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
1001 to 1025 of 12151 Research Studies DisplayedBeidler LB, Razon N, Lang H
"More than just giving them a piece of paper": interviews with primary care on social needs referrals to community-based organizations.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe primary care practice’s referrals to community-based organizations. The researchers utilized semi-structured interviews with 50 healthcare administrators in charge of social care efforts within their organization. Fifty diverse United States healthcare organizations and agencies were included. The study found that social needs referrals were an essential element of administrator’s social care activities. Administrators described the optimal referral program as one which places limited burden on care teams, provides patients with customized referrals, and facilitates closed-loop referrals. The researchers identified three key challenges organizations encounter when trying to implement the optimal referrals program: 1) developing and maintaining resources lists; 2) aligning referrals with patient needs; and 3) measuring the efficacy of referrals. Administrators The study concluded that primary care practice referrals to community-based organizations were used to improve patients' social conditions, but administrators report challenges providing customized and current information to their patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Beidler LB, Razon N, Lang H .
"More than just giving them a piece of paper": interviews with primary care on social needs referrals to community-based organizations.
J Gen Intern Med 2022 Dec;37(16):4160-67. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07531-3..
Keywords: Primary Care, Social Determinants of Health, Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery
Rivard SJ, Vitous CA, Bamdad MC
"Their whole lives are going to change": a photo-elicitation study of rectal cancer survivorship.
This novel study aimed to explore the rectal cancer survivor experience and identify the impacts of treatment using photo-elicitation. Patients were instructed to take photographs that showed aspects of life that are now challenges since undergoing treatment and then were interviewed. Twenty patients participated in the study at a cancer center in a tertiary medical center. Three major themes emerged regarding life after rectal cancer and its treatments: physical symptoms, lifestyle changes, and changes over time. Physical symptoms included GI issues, ostomy difficulties, and genitourinary symptoms. Lifestyle changes related to diet, social life, and hobbies as well as major life changes and finances. Finally, patients spoke of improvements after treatment and impact on daily life. A video abstract is included.
AHRQ-funded; HS026772; HS000053.
Citation: Rivard SJ, Vitous CA, Bamdad MC .
"Their whole lives are going to change": a photo-elicitation study of rectal cancer survivorship.
Dis Colon Rectum 2022 Dec;65(12):1456-63. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000002474..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Quality of Life
Powell KR, Winkler AE, Liu J
A mixed-methods analysis of telehealth implementation in nursing homes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The objective of this study was to investigate the implementation of telehealth in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data from a national survey of nursing home administrative leaders using six survey questions and semi-structured interviews. Their conclusions indicate that training, restructuring teams and tasks, and adaptation of work processes to support communication could improve usability and sustainability of telehealth in nursing homes.
AHRQ-funded; HS02249.
Citation: Powell KR, Winkler AE, Liu J .
A mixed-methods analysis of telehealth implementation in nursing homes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2022 Dec;70(12):3493-502. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18020..
Keywords: COVID-19, Elderly, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Nursing Homes, Implementation
Salwei ME, Carayon P
A sociotechnical systems framework for the application of artificial intelligence in health care delivery.
The purpose of this paper is to characterize the current challenges of incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into clinical healthcare and suggest a sociotechnical systems (STS) approach for AI design and implementation. The authors We explain the STS approach with a case study on the design and implementation of a clinical decision support (CDS).
AHRQ-funded; HS026395; HS022086.
Citation: Salwei ME, Carayon P .
A sociotechnical systems framework for the application of artificial intelligence in health care delivery.
J Cogn Eng Decis Mak 2022 Dec; 16(4):194-206. doi: 10.1177/15553434221097357..
Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery
Wachnik AA, Welch-Coltrane JL, Adams MCB
A standardized emergency department order set decreases admission rates and in-patient length of stay for adults patients with sickle cell disease.
The purpose of this 3-year prospective analysis study was to assess a quality improvement project to standardize Emergency Department (ED) care for patients presenting with pain associated with sickle cell disease (SCD). IN 2019 the researchers implemented an ED order set in to improve care and provide adequate management of analgesia. The primary outcome was the overall hospital admission rate for patients after the intervention, and the secondary outcome measures included ED disposition, rate of return to the ED within 72 hours, ED pain scores at admission and discharge, ED treatment time, in-patient length of stay, non-opioid medication use, and opioid medication use. The study found an overall 67% reduction in the hospital admission rate after implementation of the order set and a significant decrease in the percentage admission rate month over month. Time to the first non-opioid analgesic decreased by 71 minutes and there was no change in time to the first opioid medication. The rate of return to the ED within 72 hours did not change and the ED elopement rate did not change. There were significant increases in the prescribing of orally administered acetaminophen, celecoxib, and tizanidine, and intravenous ketamine and ketorolac. ED pain scores at discharge did not change for hospital-admitted and non-admitted patients. The possible reduction in costs was $193,440 during the 12-month observation period, and the average cost per visit decreased by $792. The researchers concluded that the ED order set decreased the rate of hospital admissions and the timeliness of analgesia administration without having a negative impact on the pain of the patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS028584.
Citation: Wachnik AA, Welch-Coltrane JL, Adams MCB .
A standardized emergency department order set decreases admission rates and in-patient length of stay for adults patients with sickle cell disease.
Pain Med 2022 Dec;23(12):2050-60. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnac096..
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Emergency Department, Hospitalization
Anhang Price R, Quigley DD DD, Hargraves JL
A systematic review of strategies to enhance response rates and representativeness of patient experience surveys.
The purpose of this systematic review study was to explore evidence on survey administration strategies to increase response rates and representativeness of patient surveys. The researchers examined 40 peer-reviewed randomized experiments of administration protocols for patient experience surveys. The study found that when compared to mail-only or telephone-only administration of surveys, mail administration with telephone follow-up provides a median response rate benefit of 13%. Researchers also discovered that while surveys administered only by web usually result in lower response rates than those administered by mail or telephone, the limited evidence for a web-mail-telephone process suggests a potential response rate benefit over a mail-telephone process. Monetary incentives are related with substantial improvements in response rates. The study concluded that mixed-mode survey administration results in increased patient survey response rates than a single mode.
AHRQ-funded; HS025920.
Citation: Anhang Price R, Quigley DD DD, Hargraves JL .
A systematic review of strategies to enhance response rates and representativeness of patient experience surveys.
Med Care 2022 Dec;60(12):910-18. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001784..
Keywords: Patient Experience, Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR)
Ramsden SC, Pergjika A, Janssen AC
A systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of droperidol for pediatric agitation in acute care settings.
This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness and safety of droperidol for the management of acute, severe agitation in children in acute care settings. The authors conclude that existing data indicate that droperidol is both effective and safe; however, data are limited by study designs that may introduce bias.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Ramsden SC, Pergjika A, Janssen AC .
A systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of droperidol for pediatric agitation in acute care settings.
Acad Emerg Med 2022 Dec;29(12):1466-74. doi: 10.1111/acem.14515..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medication, Medication: Safety, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Patient Safety
Anderson TS, Marcantonio ER, McCarthy EP
Association of diagnosed dementia with post-discharge mortality and readmission among hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to examine whether patients with dementia have a higher risk of adverse outcomes post-discharge. The researchers included Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized in 2016 and evaluated the co-primary outcomes of mortality and readmission within 30 days of hospital discharge. The final cohort included 1,089,109 hospitalizations of which 19.3% were of patients with diagnosed dementia and 886,411 were of patients without dementia. The study found that at 30 days following discharge, 5.7% of patients with dementia had died compared to 3.1% of patients without dementia. At 30 days following discharge, 17.7% of patients with dementia had been readmitted compared to 13.1% of patients without dementia. Patients with dementia who were discharged to the community had an increased likelihood of being readmitted than those who were discharged to nursing facilities, and, when readmitted, had an increased likelihood of dying during the readmission. The study concluded that diagnosed dementia was related with a substantially increased risk of mortality and a modestly increased risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS026215.
Citation: Anderson TS, Marcantonio ER, McCarthy EP .
Association of diagnosed dementia with post-discharge mortality and readmission among hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries.
J Gen Intern Med 2022 Dec;37(16):4062-70. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07549-7..
Keywords: Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Medicare, Elderly, Hospital Readmissions, Mortality
Keeney T, Lee Lee, Basford JR
Association of function, symptoms, and social support reported in standardized outpatient clinic questionnaires with subsequent hospital discharge disposition and 30-day readmissions.
The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to determine whether patient-reported information which is routinely collected in an outpatient setting was associated with hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge; the need for post-acute care after a subsequent hospital admission was also examined. Participants were patients hospitalized between May 2004 and May 2014 in a Midwestern health system. Six domains of patient-reported information were collected in outpatient clinic settings and linked to electronic health record hospitalization data. These domains were found to be significantly associated with 30-day readmission and placement in a facility. The authors concluded that further research is needed to determine whether these data can be leveraged to guide interventions to address patient needs and improve outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Keeney T, Lee Lee, Basford JR .
Association of function, symptoms, and social support reported in standardized outpatient clinic questionnaires with subsequent hospital discharge disposition and 30-day readmissions.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022 Dec;103(12):2383-90. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.06.004..
Keywords: Hospital Discharge, Hospital Readmissions
Fry BT, Howard RA, Gunaseelan V
Association of postoperative opioid prescription size and patient satisfaction.
The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to assess the relationship between postoperative opioid prescription size and patient-reported satisfaction among surgical patients. The researchers included 1,520 opioid-naive adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy, and minor hernia repair between January 1 and May 31, 2018. The main outcome was patient satisfaction measured on a scale of 0 to 10 and dichotomized into "highly satisfied" (9-10) and "not highly satisfied" (0-8). The explanatory variable of interest was size of opioid prescription at discharge from surgery, converted into milligrams of oral morphine equivalents (OME). The study found that 84.1% of patients were highly satisfied and 15.9% were not highly satisfied. There was no significant association between opioid prescription size and satisfaction. The researchers concluded that in a large cohort of patients undergoing common surgical procedures, there was no association between opioid prescription size at discharge after surgery and patient satisfaction.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Fry BT, Howard RA, Gunaseelan V .
Association of postoperative opioid prescription size and patient satisfaction.
Ann Surg 2022 Dec 1;276(6):e1064-e69. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004784..
Keywords: Opioids, Surgery, Medication, Patient Experience
McQuillan J, Andersen JA, Berdahl TA
AHRQ Author: Berdahl TA
Associations of rheumatoid arthritis and depressive symptoms over time: are there differences by education, race/ethnicity, and gender?
The objective of this study was to examine associations between changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms and depressive symptoms and to test if these associations differed by education, or gender, or race/ethnicity. Data was taken from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Study, 1988-98. The results indicated that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis experienced increases in depressive symptoms as well as pain, functional disability, and household work disability over the study period. There was no difference noted in the rate of change in depressive symptoms by education, gender, nor race/ethnicity, but the association of functional disability with depressive symptoms was stronger for men than women. The researchers concluded that it is important to monitor and treat both mental and physical health symptoms, and that future research should focus on the collection of data that reflects the educational, gender, and racial/ethnic diversity of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: McQuillan J, Andersen JA, Berdahl TA .
Associations of rheumatoid arthritis and depressive symptoms over time: are there differences by education, race/ethnicity, and gender?
Arthritis Care Res 2022 Dec;74(12):2050-58. doi: 10.1002/acr.24730..
Keywords: Arthritis, Depression, Behavioral Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sex Factors, Chronic Conditions
Stransky ML, Fuchu P, Prendergast K
Beyond housing for health: using flexible funds to improve maternal and child health.
The purpose of this article is to describe the Upstreaming Housing for Health’s (UHfH) use of a flexible fund. The UHfH was a pilot program developed and implemented to improve housing stability and decrease health inequities among people with high-risk pregnancies and their babies. The flexible fund is a cash transfer policy that served 50 families from 2019 to 2020 and addressed housing stability and material needs that encouraged family stability within the context of their housing. The researchers found that 76% of the families accessed flexible funds for items such as rental assistance, cribs, and breast pumps, with average financial support of $1343 (standard deviation = $625). The researchers advise that cash transfer policies such as the flexible fund have been shown to positively impact family health and well-being around the world.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Stransky ML, Fuchu P, Prendergast K .
Beyond housing for health: using flexible funds to improve maternal and child health.
J Urban Health 2022 Dec;99(6):1027-32. doi: 10.1007/s11524-022-00686-8..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Social Determinants of Health, Outcomes
Meyer AND, Singh H, Zimolzak AJ
Cancer evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study using National Veterans Affairs data.
This observational study examined the reasons why fewer cancer diagnoses have been made during the COVID-19 pandemic using electronic health record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs before (March 10, 2019-March 7, 2020) and during (March 8, 2020-March 6, 2021) the pandemic. Electronic triggers were applied to 8,021,406 veterans' electronic health records to identify follow-up delays for abnormal results warranting evaluation for 5 cancers: bladder, breast, colorectal, liver, and lung cancers. Between the prepandemic and pandemic periods, test quantities decreased by 12.6%-27.8%, and proportions of abnormal results lacking follow-up decreased for urinalyses by 0.8%, increased by 2.3% for fecal occult blood tests/fecal immunochemical test and 1.8% for chest imaging, and remained constant for the other diagnostic tests (mammograms for breast cancer and elevated alpha-fetoprotein for liver cancer). This significant decrease in diagnostic testing may have led to reduced cancer rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS027363.
Citation: Meyer AND, Singh H, Zimolzak AJ .
Cancer evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study using National Veterans Affairs data.
Am J Prev Med 2022 Dec;63(6):1026-30. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.07.004..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer, Public Health
Funk RJ, Pagani FD, Hou H
Care fragmentation predicts 90-day durable ventricular assist device outcomes.
The purpose of this cohort study was to investigate the relationship between care fragmentation and in-hospital as well as 90-day post-operative outcomes for patients receiving durable ventricular assist device (VAD) implants. The research utilized Medicare claims connected to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) for patients who underwent VAD implantation from July 2009 to April 2017. Medicare information was employed to assess the fragmentation of the multidisciplinary care delivery network at the treating hospital, based on the providers' patient-sharing history within the preceding year. The STS Intermacs database was utilized for risk adjustment and outcome determination. Hospitals were categorized into terciles according to the level of network fragmentation, measured by the average number of connections separating providers in the network. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between network fragmentation and the risk of death or infection within 90 days. The study included 5159 patients who received VAD implants, and found 11.2% mortality and 27.6% infection incidence within 90 days following implantation. After adjusting for confounders, a one-unit increase in network fragmentation correlated with a 0.179 rise in in-hospital infection probability and a 0.183 increase in the likelihood of 90-day infection. Comparable findings were observed in models assessing the number of in-hospital and 90-day infections. While network fragmentation was a predictor of 90-day mortality probability, this association was not significant after adjustment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026003
Citation: Funk RJ, Pagani FD, Hou H .
Care fragmentation predicts 90-day durable ventricular assist device outcomes.
Am J Manag Care 2022 Dec;28(12):e444-e51. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2022.89280.
Keywords: Medical Devices, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Berkman ND, Chang E, Seibert J
Characteristics of high-need, high-cost patients : a "best-fit" framework synthesis.
This paper’s objective was to identify characteristics and criteria to distinguish high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients. Searches of multiple databases and gray literature from 2000 to January 2022 were conducted. The final review included 64 studies comprising multivariate exposure studies (n = 47), cluster analyses (n = 11), and qualitative studies (n = 6). National Academy of Medicine (NAM) taxonomy was used for organizing the synthesis of findings. Patient characteristics associated with being defined as HNHC included number and severity of comorbid conditions and having chronic clinical conditions, particularly heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. HNHC risk was often amplified by behavioral health conditions and social risk factors. The authors revised the NAM taxonomy to create a final framework, adding chronic pain and prior patterns of high health care use as characteristics associated with an increased risk for being HNHC.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500011I
Citation: Berkman ND, Chang E, Seibert J .
Characteristics of high-need, high-cost patients : a "best-fit" framework synthesis.
Ann Intern Med 2022 Dec;175(12):1728-41. doi: 10.7326/m21-4562..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery
Tan MS, Gomez-Lumbreras A, Villa-Zapata L
Colchicine and macrolides: a cohort study of the risk of adverse outcomes associated with concomitant exposure.
The authors conducted a cohort study using electronic health records comparing encounters with colchicine plus a macrolide and colchicine with an antibiotic non-macrolide, then assessed the relationship between the two groups. They found that heart failure was more frequent in the colchicine plus a macrolide cohort and that there was also a higher mortality rate. As there is a significant increase in the risk of hepatic failure and mortality when colchicine is concomitantly administered with a macrolide, they concluded that colchicine should not be used concomitantly with these antibiotics or should be temporarily discontinued to avoid toxic levels of colchicine.
AHRQ-funded; HS025984.
Citation: Tan MS, Gomez-Lumbreras A, Villa-Zapata L .
Colchicine and macrolides: a cohort study of the risk of adverse outcomes associated with concomitant exposure.
Rheumatol Int 2022 Dec;42(12):2253-59. doi: 10.1007/s00296-022-05201-5..
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medication, Risk, Antibiotics, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Leyenaar JK, Tolpadi A, Parast L
Collaborative to increase lethal means counseling for caregivers of youth with suicidality.
The authors implemented an eight-hospital quality improvement collaborative with the goals of an absolute increase in hospitals' mean rate of caregiver lethal means counseling (LMC) and evaluating the effectiveness of the collaborative on LMC. The collaborative used a structured process of alternating learning sessions and action periods to improve LMC; electronic medical record documentation of LMC were evaluated during three phases: precollaborative, active collaborative, and postcollaborative. Findings showed that LMC increased during the collaborative but did not exceed expected trends. The authors concluded that interventions developed by the participating hospitals may be beneficial to improve LMC for caregivers of hospitalized youth with suicidality.
AHRQ-funded; HS025291.
Citation: Leyenaar JK, Tolpadi A, Parast L .
Collaborative to increase lethal means counseling for caregivers of youth with suicidality.
Pediatrics 2022 Dec 1;150(6):e2021055271. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-055271..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Behavioral Health
Kim HS, Hernaez R, Sansgiry S
Comparative effectiveness of surveillance colonoscopy intervals on colorectal cancer outcomes in a national cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
The purpose of this study was to determine the comparative effectiveness of varying colonoscopy intervals on colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data was from the National Veterans Health Administration. Findings showed that, in a national cohort of patients with CRC-IBD, colonoscopy within 3 years prior to CRC diagnosis was associated with early tumor stage at diagnosis, and colonoscopy within 1 year was associated with a reduced all-cause mortality compared with no colonoscopy, supporting colonoscopy intervals of 1 to 3 years in patients with IBD in order to reduce late-stage CRC and all-cause mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS024122.
Citation: Kim HS, Hernaez R, Sansgiry S .
Comparative effectiveness of surveillance colonoscopy intervals on colorectal cancer outcomes in a national cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022 Dec;20(12):2848-57.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.048..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Digestive Disease and Health, Imaging, Screening, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Borgatti AC, Crockett KB, Jacob AE
Correlates of psychological distress among adults with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in stress and loneliness among participants with obesity who were engaged in weight loss self-management in the US during COVID-19, and to identify risk factors that may increase psychosocial distress during this period. Participants completed an online survey about social, economic and health behavior changes during COVID-19 and their relationship to changes in perceived stress and loneliness. Results indicated that stress and loneliness increased two months into the COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdown. Factors associated with increased stress and/or loneliness included higher body mass index, social distancing, alcohol intake, and working from home. The authors concluded that ongoing attention to psychosocial well-being among individuals with obesity remains imperative both during the ongoing pandemic and afterwards.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Borgatti AC, Crockett KB, Jacob AE .
Correlates of psychological distress among adults with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Psychol Health 2022 Dec; 37(12):1547-64. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2022.2038790..
Keywords: COVID-19, Obesity, Stress, Social Stigma, Behavioral Health
Rosen A, Carter D, Applebaum JR
Critical care clinicians' experiences of patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of this mixed methods, multi-institutional study was to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic worsened preexisting issues of patient safety and created new challenges for patient safety within United States intensive care units (ICU.) The researchers conducted a national survey of critical care clinicians to assess their experiences related to patient safety during the pandemic. The survey instrument was distributed via email through the Society of Critical Care Medicine listserv, with results reported as percentages while free-text responses were analyzed and coded for themes. The study found that of the 355 survey responses received, 61% believed that conditions during the pandemic were more hazardous when compared with the period prior to the pandemic. When compared with providers who cared for mostly non-COVID-19 or no COVID-19 patients, the professionals who cared for primarily COVID-19 patients had an increased likelihood of perceiving that care was more hazardous. In the coded free-text responses, providers identified themes in patient safety risks including ventilator-related lung injury, medication and diagnostic errors, oversedation, oxygen device removal, and falls. The study concluded that higher levels of COVID-19 case burden were significantly related with perceptions of a less safe patient care environment by frontline ICU clinicians, and further identified specific hazards in intensive care units.
AHRQ-funded; HS026121.
Citation: Rosen A, Carter D, Applebaum JR .
Critical care clinicians' experiences of patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Patient Saf 2022 Dec 1;18(8):e1219-e25. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001060..
Keywords: COVID-19, Patient Safety, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Giardina TD, Hunte H, Hill MA
Defining diagnostic error: a scoping review to assess the impact of the National Academies' report improving diagnosis in Health Care.
This study looked at peer-reviewed published literature to explore how researchers operationalize the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) definition of diagnostic error that was defined in their 2015 publication “Improving Diagnosis in Health Care”. Published literature was identified from October 2015 to February 2021. The authors also conducted subject matter expert interviews. Of the 34 studies identified, 16 were analyzed and abstracted to determine how diagnostic error was operationalized and measured. Studies were grouped by four themes: epidemiology, patient focus, measurement/surveillance, and clinician focus. Nine studies identified used the NASM definition. Five of those studies also operationalized with existing definitions proposed before the NASEM report, four operationalized the components of the NASEM definition, and three studies operationalized error using existing definitions only. Subject matter experts concluded that the NASEM definition functions as a foundation for researchers to conceptualize diagnostic error.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500022I; HS027280; HS025474; HS027363.
Citation: Giardina TD, Hunte H, Hill MA .
Defining diagnostic error: a scoping review to assess the impact of the National Academies' report improving diagnosis in Health Care.
J Patient Saf 2022 Dec 1;18(8):770-78. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000999..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Quality of Care, Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Healthcare Delivery
Graber J, Juarez-Colunga E, Thigpen C
Development of reference charts for monitoring quadriceps strength with handheld dynamometry after total knee arthroplasty.
This retrospective analysis’ purpose was to develop reference charts that describe normative quadriceps strength recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as measured by handheld dynamometry (HHD). The authors analyzed post-TKA quadriceps strength recovery using a longitudinal dataset consisting of both clinical and research HHD data. They created sex-specific models for recovery using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape and reference charts from the models to display the recovery of population centiles over the first six postoperative months. They analyzed a total of 588 patient records with 1176 observations. There was a rapid increase in quadriceps strength for both sexes over the first 60 postoperative days followed by a more gradual increase over the next 120 days. They found that males appeared to demonstrate faster recovery and greater strength on average compared to females. The reference charts may aid clinicians’ ability to monitor and intervene upon quadriceps weakness-a pronounced and debilitating post-TKA impairment-throughout rehabilitation.
AHRQ-funded; HS025692.
Citation: Graber J, Juarez-Colunga E, Thigpen C .
Development of reference charts for monitoring quadriceps strength with handheld dynamometry after total knee arthroplasty.
Disabil Rehabil 2022 Dec;44(24):7535-42. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1995054..
Keywords: Surgery, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation
Baker AW, Ilieş I, Benneyan JC
Early recognition and response to increases in surgical site infections using optimised statistical process control charts - the early 2RIS trial: a multicentre stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.
This study compared outcomes of traditional surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance versus optimized statistical control process (SPC) surveillance post-surgery. The authors conducted a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial of patients who underwent any of 13 types of common surgical procedures across 29 community hospitals in the Southeastern United States. They divided the 13 procedures into six clusters. The study period was from March 2016 through February 2020 with 204,233 unique patients undergoing 237,704 surgical procedures. SSIs occurred more frequently in patients assigned control surveillance (1171 procedures) compared to 781 procedures that received the intervention. More formal investigations were also generated from control surveillance – 74 formal investigations versus 24. Multiple best practice deficiencies were identified from optimized SPC surveillance as well.
AHRQ-funded; HS023821.
Citation: Baker AW, Ilieş I, Benneyan JC .
Early recognition and response to increases in surgical site infections using optimised statistical process control charts - the early 2RIS trial: a multicentre stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.
EClinicalMedicine 2022 Dec;54:101698. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101698..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Dalton AF, Golin CE, Morris C
Effect of a patient decision aid on preferences for colorectal cancer screening among older adults: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.
This research studied the effects of a patient decision aid on preferences for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among adults aged 76 to 84 years. Participants were recruited from 14 community-based primary care practices who were not up to date with screening and had an appointment within 6 weeks. They were randomized to receive the intervention or control. Among the 424 participants, mean age was 76.8, 248 were women, and 333 were White. There were no statistically significant differences found in patient preferences between the health groups. Additional studies that are appropriately powered were recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS021133.
Citation: Dalton AF, Golin CE, Morris C .
Effect of a patient decision aid on preferences for colorectal cancer screening among older adults: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Dec;5(12):e2244982. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.44982..
Keywords: Elderly, Shared Decision Making, Screening, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer
Lock LJ, Channa R, Brennan MB
Effect of health system on the association of rurality and level of disadvantage with receipt of diabetic eye screening.
The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the role of level of disadvantage in diabetic eye screening to explain the effect of health systems on rural and urban disparities. Researchers used an all-payer, statewide claims database to include adult Wisconsin residents with diabetes who had claims billed throughout the baseline and measurement years. Results indicated that patients from urban underserved clinics were more likely to receive screening than those from rural underserved clinics; similar findings emerged for both Medicare and non-Medicare subgroups. The researchers concluded that health systems, especially those that serve urban underserved populations, have an opportunity to increase screening rates by leveraging health system-level interventions and supporting patients in overcoming barriers.
AHRQ-funded; HS026279.
Citation: Lock LJ, Channa R, Brennan MB .
Effect of health system on the association of rurality and level of disadvantage with receipt of diabetic eye screening.
BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2022 Dec;10(6):e003174. doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-003174..
Keywords: Rural Health, Access to Care, Screening, Diabetes, Eye Disease and Health, Disparities, Chronic Conditions, Health Systems