Research Activities, December 2011, No. 376 About Research ActivitiesFeature StoryHuman factors challenges in home health careThree Publications Highlight Human Factors ResearchFrom the DirectorHealth Information TechnologyMany challenges remain in the design and use of consumer health informatics interventionsTransitioning to new electronic health records can result in potential safety problemsPediatric care providers identify desired characteristics for computerized flu vaccination alertsPatient Safety and QualityVolume of paid outpatient malpractice claims underscores need for greater patient safety efforts in this areaEvidence-based strategies substantially reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in ICUsTrauma patients are more likely to die after a major complication in high-mortality hospitalsHospital boards adopt practices to enhance oversight on quality of carePharmacy, medical, and nurse practitioner students need more education on drug-drug interactionsFor-profit dialysis chains have higher mortality rates than non-profit dialysis chainChronic DiseaseOverweight or obese patients have higher health care expendituresFewer than 1 in 5 emergency departments implement recommendations for HIV screeningPatients with myelodysplastic syndrome have shorter survival times if they have coexisting medical conditionsChild/Adolescent HealthThe increase in pediatric stimulant use since 1996 mostly linked to treatment of ADHD in adolescentsMost children receiving palliative care live for more than a year after beginning such treatmentGood communication with the doctor treating their child for cancer improves parental satisfaction with their role in decisionsMoving adolescents with sickle cell disease from pediatric to adult care hampered by lack of knowledgeable adult hematologistsAcute Care/HospitalizationIncreased estradiol levels during critical illness are associated with higher mortalityHospital lung cancer surgery volume is not correlated with lower mortalityDisparities/Minority HealthEnrollment in Medicare Advantage managed care plans reduces racial/ethnic disparities in primary care quality in some StatesDeaf patients who use American Sign Language receive more preventive care if their clinician also uses sign languageHealth Care Costs and FinancingFinancial performance has modest effect on nursing home quality improvementSimilarly effective international guidelines for managing cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes vary in costsAgency News and NotesHeart disease, cancer, and trauma-related disorders among the most costly conditions for menKnee replacements up dramatically among adults 45 to 64 years oldHospitalizations for eating disorders declined, but big increase seen in pica disorderBirth defects may be linked to high blood pressure, not use of ACE inhibitors in early pregnancyChildren's use of asthma controller drugs doublesThin evidence on non-drug strategies for treatment-resistant depressionEvidence lacking on transition-of-care programs for heart attack and stroke patients after hospital dischargeAnnouncementsAHRQ awards $34 million to expand fight against healthcare-associated infectionsAHRQ awards grants for the redesign and transformation of primary care practiceAHRQ report shows that parent training is effective for treating young children with ADHDUpdated report compares the effectiveness and risks of popular hypertension medicationsNew guides compare benefits and risks of GERD treatmentsAHRQ announces CERTs awardsAHRQ awards $4.5 million to create clinical preventive services research centersHCUP releases 2009 facts and figures report on hospital-based careHCUP releases 2009 Nationwide Emergency Department SampleAHRQ's health IT 2010 annual report is availableComparative effectiveness report on osteoarthritis updatedAHRQ releases new CME/CE courses Research BriefsHealthcare 411Follow AHRQ news on Twitter Current as of December 2011 Internet Citation: Research Activities, December 2011, No. 376. December 2011. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/dec11/index.html
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