Research Activities June 2009, No. 346 ContentsAbout Research ActivitiesFeature StoryReports show few health care disparities eliminated, persistent variations in care, and slow pace of improvementOutcomes/Effectiveness ResearchType of beta blocker may affect mortality after hospitalization for heart failureDelayed occurrence of hypotension or bradycardia justifies continued monitoring of patients after carotid artery stentingHome care problems can put patients with diabetes at risk for visits to the emergency room or hospitalizationFailure to intensify drug therapies may lead to suboptimal control of diabetes despite adequate monitoringPatients infected with hepatitis C virus fare best with optimal dosage and adherence to combination medicationsPerceptions about fruit and vegetable intake are influenced by individual and community factorsChronic DiseasePrimary care recognition and treatment of chronic kidney disease can be markedly improved with a few approachesClinician interviews are the best method to determine whether patients with kidney failure are also depressedMedicare beneficiaries with cancer do not frequently use National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers for careCaregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's dementia are more likely to visit emergency departments or be hospitalized when depressedLupus increases direct health care costs and loss of work productivityPharmaceutical ResearchPharmacists' efforts to contact patients or physicians do not improve refills for chronic disease medicationsStudy shows no conclusive relationship between long-term statin use and lower risk of a type of skin cancerWomen's HealthWomen with cardiac symptoms are more likely than men to experience delays in emergency careAbused women are more likely to rely on condoms than birth control pills to prevent pregnanciesDisparities/Minority HealthWeekly telephone calls help patients with limited English proficiency and literacy self-manage diabetesNurse-led disease management of heart failure is cost-effective in ethnically diverse urban communitiesMinority children from disadvantaged families use more urgent care and less preventive care for their asthmaCaregiving is especially challenging for Korean AmericansElderly/Long-Term CareDeaths and rehospitalizations for elderly patients have not decreased despite advances in heart failure therapiesRace and gender affect the likelihood that elderly patients will take their antihypertensive medicationsHealth Information TechnologyElectronic health records provide more complete information than paper-based records in labor and delivery unitsPatient-centered health information technology has little impact on reducing pediatric medication errors in emergency departmentsChild/Adolescent HealthHealth information systems need to address pediatric needsAdult drug for sickle cell anemia may be safe for childrenEmergency MedicineEmergency departments need to do more to maximize patient safetyQuality of asthma care varies significantly in emergency departmentsAcute Care/HospitalizationDischarge process reduces hospital use in the 30 days following dischargePatients actively engaged in their health are more likely to adhere to physical therapy after spine surgerySubstance abuse is linked to readmissions for mood disordersExperience, career satisfaction, and fewer work hours lead to less stress for attending physiciansPatient Safety and QualityPatient safety events make hospital stays longer and more costlyStaff perceptions of hospital patient safety differ by department and positionWalkRounds program enhances the patient safety climate in hospitalsFaculty and leadership are unhappy with medical school cultureStudy calls for better data for physician profilingCompetition among HMOs may have a negative impact on qualityRecent past performance ratings of HMOs predict good performance in the futureStudy outlines the challenges of conducting quality improvement studies at rural and small community hospitalsHealth Care Costs and FinancingThe cost and impact of medical errors continue long after hospital dischargeUse of heath care among the uninsured increases over time during the first year without insuranceDental HealthCurrent and prior cavities and dentists' assessments help identify patients at risk for future cavitiesAgency News and NotesHigh blood pressure was the most common condition for which women sought treatment in 2006Medicare payments for outpatient prescription drugs jumped by more than $38 billion in 2006Mental disorders, asthma, and trauma injuries topped the list of most costly medical conditions in children in 2006Repeat C-sections rose dramatically in the past decadeAnnouncementsTask Force reaffirms recommendations for screening and counseling all adults and pregnant women for tobacco useCall for Papers for HSR Theme Issue on Payment ReformResearch BriefsResearch BriefsHealthcare 411Visit the AHRQ Patient Safety Network Web Site Current as of June 2009 Internet Citation: Research Activities: June 2009, No. 346. June 2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/jun09/index.html
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