National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Access to Care (2)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Asthma (2)
- Behavioral Health (6)
- Blood Pressure (2)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (2)
- Caregiving (2)
- Care Management (2)
- (-) Children/Adolescents (83)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (2)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (4)
- Communication (4)
- Community-Based Practice (3)
- Community Partnerships (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (3)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Dental and Oral Health (1)
- Depression (2)
- Diabetes (1)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (2)
- Disparities (1)
- Education (2)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (3)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (7)
- Family Health and History (11)
- Guidelines (4)
- Healthcare Costs (2)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (6)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Promotion (1)
- Health Status (1)
- Home Healthcare (1)
- Lifestyle Changes (8)
- Low-Income (5)
- Maternal Care (1)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (2)
- Medication (3)
- Nursing (1)
- Nutrition (9)
- (-) Obesity (83)
- Obesity: Weight Management (30)
- Outcomes (2)
- Pain (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (5)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (4)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Prevention (12)
- Primary Care (7)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- Quality Improvement (2)
- Quality Measures (1)
- Quality of Care (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (10)
- Research Methodologies (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Risk (6)
- Rural Health (1)
- Screening (3)
- Social Determinants of Health (9)
- Social Stigma (1)
- Stress (2)
- Surgery (1)
- Telehealth (1)
- Training (1)
- Trauma (1)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (4)
- Vulnerable Populations (3)
- Web-Based (1)
- Women (4)
- Young Adults (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
51 to 75 of 83 Research Studies DisplayedLee BY, Adam A, Zenkov E
Modeling the economic and health impact of increasing children's physical activity in the United States.
Using a computational simulation model that was developed to represent all US children ages 8-11 years, the researchers estimated that if 50 percent of children would exercise, the number of obese and overweight youth would decrease by 4 percent, averting $8.1 billion in direct medical costs and $13.8 billion in lost productivity.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Lee BY, Adam A, Zenkov E .
Modeling the economic and health impact of increasing children's physical activity in the United States.
Health Aff 2017 May;36(5):902-08. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1315.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Lifestyle Changes, Healthcare Costs, Obesity
Fiechtner L, Cheng ER, Lopez G
Multilevel correlates of healthy BMI maintenance and return to a healthy BMI among children in Massachusetts.
This study examined predictors of healthy BMI maintenance (HBM) or return to a healthy BMI (RHB) among children. It found that racial/ethnic minorities had lower odds of HBM and RHB than non-Hispanic white children. Higher neighborhood median household income, proximity to a supermarket, and access to more open recreational space were associated with a higher odds of HBM.
AHRQ-funded; HS024332; HS022986.
Citation: Fiechtner L, Cheng ER, Lopez G .
Multilevel correlates of healthy BMI maintenance and return to a healthy BMI among children in Massachusetts.
Child Obes 2017 Apr;13(2):146-53. doi: 10.1089/chi.2016.0261.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Health Promotion, Obesity, Social Determinants of Health
Turer CB, Barlow SE, Montano S
Discrepancies in communication versus documentation of weight-management benchmarks: analysis of recorded visits with Latino children and associated health-record documentation.
To examine gaps in communication versus documentation of weight-management clinical practices, communication was recorded during primary care visits with 6- to 12-year-old overweight/obese Latino children. The researchers found that benchmarks were neither communicated nor documented in up to 42 percent of visits, and communicated but not documented or documented but not communicated in up to 20 percent of visits.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Turer CB, Barlow SE, Montano S .
Discrepancies in communication versus documentation of weight-management benchmarks: analysis of recorded visits with Latino children and associated health-record documentation.
Glob Pediatr Health 2017 Feb 6;4:2333794x16685190. doi: 10.1177/2333794x16685190.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Communication, Obesity, Primary Care, Obesity: Weight Management
Wilfley DE, Staiano AE, Altman M
Improving Access and Systems of Care for Evidence-Based Childhood Obesity Treatment: conference key findings and next steps.
This conference sought ways to improve systems of care to advance implementation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for childhood obesity treatment and to expand payment for these services. Consensus recommendations for childhood obesity treatment included: family-based multicomponent behavioral therapy; integrated care model; and multidisciplinary care team.
AHRQ-funded; HS022816.
Citation: Wilfley DE, Staiano AE, Altman M .
Improving Access and Systems of Care for Evidence-Based Childhood Obesity Treatment: conference key findings and next steps.
Obesity 2017 Jan;25(1):16-29. doi: 10.1002/oby.21712.
.
.
Keywords: Obesity, Children/Adolescents, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Kolko RP, Kass AE, Hayes JF
Provider training to screen and initiate evidence-based pediatric obesity treatment in routine practice settings: a randomized pilot trial.
This randomized pilot trial evaluated two training modalities for first-line, evidence-based pediatric obesity services (screening and goal setting) among nursing students. Both live interactive training and Web-facilitated self-study training were acceptable, with higher ratings for live training and participants with previous experience. Knowledge and skill improved from pretraining to post-training and follow-up in both conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Kolko RP, Kass AE, Hayes JF .
Provider training to screen and initiate evidence-based pediatric obesity treatment in routine practice settings: a randomized pilot trial.
J Pediatr Health Care 2017 Jan - Feb;31(1):16-28. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2016.01.001.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Evidence-Based Practice, Nursing, Obesity, Training
McDonald ML, Huang A, Proudfoot JA
Association of obesity, BMI, and Hispanic ethnicity on ambulatory status in children with spinal dysraphism followed near the California-Mexico border.
This study evaluated the relationship between body mass index (BMI), overweight status (OW), or obesity (OB) and ambulatory status in a predominantly Hispanic population of children with spinal dysraphism (SD). It found that,despite no difference in ambulatory status, increasing BMI and OW / OB are associated with Hispanic ethnicity and increasing age.
AHRQ-funded; HS022404.
Citation: McDonald ML, Huang A, Proudfoot JA .
Association of obesity, BMI, and Hispanic ethnicity on ambulatory status in children with spinal dysraphism followed near the California-Mexico border.
J Health Care Poor Underserved 2016;27(4):1956-69. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2016.0173.
.
.
Keywords: Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Children/Adolescents, Health Status
Heerman WJ, Mitchell SJ, Thompson J
Parental perception of built environment characteristics and built environment use among Latino families: a cross-sectional study.
The researchers examined the association of perceived availability, condition, and safety of the built environment with its self-reported use for physical activity among underserved families with children at risk for obesity. In their sample of underserved families, perceived availability and condition of built environment structures were associated with use rather than perceived safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Heerman WJ, Mitchell SJ, Thompson J .
Parental perception of built environment characteristics and built environment use among Latino families: a cross-sectional study.
BMC Public Health 2016 Nov 22;16(1):1180. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3854-7.
.
.
Keywords: Obesity, Social Determinants of Health, Children/Adolescents, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Vulnerable Populations
Sharifi M, Sequist TD, Rifas-Shiman SL
The role of neighborhood characteristics and the built environment in understanding racial/ethnic disparities in childhood obesity.
The authors sought to examine the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in elevated child body mass index (BMI) are explained by neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and the built environment. They concluded that SES and the built environment may be important drivers of childhood obesity disparities and that interventions must be tailored to the neighborhood contexts in which families live.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Sharifi M, Sequist TD, Rifas-Shiman SL .
The role of neighborhood characteristics and the built environment in understanding racial/ethnic disparities in childhood obesity.
Prev Med 2016 Oct;91:103-09. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.07.009.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Allaire BT, Raghavan R, Brown DS
Morbid obesity and use of second generation antipsychotics among adolescents in foster care: evidence from Medicaid.
The researchers examined the association between receiving a morbid obesity diagnosis and second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) prescriptions among adolescents in foster care. They found that the risk increases with age. Quetiapine and clozapine increased the risk of a morbid obesity diagnosis more than 2.5 times, and two or more psychotropic drugs (polypharmacy) increased the risk fivefold.
AHRQ-funded; HS020269.
Citation: Allaire BT, Raghavan R, Brown DS .
Morbid obesity and use of second generation antipsychotics among adolescents in foster care: evidence from Medicaid.
Child Youth Serv Rev 2016 Aug;67:27-31. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.019.
.
.
Keywords: Medicaid, Obesity, Medication, Children/Adolescents, Risk
Bertrand KA, Baer HJ, Orav EJ
Early life body fatness, serum anti-mullerian hormone, and breast density in young adult women.
Researchers examined associations of early life body fatness, serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations, and breast density among 172 women in the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC). They found no evidence that current or early life BMI influences AMH concentrations in later life. Women with higher concentrations of AMH had similar percent and absolute dense breast volume, but lower nondense volume.
AHRQ-funded; HS019789.
Citation: Bertrand KA, Baer HJ, Orav EJ .
Early life body fatness, serum anti-mullerian hormone, and breast density in young adult women.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016 Jul;25(7):1151-7. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-16-0185.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Women, Young Adults
Heerman WJ, Krishnaswami S, Barkin SL
Adverse family experiences during childhood and adolescent obesity.
The researchers evaluated the association between adverse family experiences (AFEs) during childhood and adolescent obesity and determined populations at highest risk for AFEs. They found that adolescents in this national sample who were exposed to greater numbers of AFEs in childhood also had higher rates of overweight and obesity, and also that geographic variation and differential associations based on race/ethnicity identified children at greatest risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Heerman WJ, Krishnaswami S, Barkin SL .
Adverse family experiences during childhood and adolescent obesity.
Obesity 2016 Mar;24(3):696-702. doi: 10.1002/oby.21413..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Family Health and History, Obesity, Risk, Social Determinants of Health
Rivera-Soto WT, Rodriguez-Figueroa L
Is waist-to-height ratio a better obesity risk-factor indicator for Puerto Rican children than is BMI or waist circumference?
This study aimed to explore the association of a single blood pressure reading with 3 different obesity indicators (WC, BMI, and WHtR). Its findings suggest the possibility of higher prevalence of high blood pressure in obese Puerto Rican children. The waist-to height ratio could be the best indicator to measure obesity and potential hypertension in Puerto Rican children.
AHRQ-funded; HS014060.
Citation: Rivera-Soto WT, Rodriguez-Figueroa L .
Is waist-to-height ratio a better obesity risk-factor indicator for Puerto Rican children than is BMI or waist circumference?
P R Health Sci J 2016 Mar;35(1):20-5.
.
.
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Obesity, Children/Adolescents, Risk, Blood Pressure
Zamora-Kapoor A, Nelson L, Buchwald D
Maternal correlates of body mass index in American Indian/Alaska Native and white adolescents: differences between mother/son and mother/daughter pairs.
This study sough to determine the influence of maternal correlates on adolescent body mass index (BMI), and the extent to which the size and significance of these correlates vary by adolescent sex and race. Its findings suggest that maternal factors are critical in the transmission of obesogenic behaviors from one generation to the next, and their effects vary between mother/son and mother/daughter pairs, and are similar for AI/ANs and Whites.
AHRQ-funded; HS021686.
Citation: Zamora-Kapoor A, Nelson L, Buchwald D .
Maternal correlates of body mass index in American Indian/Alaska Native and white adolescents: differences between mother/son and mother/daughter pairs.
Eat Behav 2016 Jan;20:43-7. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.11.002..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Risk, Social Determinants of Health
Boles RE, Yun L, Hambidge SJ, et al.
Influencing the home food and activity environment of families of preschool children receiving home-based treatment for obesity.
The goal of this study was to characterize the home food and activity environments of overweight and obese preschool-aged children from low socioeconomic status Latino families. It showed that despite a small, but significant reduction in preschool BMI for a subsample, families showed little change in the home food and activity environment.
AHRQ-funded; HS021138.
Citation: Boles RE, Yun L, Hambidge SJ, et al..
Influencing the home food and activity environment of families of preschool children receiving home-based treatment for obesity.
Clin Pediatr 2015 Dec;54(14):1387-90. doi: 10.1177/0009922815570614..
Keywords: Obesity, Children/Adolescents, Nutrition, Obesity: Weight Management, Family Health and History
Taveras EM, Marshall R, Sharifi M
Connect for Health: Design of a clinical-community childhood obesity intervention testing best practices of positive outliers.
The Connect for Health study is designed to assess whether a novel approach to care delivery that leverages clinical and community resources and addresses socio-contextual factors will improve body mass index and family-centered, obesity-related outcomes of interest to parents and children. The intervention is informed by clinical, community, parent, and youth stakeholders and incorporates successful strategies and best practices learned from 'positive outlier' families.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Taveras EM, Marshall R, Sharifi M .
Connect for Health: Design of a clinical-community childhood obesity intervention testing best practices of positive outliers.
Contemp Clin Trials 2015 Nov;45(Pt B):287-95. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.09.022.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Health Information Technology (HIT), Community-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Sharifi M, Marshall G, Goldman RE
Engaging children in the development of obesity interventions: exploring outcomes that matter most among obesity positive outliers.
The researchers explored outcomes and measures of success that matter most to 'positive outlier' children who improved their body mass index (BMI) despite living in obesogenic neighborhoods. They found that children identified bullying and negative peer comparisons related to physical appearance, clothing size, and athletic ability as motivating them to achieve a healthier weight, and they measured success as improvement in these domains. Positive relationships with friends and family facilitated both behavior change initiation and maintenance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Sharifi M, Marshall G, Goldman RE .
Engaging children in the development of obesity interventions: exploring outcomes that matter most among obesity positive outliers.
Patient Educ Couns 2015 Nov;98(11):1393-401. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.06.007.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Family Health and History, Lifestyle Changes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Gance-Cleveland B, Aldrich H, Dandreaux D
A virtual childhood obesity collaborative: satisfaction with online continuing education.
This descriptive study evaluated school-based health center (SBHC) providers’ satisfaction with Web based continuing education as part of a virtual childhood obesity intervention. Participation in the first two learning sessions was higher than the last two. Provider satisfaction of training modules by question type and content area was quite high. Many providers also reported plans to make changes in their practice after completing the training.
AHRQ-funded; HS018646.
Citation: Gance-Cleveland B, Aldrich H, Dandreaux D .
A virtual childhood obesity collaborative: satisfaction with online continuing education.
J Pediatr Health Care 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):413-23. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2015.01.006..
Keywords: Education: Continuing Medical Education, Obesity, Children/Adolescents, Prevention, Web-Based
Dugan TM, Mukhopadhyay S, Carroll A
Machine learning techniques for prediction of early childhood obesity.
This study aimed to predict childhood obesity after age two, using only data collected prior to the second birthday by a clinical decision support system called CHICA. It demonstrated that data from a production clinical decision support system can be used to build an accurate machine learning model to predict obesity in children after age two.
AHRQ-funded; HS020640; HS018453; HS017939.
Citation: Dugan TM, Mukhopadhyay S, Carroll A .
Machine learning techniques for prediction of early childhood obesity.
Appl Clin Inform 2015 Aug 12;6(3):506-20. doi: 10.4338/aci-2015-03-ra-0036.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Children/Adolescents
Kurtz MP, McNamara ER, Schaeffer AJ
Association of BMI and pediatric urologic postoperative events: results from pediatric NSQIP.
The researchers sought to determine the association of elevated BMI with overall 30-day postoperative events and wound complications in a large national sample of children undergoing urologic procedures. They concluded that BMI in the pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program urologic population was found to be associated with overall complication after adjustment for case type and preoperative comorbidity.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Kurtz MP, McNamara ER, Schaeffer AJ .
Association of BMI and pediatric urologic postoperative events: results from pediatric NSQIP.
J Pediatr Urol 2015 Aug;11(4):224.e1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2015.04.014..
Keywords: Surgery, Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Risk, Adverse Events
Bertrand KA, Baer HJ, Orav EJ
Body fatness during childhood and adolescence and breast density in young women: a prospective analysis.
The authors examined associations of early life body fatness with adult breast density in 182 women in the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC) who were ages 25-29 at follow-up. Their results support the hypothesis that body fatness during childhood and adolescence may play an important role in premenopausal breast density, independent of current BMI, and further suggest direct or indirect influences on absolute dense breast volume.
AHRQ-funded; HS019789.
Citation: Bertrand KA, Baer HJ, Orav EJ .
Body fatness during childhood and adolescence and breast density in young women: a prospective analysis.
Breast Cancer Res 2015 Jul 16;17:95. doi: 10.1186/s13058-015-0601-4.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Women
Shaikh U, Romano P, Paterniti DA
Organizing for quality improvement in health care: An example from childhood obesity prevention.
The researchers evaluated how the quality improvement (QI) intervention, Healthy Eating Active Living TeleHealth Community of Practice, at 7 rural California clinics addressed the challenges. of preventing and managing obesity and translation of evidence into practice. Key challenges were clinician and staff buy-in, changing ingrained clinical practices, and motivating patient and families. Facilitators included top-down organizational requirements for QI, linkages to local QI resources, and involvement of clinical champions.
AHRQ-funded; HS018567.
Citation: Shaikh U, Romano P, Paterniti DA .
Organizing for quality improvement in health care: An example from childhood obesity prevention.
Qual Manag Health Care 2015 Jul-Sep;24(3):121-8. doi: 10.1097/qmh.0000000000000066.
.
.
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Prevention, Primary Care
Wang Y, Cai L, Wu Y
What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The researchers systematically evaluated the effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention programs conducted in high-income countries and implemented in various settings. Their review found at least moderately strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of school-based interventions involving physical activity, diet or combined diet and physical activity for preventing childhood obesity.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710061I.
Citation: Wang Y, Cai L, Wu Y .
What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Obes Rev 2015 Jul;16(7):547-65. doi: 10.1111/obr.12277..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Comparative Effectiveness, Obesity, Prevention
Yun L, Boles RE, Haemer MA
A randomized, home-based, childhood obesity intervention delivered by patient navigators.
This paper delineates the study protocol for the Community Outreach Obesity Prevention Trial. COOPT is an ongoing, 4-year (October 2011-September 2015) randomized controlled trial that tests the effectiveness of a home-based patient navigator program delivered to preschoolers of a large urban safety-net health care system. The researchers believe that its home-based intervention venue will provide rich data characterizing barriers and facilitators to healthy behavior change within the home.
AHRQ-funded; HS021138.
Citation: Yun L, Boles RE, Haemer MA .
A randomized, home-based, childhood obesity intervention delivered by patient navigators.
BMC Public Health 2015 May;15:506. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1833-z..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Community-Based Practice, Obesity, Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Gance-Cleveland B, Aldrich H, Schmiege S
Clinician adherence to childhood overweight and obesity recommendations by race/ethnicity of the child.
This study describes school-based health center (SBHC) providers’ adherence to obesity guidelines. Providers (n = 28) were from SBHCs in six states serving children 5–12 years of age. Body mass index percentage was documented on 73 percent of charts and blood pressure percentage on 30.5 percent. Providers accurately diagnosed 40 percent overweight and 49.3 percent obese children.
AHRQ-funded; HS018646.
Citation: Gance-Cleveland B, Aldrich H, Schmiege S .
Clinician adherence to childhood overweight and obesity recommendations by race/ethnicity of the child.
J Spec Pediatr Nurs 2015 Apr;20(2):115-22. doi: 10.1111/jspn.12107..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Guidelines, Obesity, Prevention
Heerman WJ, White RO, Barkin SL
Advancing informed consent for vulnerable populations.
The authors suggest an innovative approach that uses low health-literacy communication strategies and visual aids to augment and potentially replace the traditional approach to informed consent. This approach involves: (1) the use of effective health communication and low-literacy techniques, (2) the use of visual aids and graphics to promote understanding and guide the reader toward key study concepts, and (3) careful attention to child dissenting behaviors.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Heerman WJ, White RO, Barkin SL .
Advancing informed consent for vulnerable populations.
Pediatrics 2015 Mar;135(3):e562-4. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-3041..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Communication, Health Literacy, Obesity, Research Methodologies