National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Back Health and Pain (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
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- Medication: Safety (2)
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- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (4)
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- (-) Practice Patterns (17)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedVu K, Zhou J, Everhart A
Uptake of evidence by physicians: de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after the TREAT trial.
Variation in de-adoption of ineffective or unsafe treatments is not well-understood. In this study the investigators examined de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemia treatment among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) following new clinical evidence of harm and ineffectiveness (the TREAT trial) and the FDA's revision of its safety warning. The investigators found that physician specialty had a dominant role in prescribing decision, and specializations with higher use of treatment (nephrologists) were more responsive to new evidence of unsafety and ineffectiveness.
AHRQ-funded; HS025164.
Citation: Vu K, Zhou J, Everhart A .
Uptake of evidence by physicians: de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after the TREAT trial.
BMC Nephrol 2021 Aug 21;22(1):284. doi: 10.1186/s12882-021-02491-y..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Medication: Safety, Medication, Patient Safety, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician
Navis A, George MC, Nmashie A
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for assessing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control opioid prescribing guidelines.
This study assessed the use of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) which was designed to improve the implementation of the 2016 Centers for Disease Control Guidelines on the prescription of opioids for chronic pain. Four raters with varying levels of clinical experience were trained to use the SOPET and then used it to evaluate 21 baseline patient scenarios. Inter-rater reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates and their 95% confidence intervals for the total SOPET score based on a mean-rating absolute-agreement, two-way random-effects model. Inter-rater reliability was found to be good for the three physician raters (0.92, 0.97, and 0.99). However, inter-rater reliability for the non-physician rater was lower (0.67).
AHRQ-funded; HS025641.
Citation: Navis A, George MC, Nmashie A .
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for assessing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control opioid prescribing guidelines.
Pain Med 2020 Dec 25;21(12):3655-59. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa138..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Guidelines, Practice Patterns, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice
Kapoor N, Lacson R, Hammer M
Physician agreement with recommendations contained in a national guideline for the management of incidental pulmonary nodules: a case study.
This survey of physicians was used to determine agreement with recommendations in the national guideline for the management of incidental pulmonary nodules from the 2017 Fleischner Society Guidelines for Management of Incident Pulmonary Nodules (FSG). The FSG contains 18 unique recommendations which were codified into a clinical evidence logic statement (CELS) for this study. The FSG also included ratings for strength of evidence based on the American Society of Chest Physicians grading system. In order to internally grade the strength of evidence behind each recommendation, two medical librarians from the Harvard Library of Evidence analyzed each CELS independently and graded the recommendations based on the supporting clinical studies using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based levels of evidence and the US Preventive Service Task Force I-scores. Nine physicians from a single large academic institution were then surveyed via SurveyMonkey to assess agreement with each of the 18 CELS. Agreement on each recommendation ranged from 0 to 100%. This study was meant to be exploratory and to test the hypothesis that guideline nonadherence may be partly affected by lack of physician agreement with guideline component recommendations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024722.
Citation: Kapoor N, Lacson R, Hammer M .
Physician agreement with recommendations contained in a national guideline for the management of incidental pulmonary nodules: a case study.
J Am Coll Radiol 2020 Nov;17(11):1437-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.07.020..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Respiratory Conditions, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider
Gregory EF, Miller JM, Wasserman RC
Adherence to pediatric universal cholesterol testing guidelines across body mass index categories: A CER(2) cohort study.
This study asks whether, and to what extent, universal cholesterol testing has been adopted since the 2011 guideline. Findings showed that cholesterol testing by age 12 years increased between 2011 and 2016; children with elevated BMI were more likely to complete testing for all birth cohorts. However, testing among children with normal BMI has become increasingly prevalent, suggesting a shift toward universal cholesterol testing in pediatrics since the 2011 recommendation.
AHRQ-funded; HS021645.
Citation: Gregory EF, Miller JM, Wasserman RC .
Adherence to pediatric universal cholesterol testing guidelines across body mass index categories: A CER(2) cohort study.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2020 Aug;13(8):e006519. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.119.006519..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Heart Disease and Health, Guidelines, Practice Patterns, Evidence-Based Practice
Westafer LM, Kunz A, Bugajska P
Provider perspectives on the use of evidence-based risk stratification tools in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism: a qualitative study.
Providers often pursue imaging in patients at low risk of pulmonary embolism (PE), resulting in imaging yields <10% and false-positive imaging rates of 10% to 25%. Attempts to curb overtesting have had only modest success and no interventions have used implementation science frameworks. The objective of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to the adoption of evidence-based diagnostic testing for PE.
AHRQ-funded; HS025701.
Citation: Westafer LM, Kunz A, Bugajska P .
Provider perspectives on the use of evidence-based risk stratification tools in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism: a qualitative study.
Acad Emerg Med 2020 Jun;27(6):447-56. doi: 10.1111/acem.13908..
Keywords: Respiratory Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Shared Decision Making, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Jeffery MM, Hooten WM, Jena AB
Rates of physician coprescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines after the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in 2016.
Researchers sought to determine whether the release of the CDC guidelines was associated with changes in co-prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines. Their study showed a reduction in the extent, but not the intensity, of co-prescribing of benzodiazepines for patients with long-term opioid use.
AHRQ-funded; HS025164.
Citation: Jeffery MM, Hooten WM, Jena AB .
Rates of physician coprescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines after the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in 2016.
JAMA Netw Open 2019 Aug 2;2(8):e198325. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.8325..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Pain, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines
Kim HS, Kaplan SH, McCarthy DM
A comparison of analgesic prescribing among ED back and neck pain visits receiving physical therapy versus usual care.
Researchers used a retrospective cohort study to examine whether physical therapy (PT) is associated with lower analgesic prescribing in the emergency department (ED) setting. They found that, in this single center study, ED back and neck pain visits receiving PT were no less likely to receive an opioid prescription and were more likely to receive a benzodiazepine than visits receiving usual care. They conclude that, although prior studies demonstrated that PT may reduce opioid utilization in the subsequent year, these results indicated that analgesic prescribing is not reduced at the initial ED encounter.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Kim HS, Kaplan SH, McCarthy DM .
A comparison of analgesic prescribing among ED back and neck pain visits receiving physical therapy versus usual care.
Am J Emerg Med 2019 Jul;37(7):1322-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.10.009..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Emergency Department, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Pain, Back Health and Pain, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice
Schmidt B, Eapen RS, Cowan JE
Practice patterns of primary EBRT with and without ADT in prostate cancer treatment.
This study investigated usage of external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), using data from a community-based prospective disease registry (CaPSURE). Data on 1337 men diagnosed between 1990 and 2014 with localized disease who received EBRT as primary treatment was compared. The authors conclude that use of ADT in conjunction with primary EBRT has increased in frequency and duration since 1990, and that men who received ADT have higher risk characteristics than those who receive EBRT alone.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356.
Citation: Schmidt B, Eapen RS, Cowan JE .
Practice patterns of primary EBRT with and without ADT in prostate cancer treatment.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2019 Mar;22(1):117-24. doi: 10.1038/s41391-018-0084-3..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Practice Patterns, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Outcomes, Treatments
Lee DJ, Barocas DA, Zhao Z
Contemporary prostate cancer radiation therapy in the United States: patterns of care and compliance with quality measures.
This study measured compliance with quality measures for radiation therapy treatment of prostate cancer. The Comparative Effectiveness Analysis of Surgery and Radiation Study enrolled men who were treated for localized prostate cancer from 2011 and 2012. Medical records were reviewed, and patients completed surveys. Researchers concluded that men who received external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) were treated more appropriately than those treated with brachytherapy (BT). White men were also more likely to receive appropriate treatment than African-American and other minorities.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Lee DJ, Barocas DA, Zhao Z .
Contemporary prostate cancer radiation therapy in the United States: patterns of care and compliance with quality measures.
Pract Radiat Oncol 2018 Sep-Oct;8(5):307-16. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2018.04.009..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Practice Patterns, Quality Measures
McCreedy EM, Kane RL, Gollust SE
Patient-centered guidelines for geriatric diabetes care: potential missed opportunities to avoid harm.
Clinicians strive to deliver individualized, patient-centered care. However, these intentions are understudied. This research explored how patient characteristics associated with a high risk-to-benefit ratio with hypoglycemia medications affected decision making by primary care clinicians. The investigators found that primary care clinicians often chose to intensify glycemic control despite individual patient factors that warranted higher glycemic targets based on existing guidelines.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: McCreedy EM, Kane RL, Gollust SE .
Patient-centered guidelines for geriatric diabetes care: potential missed opportunities to avoid harm.
J Am Board Fam Med 2018 Mar-Apr;31(2):192-200. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170141..
Keywords: Diabetes, Elderly, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Shared Decision Making, Medication, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Howard R, Waljee J, Brummett C
Reduction in opioid prescribing through evidence-based prescribing guidelines.
The authors evaluated the effect of evidence-based postoperative prescribing guidelines in an effort to reduce overprescribing. The post-intervention group received opioid prescriptions for reduced dosages compared to the pre-intervention group. In the post-intervention group, 2.5% requested refills compared with 4.1% in the pre-intervention group. The authors indicated that this work will be used as a template for statewide practice transformation, which may serve as a platform for other states.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Howard R, Waljee J, Brummett C .
Reduction in opioid prescribing through evidence-based prescribing guidelines.
JAMA Surg 2018 Mar;153(3):285-87. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.4436.
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Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Opioids, Practice Patterns, Surgery
Shay LA, Street RL, Jr., Baldwin AS
Characterizing safety-net providers' HPV vaccine recommendations to undecided parents: a pilot study.
The researchers developed a tool to describe strength and content of provider HPV vaccination recommendations. The tool showed how providers undercut their recommendations through qualifications or support them with a rationale. The authors recommended that providers would benefit from communication skills training on how to make explicit recommendations with an evidence-based rationale.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Shay LA, Street RL, Jr., Baldwin AS .
Characterizing safety-net providers' HPV vaccine recommendations to undecided parents: a pilot study.
Patient Educ Couns 2016 Sep;99(9):1452-60. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.06.027.
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Keywords: Practice Patterns, Vaccination, Infectious Diseases, Sexual Health, Clinician-Patient Communication, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Communication
Reschovsky JD, Rich EC, Lake TK
Factors contributing to variations in physicians' use of evidence at the point of care: a conceptual model.
The purpose of this article is to help identify modifiable factors that can influence clinical decisions at the point of care. It presents a conceptual model and literature review of physician decisionmaking. The authors describe the multitude of factors—drawn from different disciplines—that have been shown to influence physician point-of-care decisions. They also present a conceptual framework for organizing these factors.
AHRQ-funded; 23320095642; 23337033T.
Citation: Reschovsky JD, Rich EC, Lake TK .
Factors contributing to variations in physicians' use of evidence at the point of care: a conceptual model.
J Gen Intern Med 2015 Aug;30 Suppl 3:S555-61. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3366-7..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Shared Decision Making, Evidence-Based Practice, Primary Care: Models of Care, Practice Patterns
Converse L, Barrett K, Rich E
Methods of observing variations in physicians' decisions: the opportunities of clinical vignettes.
This review described various methods for measuring variations in physicians’ decisions and highlight a range of design features researchers should consider when developing a clinical vignette survey. It concluded by identifying areas for future research.
AHRQ-funded; 23320095642WC; 23337033T.
Citation: Converse L, Barrett K, Rich E .
Methods of observing variations in physicians' decisions: the opportunities of clinical vignettes.
J Gen Intern Med 2015 Aug;30 Suppl 3:S586-94. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3365-8..
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Evidence-Based Practice, Practice Patterns
Tjia J, Field T, Mazor K
Dissemination of evidence-based antipsychotic prescribing guidelines to nursing homes: a cluster randomized trial.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of efforts to translate and disseminate evidence-based guidelines about atypical antipsychotic use to nursing homes (NHs). It found that RE-AIM indicators suggest some success in disseminating the toolkit and differences in reach, adoption, and implementation according to dissemination strategy but no measurable effect on antipsychotic prescribing trends.
AHRQ-funded; HS019351.
Citation: Tjia J, Field T, Mazor K .
Dissemination of evidence-based antipsychotic prescribing guidelines to nursing homes: a cluster randomized trial.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2015 Jul;63(7):1289-98. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13488..
Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Practice Patterns, Tools & Toolkits, Implementation
Finnerty M, Neese-Todd S, Bilder S
Best practices: MEDNET: a multistate policy maker-researcher collaboration to improve prescribing practices.
The authors describe the Medicaid/ Mental Health Network for Evidence-Based Treatment (MEDNET), the first multistate Medicaid QI collaborative to focus on improving psychotropic prescribing. In particular, this article includes the development, infrastructure challenges, and early evidence of success of this public-academic partnership.
AHRQ-funded; HSO19937; HS021112.
Citation: Finnerty M, Neese-Todd S, Bilder S .
Best practices: MEDNET: a multistate policy maker-researcher collaboration to improve prescribing practices.
Psychiatr Serv 2014 Nov 1;65(11):1297-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400343..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Medication, Medicaid, Practice Patterns
O'Brien EC, Holmes DN, Ansell JE
Physician practices regarding contraindications to oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: findings from the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry.
This study describes the frequencies of and factors associated with oral anticoagulation (OAC) contraindications in clinical practice for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Contraindications to OAC therapy among patients with AF are common but subjective. Many patients with reported contraindications were receiving OAC, suggesting that the perceived benefits outweighed the potential harm posed by the relative contraindication.
AHRQ-funded; HS021092
Citation: O'Brien EC, Holmes DN, Ansell JE .
Physician practices regarding contraindications to oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: findings from the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry.
Am Heart J. 2014 Apr;167(4):601-609.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.12.014..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Blood Thinners, Medication, Registries, Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Practice Patterns