smoking cigarettes increases the risk of a cancer recurrence in people who have been treated for bladder cancer.
Teaching patients who are in addiction treatment to work with their primary care medical team on both mental and physical health concerns resulted in long-term benefits over 5 years, including more primary care use and fewer emergency department visits, Kaiser Permanente researchers have found.
