National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
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- Access to Care (4)
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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 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedWeiner SG, Lo YC, Carroll AD
The incidence and disparities in use of stigmatizing language in clinical notes for patients with substance use disorder.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of stigmatizing language in clinical notes related to patients with substance use disorders and to detect patient- and provider-level differences. Results showed that the majority of patients with substance-related diagnoses had at least one note containing stigmatizing language. There were also several patient characteristic disparities associated with patients who had stigmatizing language in their notes. The author concluded that more clinician interventions about use of stigmatizing language are needed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026753.
Citation: Weiner SG, Lo YC, Carroll AD .
The incidence and disparities in use of stigmatizing language in clinical notes for patients with substance use disorder.
J Addict Med 2023 Jul-Aug; 17(4):424-30. doi: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001145..
Keywords: Disparities, Cultural Competence, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Blanco C, Kato EU, Aklin WM
AHRQ Author: Kato EU, Tong ST, Bierman A, Meyers D
Research to move policy - using evidence to advance health equity for substance use disorders.
This paper discusses ways that evidence-based research can advance health equity for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Racial and ethnic disparities in treatment access and outcomes have widened, despite substantial efforts to address the epidemic of overdose-related deaths in the US. Overdose rates are rising faster in Black, Latinx, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations than in White populations. Possible opportunities to address these disparities include addressing social determinants of health, implementing prevention measures, and supporting data science. The steps to ensure that research reduces disparities are to: 1) include members of underrepresented groups in the development of preventive interventions and treatments, 2) adequately recruit members of historically represented groups and ensure that studies are large enough to measure differences in outcomes according to race and ethnic group, 3) establish equitable partnerships with people who currently have or have had SUDS and their families and engage these groups in evidence production, 4) diversify the scientific workforce, and 4) have investigators measure the effects of policies and interventions on equity.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Blanco C, Kato EU, Aklin WM .
Research to move policy - using evidence to advance health equity for substance use disorders.
N Engl J Med 2022 Jun 16;386(24):2253-55. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2202740..
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Policy, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Social Determinants of Health
Yang J, Landrum MB, Zhou L
Disparities in outpatient visits for mental health and/or substance use disorders during the COVID surge and partial reopening in Massachusetts.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in outpatient visits for mental health and/or substance use disorders (MH/SUD) in an integrated healthcare organization during the initial Massachusetts COVID-19 surge and partial state reopening. The investigators concluded that MH/SUD visit volume increased during the COVID surge and was supported by rapidly-scaled telemedicine.
AHRQ-funded; HS025375.
Citation: Yang J, Landrum MB, Zhou L .
Disparities in outpatient visits for mental health and/or substance use disorders during the COVID surge and partial reopening in Massachusetts.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2020 Nov-Dec;67:100-06. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.09.004..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, COVID-19, Disparities, Access to Care, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Kim JH, Fine DR, Li L
Disparities in United States hospitalizations for serious infections in patients with and without opioid use disorder: a nationwide observational study.
This study examined the differences in patients with and without opioid use disorder (OUD) who were hospitalized for serious infections focusing on infective endocarditis, epidural abscess, septic arthritis or osteomyelitis. The authors used the 2016 National Inpatient Sample to examine differences in length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and charges. Patients with OUD had a lower probability of discharge at any given LOS, and lower odds of discharge to home with higher odds of discharge to a post-acute care facility. There were no significant differences in average total hospital charges.
AHRQ-funded; HS026215.
Citation: Kim JH, Fine DR, Li L .
Disparities in United States hospitalizations for serious infections in patients with and without opioid use disorder: a nationwide observational study.
PLoS Med 2020 Aug;17(8):e1003247. doi: 10.1371/ournal.pmed.1003247.
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Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Disparities, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Hospitalization, Medication, Infectious Diseases
McClellan CB
Disparities in opioid related mortality between United States counties from 2000 to 2014.
This study examines disparities in opioid related mortality between United States counties from 2000 to 2014. Unfortunately, counties that had lower rates in 2000 had caught up by 2014. The authors suggest that prevention measures need to be broader in scope and be implemented in areas where the opioid crisis doesn’t seem as prevalent.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: McClellan CB .
Disparities in opioid related mortality between United States counties from 2000 to 2014.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2019 Apr 25;199:151-58. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.03.005..
Keywords: Disparities, Medication, Mortality, Opioids, Substance Abuse
Peterson E, Busch S
Achieving mental health and substance use disorder treatment parity: a quarter century of policy making and research.
This article reviews the history and measures benefits from the 2008 passing of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). It led to significant improvements in mental health care coverage. Directions for future research are also discussed.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Peterson E, Busch S .
Achieving mental health and substance use disorder treatment parity: a quarter century of policy making and research.
Annu Rev Public Health 2018 Apr 1;39:421-35. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013603..
Keywords: Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Disparities, Health Insurance, Policy, Substance Abuse
Chhatre S, Jayadevappa R
Racial and ethnic disparities in substance use disorders and outcomes in elderly prostate cancer patients.
This study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data to identify prevalence of substance use among patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer. There are racial and ethnic disparities between substance use and outcomes. A multidisciplinary coordinated care approach is recommended to address these disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024106.
Citation: Chhatre S, Jayadevappa R .
Racial and ethnic disparities in substance use disorders and outcomes in elderly prostate cancer patients.
J Ethn Subst Abuse 2018 Apr-Jun;17(2):135-49. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2016.1160019..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Disparities, Elderly, Outcomes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Substance Abuse
Mays VM, Jones AL, Delany-Brumsey A
Perceived discrimination in health care and mental health/substance abuse treatment among blacks, Latinos, and whites.
The researchers investigated whether perceived discrimination in mental health/substance abuse visits contributes to participants' ratings of treatment helpfulness and stopped treatment. They found that fifteen percent of California adults reported discrimination during a health care visit and 4% specifically during mental health/substance abuse visits. Latinos, the uninsured, and those with past year mental disorders were twice as likely as others to report health care discrimination.
AHRQ-funded; HS021721.
Citation: Mays VM, Jones AL, Delany-Brumsey A .
Perceived discrimination in health care and mental health/substance abuse treatment among blacks, Latinos, and whites.
Med Care 2017 Feb;55(2):173-81. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000638.
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Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Disparities
Creedon TB, Cook BL
Access to mental health care increased but not for substance use, while disparities remain.
The researchers assessed whether early implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and state health insurance exchanges increased access to mental health and substance use treatment among those in need and whether these changes differed by racial/ethnic group. They found that mental health treatment rates increased significantly but found no evidence of a reduction in the wide racial/ethnic disparities in mental health treatment that preceded ACA expansion from 2005 to 2013.
AHRQ-funded; HS021486.
Citation: Creedon TB, Cook BL .
Access to mental health care increased but not for substance use, while disparities remain.
Health Aff 2016 Jun;35(6):1017-21. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0098.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Health Insurance, Policy, Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse
Davis MM, Spurlock M, Dulacki K
Disparities in alcohol, drug use, and mental health condition prevalence and access to care in rural, isolated, and reservation areas: Findings from the South Dakota Health Survey.
The authors studied alcohol, drug use, and mental health (ADM) condition prevalence and access to care across diverse geographies in a predominantly rural state. They concluded that geographic disparities in ADM conditions are related to differences in access as opposed to prevalence, particularly for individuals in isolated and reservation areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Davis MM, Spurlock M, Dulacki K .
Disparities in alcohol, drug use, and mental health condition prevalence and access to care in rural, isolated, and reservation areas: Findings from the South Dakota Health Survey.
J Rural Health 2016 Jun;32(3):287-302. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12157.
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Keywords: Disparities, Behavioral Health, Rural Health, Access to Care, Substance Abuse