Research Activities February 2013, No. 390 February 2013, No. 390 ContentsAbout Research ActivitiesFeature StoryAHRQ toolkit helps hospitals improve antibiotic selection to reduce deadlyC. difficile infectionsFrom the DirectorChild/Adolescent HealthPrescription of antidepressants for children and adolescents by office-based physicians is typically done off-labelMedical home for children and youth improves delivery of preventive services without raising expendituresPrimary CarePatients who find it easy to access primary care are more likely to receive selected preventive servicesHigher scores as a patient-centered medical home linked to higher operating costsResearchers develop a task list to evaluate primary care workflowPatient Safety and QualitySurgeons are more reluctant to withdraw postoperative life support for patients with complications from surgeon errorPay-for-performance did not spur more rapid quality improvement among low-performing hospitalsProcess improvements in family practice lead to some improvements in intermediate outcomesChronic DiseasePatients with coronary artery disease who get ongoing support from their community pharmacy may adhere better to medicationsAn empowerment-based educational approach improves understanding and knowledge for patients with diabetesAbnormal electrocardiogram results nearly double the risk of cardiovascular-related death for patients without heart diseaseBevacizumab, when added to chemotherapy regimen for elderly patients with lung cancer, does not increase survival ratesComparative EffectivenessBenefits of case management for chronic illness limitedMore research needed to compare therapies for colorectal cancer metastases is to the liverSome assessment tools and medications are effective for chronic coughBoth laparoscopic and open surgical techniques found effective for moving undescended testicles to normal positionWomen’s HealthOlder women with breast cancer experience more complications with brachytherapy than whole breast irradiationGiving birth to a small gestational age infant increases likelihood of later maternal ischemic heart diseaseUsing a terbutaline pump to prevent preterm birth may be beneficial, but evidence suggests cautionDisparities/Minority HealthFactors linked to racial or ethnic disparities in U.S. fetal death rates differ among groupsRural patients with a serious form of gallstone disease are less likely than urban patients to receive treatmentCriminal justice system may create and aggravate health disparities among minoritiesMental HealthCo-occurring mental disorders such as PTSD and panic disorder prompt the depressed to seek earlier treatmentHealth Care Costs and FinancingPeople harmed by unintentional, non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning results in hospital costs of more than $26 millionHealth Information TechnologyTeamwork key to long-term sustainability of health IT systemsAnalyzing electronic health record data can help identify the overuse of cervical cancer screeningAnnouncementsHCUP 2010 NEDS database now availableResearch BriefsResearch BriefsHealthcare 411Follow AHRQ news on Twitter Current as of February 2013 Internet Citation: Research Activities February 2013, No. 390: February 2013, No. 390. February 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/13feb/index.html
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