National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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
26 to 33 of 33 Research Studies DisplayedAlexander GL, Deroche CB, Powell KR
Development and pilot analysis of the nursing home health information technology maturity survey and staging model.
The purpose of this study was the development, psychometric testing, and analysis of a survey instrument and staging model for nursing home health information technology (HIT). The nursing homes (NH) were selected for inclusion in the study based on their HIT scores from a prior study. Researchers recruited 121 NH administrators from January to May 2019 from primarily for-profit, metropolitan nursing homes with medium bed size. The researchers reported that all dimensions and domains were significantly correlated, with the exception of the variables of integration in administrative activities and HIT capabilities. All items loaded intuitively onto four components, explaining 80% of the variance. The researchers concluded that the HIT maturity survey can be used to make reliable assumptions about nursing home health information technology.
AHRQ-funded; HS022497.
Citation: Alexander GL, Deroche CB, Powell KR .
Development and pilot analysis of the nursing home health information technology maturity survey and staging model.
Res Gerontol Nurs 2022 Mar-Apr;15(2):93-99. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20220218-04..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Cannon JL, Park GW, Anderson B
Hygienic monitoring in long-term care facilities using ATP, crAssphage, and human noroviruses to direct environmental surface cleaning.
Norovirus and C. difficile can be transmitted by contaminated environmental surfaces and are associated with diarrheal illnesses and deaths in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Hygienic monitoring tools such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence and indicators of fecal contamination can help to identify LTC facility surfaces with cleaning deficiencies. The researchers swabbed and tested high-touch surfaces in 11 LTC facilities for contamination by norovirus, a fecal indicator virus, crAssphage, and ATP. The study found that greater than 90% of surfaces tested positive for crAssphage or failed in their ATP scores. Norovirus contamination was not detected. Handrails, equipment controls, and patient beds were 4 times more likely than other surfaces or locations to have high levels of crAssphage. Patient bed handrails and tables and chairs in patient lounges had high levels of both ATP and crAssphage.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Cannon JL, Park GW, Anderson B .
Hygienic monitoring in long-term care facilities using ATP, crAssphage, and human noroviruses to direct environmental surface cleaning.
Am J Infect Control 2022 Mar; 50(3):289-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.014..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Prevention, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Clostridium difficile Infections
Kumar RG, Zhang W, Evans E
Research letter: characterization of older adults hospitalized with traumatic brain injury admitted to long-term acute care hospitals.
The objective of this study was to describe patient, hospital, and geographic characteristics of older adult Medicare beneficiaries who were hospitalized with traumatic brain injury (TBI) then admitted to long-term acute care hospitals. Participants were predominantly White males with an average age of 77.1. Average acute hospital length of stay was 19.4 days. Only 4% of patients were discharged home after a long-term acute care hospital stay; the primary discharge disposition was to skilled nursing facilities. Geographic analyses indicated that Southern and Midwestern states had the greatest number of long-term acute care hospital facilities and highest proportion of admissions. The authors concluded that more research is needed to understand long-term functional outcomes among this population.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Kumar RG, Zhang W, Evans E .
Research letter: characterization of older adults hospitalized with traumatic brain injury admitted to long-term acute care hospitals.
J Head Trauma Rehabil 2022 Mar-Apr; 37(2):89-95. doi: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000685..
Keywords: Elderly, Brain Injury, Long-Term Care
Konetzka RT, Davila H, Brauner DJ
The quality measures domain in Nursing Home Compare: is high performance meaningful or misleading?
The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publishes a Nursing Home Compare (NHC) web site that provides information to compare nursing homes across the nation. Since NHC began reporting the percent of nursing home residents suffering adverse outcomes, the negative outcomes decreased dramatically. However, the validity of scores has been questioned for nursing homes that score well on facility-reported measures but scored poorly on inspections. The study purpose was to determine whether nursing homes with these “discordant” scores are better than nursing homes that score poorly across all domains. The researchers analyzed national data from 2012- 2016, conducted in-depth interviews and observations of 12 nursing homes in 2017 to 2018, and studied nursing home performance trajectories over time. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized and interpreted together. The study found that facilities identified as discordant took part in more quality improvement (QI) activities than those identified as poor performers, but those QI activities were lower-resource improvements and not of the type and scope that would impact improvements across other quality domains. It was determined that the poor-performing facilities appeared to lack the leadership and staff continuity required for even low-resource improvements. The study concluded that while high performance on quality measures using facility-reported data is mostly meaningful, and the quality measures domain should continue to be utilized in Nursing Home Compare, facilities identified as discordant still have quality defects.
AHRQ-funded; HS024967.
Citation: Konetzka RT, Davila H, Brauner DJ .
The quality measures domain in Nursing Home Compare: is high performance meaningful or misleading?
Gerontologist 2022 Feb 9;62(2):293-303. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnab054..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Provider Performance, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality of Care
Katz MJ, Tamma PD, Cosgrove SE
Implementation of an antibiotic stewardship program in long-term care facilities across the US.
The purpose of this study was to determine if AHRQ’s Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use was associated with reductions in antibiotic use in long-term care (LTC) facilities in the US. Findings showed that participation in the AHRQ safety program was associated with the development of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) that actively engaged clinical staff in the decision-making processes around antibiotic prescriptions in participating LTC facilities. The reduction in days of antibiotic therapy and starts, which was more pronounced in more engaged facilities, indicated that implementation of this multifaceted program may support successful ASPs in LTC settings.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I.
Citation: Katz MJ, Tamma PD, Cosgrove SE .
Implementation of an antibiotic stewardship program in long-term care facilities across the US.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Feb;5(2):e220181. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0181..
Keywords: Elderly, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Long-Term Care, Medication, Implementation, Patient Safety
Zimmerman S, Carder P, Schwartz L
The imperative to reimagine assisted living.
Assisted living (AL) has existed in the United States for decades, evolving in response to older adults' need for supportive care and distaste for nursing homes and older models of congregate care. AL is state-regulated, provides at least 2 meals a day, around-the-clock supervision, and help with personal care, but is not licensed as a nursing home. This article presents the background regarding those tensions, as well as potential solutions that have been borne out, paving the path to a better future of assisted living.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Zimmerman S, Carder P, Schwartz L .
The imperative to reimagine assisted living.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2022 Feb;23(2):225-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.12.004..
Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Delivery, Workforce, Quality of Care, Quality of Life, Healthcare Costs
Rosenthal M, Poling J, Wec A
"Medication is just one piece of the whole puzzle": how nursing homes change their use of antipsychotic medications.
This article investigated health professionals’ experiences with decision-making during changes under the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes and its companion coalitions. These programs were introduced in 2012 for the purpose of encouraging reductions in antipsychotic use and increasing use of nonpharmacological treatments for dementia. Interviews were conducted with 40 nursing home physicians and staff in seven states. The authors found that reducing antipsychotics is more time and resource-intensive than relying on medication. However, respondents supported reductions in antipsychotic use. They indicated that with supported staffing, effective communications, and training, they could create or implement individualized treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS023464.
Citation: Rosenthal M, Poling J, Wec A .
"Medication is just one piece of the whole puzzle": how nursing homes change their use of antipsychotic medications.
J Appl Gerontol 2022 Jan;41(1):62-72. doi: 10.1177/0733464820958919..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Nursing Homes, Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Long-Term Care, Shared Decision Making
Yount N, Zebrak KA, Famolaro T
Linking patient safety culture to quality ratings in the nursing home setting.
This study examined the relationship between scores on the AHRQ Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) Nursing Home Survey (NH SOPS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Ratings. The authors used data on 186 nursing homes to conduct multiple regression analyses predicting the Five-Star Quality Ratings from the NH SOPS survey measures. Five NH SOPS measures were related to the Overall, Health Inspections, and Quality Five-Star Ratings; four NH SOPS measures were related to at least two of the four Five-Star Quality Ratings and three SOPS measures were related to one Five-Star Rating. No NH SOPS measures were significantly associated with the Staffing Five-Star Rating.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500026I.
Citation: Yount N, Zebrak KA, Famolaro T .
Linking patient safety culture to quality ratings in the nursing home setting.
J Appl Gerontol 2022 Jan;41(1):73-81. doi: 10.1177/0733464820969283..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Patient Safety, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care