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
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Anxiety (1)
- Behavioral Health (2)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (6)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Communication (1)
- Community-Based Practice (3)
- Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) (1)
- Depression (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (5)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (3)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (3)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- (-) Implementation (16)
- Lifestyle Changes (1)
- Low-Income (1)
- Medication (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Pain (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (3)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Self-Management (2)
- Practice Improvement (1)
- Prevention (2)
- (-) Primary Care (16)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (5)
- Provider (1)
- Quality Improvement (7)
- Quality of Care (7)
- Risk (2)
- Rural Health (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
- Telehealth (1)
- Workforce (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
1 to 16 of 16 Research Studies DisplayedCykert S, Keyserling TC, Pignone M
A controlled trial of dissemination and implementation of a cardiovascular risk reduction strategy in small primary care practices.
Researchers assessed the effect of dissemination and implementation of an intervention consisting of practice facilitation and a risk-stratified, population management dashboard on cardiovascular risk reduction for patients at high risk in small, primary care practices. They found that a risk-stratified, population management dashboard combined with practice facilitation led to substantial reductions of 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk for patients at high risk. They recommended utilizing similar approaches to lead to effective dissemination and implementation of other new evidence, especially in rural and other under-resourced practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS023912.
Citation: Cykert S, Keyserling TC, Pignone M .
A controlled trial of dissemination and implementation of a cardiovascular risk reduction strategy in small primary care practices.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):944-53. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13571..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Risk, Prevention, Primary Care, Implementation, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Nguyen AM, Cuthel AM, Rogers ES
Attributes of high-performing small practices in a guideline implementation: a multiple-case study.
This study called HealthyHearts NYC was a stepped wedge randomized control trial that tested the effectiveness of practice facilitation in small primary care practices in adopting cardiovascular disease guidelines. The practice-level benchmark desired was having 70% or greater of hypertensive patients having controlled blood pressure. A mixed methods multiple-case study design was used and implemented at 6 small practices. The investigator’s first key finding was that the high-performing and improved practices in their study looked and acted similarly during the intervention implementation. Three key attributes of these practices were found to be: 1) advanced use of electronic health records; 2) dedicated resources and commitment to quality improvement; and 3) an actively engaged lead clinician and office manager.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Nguyen AM, Cuthel AM, Rogers ES .
Attributes of high-performing small practices in a guideline implementation: a multiple-case study.
J Prim Care Community Health 2020 Jan-Dec;11. doi: 10.1177/2150132720984411..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Primary Care, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Implementation
Yeung K, Richards J, Goemer E
Costs of using evidence-based implementation strategies for behavioral health integration in a large primary care system.
The purpose of this study was to describe the cost of using evidence-based implementation strategies for sustained behavioral health integration (BHI) involving population-based screening, assessment, and identification at 25 primary care sites of Kaiser Permanente Washington (2015-2018). The investigators concluded that when spread across patients screened in a single year, BHI implementation costs were well within the range for commonly used diagnostic assessments in primary care (eg, laboratory tests).
AHRQ-funded; HS023173.
Citation: Yeung K, Richards J, Goemer E .
Costs of using evidence-based implementation strategies for behavioral health integration in a large primary care system.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):913-23. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13592..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Evidence-Based Practice, Implementation, Behavioral Health, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Quigley DD, Qureshi N, Masarweh LA
Practice leaders report targeting several types of changes in care experienced by patients during patient-centered medical home transformation.
This study looked at how primary care practices implemented changes during the transition to becoming a patient-centered medical home (PCMH). The authors examined 105 primary care practice leader experiences during PCMH transformation using semi-structured interviews. Practices most commonly targeted changes in care coordination (30%), access to care (25%), and provider communication (24%). Reported areas for PCMH transformation were measured by Clinician & Group CAHPS, PCMH CAHPS, or supplemental CAHPS survey items, including team-based care (35%), providing more on-site services (28%), care management (22%), patient-centered culture (18%), and chronic condition health education (13%). Many PCMH changes are captured by CAHPS survey items, but some are not.
AHRQ-funded; HS025920.
Citation: Quigley DD, Qureshi N, Masarweh LA .
Practice leaders report targeting several types of changes in care experienced by patients during patient-centered medical home transformation.
J Patient Exp 2020 Dec;7(6):1509-18. doi: 10.1177/2374373520934231..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient Experience, Care Coordination, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Implementation
Radovic A, Odenthal K, Flores AT
Prescribing technology to increase uptake of depression treatment in primary care: a pre-implementation focus group study of SOVA (Supporting Our Valued Adolescents).
Supporting Our Valued Adolescents (SOVA) is a web-based technology intervention designed to increase depression and anxiety treatment uptake by adolescents in the context of an anonymous peer community with an accompanying website for parents. With a goal of informing the design of a hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial, we conducted a pre-implementation study in two primary care practices to guide implementation strategy development. We conducted focus groups with primary care providers (PCPs) at three different timepoints with PCPs (14 total) from two community practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Radovic A, Odenthal K, Flores AT .
Prescribing technology to increase uptake of depression treatment in primary care: a pre-implementation focus group study of SOVA (Supporting Our Valued Adolescents).
J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2020 Dec;27(4):766-82. doi: 10.1007/s10880-019-09669-5.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Depression, Anxiety, Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Health Information Technology (HIT), Implementation
Abramsohn E, DePumpo M, Boyd K
Implementation of community-based resource referrals for cardiovascular disease self-management.
Investigators described primary care practices' implementation of CommunityRx-H3. They found that practice facilitators were increasingly being utilized by primary care practices to support quality improvement interventions and could also play an important role in implementation science. Their study yielded insights to improve implementation of community resource referral solutions to support primary care cardiovascular disease prevention efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: Abramsohn E, DePumpo M, Boyd K .
Implementation of community-based resource referrals for cardiovascular disease self-management.
Ann Fam Med 2020 Nov;18(6):486-95. doi: 10.1370/afm.2583..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient Self-Management, Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Implementation
Soylu TG, Cuellar AE, Goldberg DG
Readiness and implementation of quality improvement strategies among small- and medium-sized primary care practices: an observational study.
Grounded in organizational readiness theory, the authors examined how readiness and practice characteristics affect QI strategy implementation. The study was a component of a larger practice-level intervention, Heart of Virginia Healthcare, which sought to transform primary care while improving cardiovascular care. The investigators concluded that QI strategy implementation varied by practice ownership. Independent practices focused on patient care-related activities.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Soylu TG, Cuellar AE, Goldberg DG .
Readiness and implementation of quality improvement strategies among small- and medium-sized primary care practices: an observational study.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Oct;35(10):2882-88. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05978-w..
Keywords: Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Implementation
Makelarski JA, DePumpo M, Boyd K
Implementation of systematic community resource referrals at small primary care practices to promote cardiovascular disease self-management.
The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes from implementation of a community resource referral system into small clinical practices to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. HealtheRx-H3, a printed list of resources for patients, was created. It was feasible to create practice-specific HealtheRx-H3s; however, systematic distribution of HealtheRx-H3s using digital electronic health record integration was found to be infeasible. Successful implementation of quality improvement strategies to systematize community resource referral solutions was feasible at small practices, but more research was recommended in order to understand what motivates small practices to participate in implementation of these solutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: Makelarski JA, DePumpo M, Boyd K .
Implementation of systematic community resource referrals at small primary care practices to promote cardiovascular disease self-management.
J Healthc Qual 2020 Sep/Oct;42(5):278-86. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000234..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Risk, Community-Based Practice, Patient Self-Management, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Primary Care, Implementation, Lifestyle Changes
Dickinson WP, Nease DE, Rhyne RL
Practice transformation support and patient engagement to improve cardiovascular care: from EvidenceNOW Southwest (ENSW).
The purpose of this study was to improve cardiovascular care through supporting primary care practices' adoption of evidence-based guidelines; a cluster randomized trial compared standard practice support--practice facilitation, practice assessment with feedback, health information technology assistance, and collaborative learning sessions--and standard support plus patient engagement support. Findings showed that practice transformation support can assist practices with improving quality of care. Patient engagement in practice transformation can further enhance practices' implementation of aspects of new models of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023904.
Citation: Dickinson WP, Nease DE, Rhyne RL .
Practice transformation support and patient engagement to improve cardiovascular care: from EvidenceNOW Southwest (ENSW).
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Sep-Oct;33(5):675-86. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.05.190395..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Patient and Family Engagement, Evidence-Based Practice, Implementation, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Loo S, Grasso C, Glushkina J
Capturing relevant patient data in clinical encounters through integration of an electronic patient-reported outcome system into routine primary care in a Boston Community Health Center: development and implementation study.
This study’s goal was to implement an electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) system that administers key health questionnaires in an urban community health center in Boston, Massachusetts. The system was integrated with the EHR so that medical providers could review and arbitrate patient responses in during the patient’s visit. Findings showed that this program demonstrated that implementation of an ePRO system in a primary care setting is feasible, allowing for facilitation of patient-provider communication and care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026154.
Citation: Loo S, Grasso C, Glushkina J .
Capturing relevant patient data in clinical encounters through integration of an electronic patient-reported outcome system into routine primary care in a Boston Community Health Center: development and implementation study.
J Med Internet Res 2020 Aug 19;22(8):e16778. doi: 10.2196/16778..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Primary Care, Community-Based Practice, Implementation
Fiori KP, Rehm CD, Sanderson D
Integrating social needs screening and community health workers in primary care: the community linkage to care program.
This study used logistic regression to identify factors associated with successful social service uptake in an urban pediatric practice. Out of 4948 households screened for social needs from December 2017 to November 2018, 20% self-reported at least one factor. Only 43% of the 287 households with unmet needs reported social service uptake. Greater than 4 outreach encounters were significantly associated with successful referrals. This study suggests the need for additional research and an opportunity for further program optimization.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Fiori KP, Rehm CD, Sanderson D .
Integrating social needs screening and community health workers in primary care: the community linkage to care program.
Clin Pediatr 2020 Jun;59(6):547-56. doi: 10.1177/0009922820908589..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Community-Based Practice, Primary Care, Social Determinants of Health, Implementation, Low-Income
McHugh M, Brown T, Walunas TL
Contrasting perspectives of practice leaders and practice facilitators may be common in quality improvement initiatives.
The authors sought to identify patterns of contrasting perspectives on implementation issues between practice leaders and their practice facilitators as well as factors that may contribute to them. Through individual interviews, they found that turnover of staff was frequently reported in dyads with contrasting perspectives. They recommended that planners of quality improvement initiatives using practice facilitation consider taking steps to minimize contrasting perspectives by addressing turnover challenges and encouraging opportunities to share perspectives.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: McHugh M, Brown T, Walunas TL .
Contrasting perspectives of practice leaders and practice facilitators may be common in quality improvement initiatives.
J Healthc Qual 2020 May/Jun;42(3):e32-e38. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000223..
Keywords: Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Implementation, Communication, Provider
Sweeney SM, Hemler JR, Baron AN
Dedicated workforce required to support large-scale practice improvement.
Facilitation is an effective approach for helping practices implement sustainable evidence-based practice improvements. Few studies examine the facilitation infrastructure and support needed for large-scale dissemination and implementation initiatives. In this paper, the authors discuss a project by the Agency for Health care Research and Quality in which it funded 7 Cooperatives, each of which worked with over 200 primary care practices to rapidly disseminate and implement improvements in cardiovascular preventive care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Sweeney SM, Hemler JR, Baron AN .
Dedicated workforce required to support large-scale practice improvement.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Mar-Apr;33(2):230-39. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.02.190261..
Keywords: Practice Improvement, Primary Care, Cardiovascular Conditions, Healthcare Delivery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Prevention, Implementation, Evidence-Based Practice
Parchman ML, Ike B, Osterhage KP
Barriers and facilitators to implementing changes in opioid prescribing in rural primary care clinics.
This paper discusses the barriers and facilitators to implementing changes in opioid prescription in rural areas using the Six Building Blocks evidence-based program to reduce opioid prescription in primary care practices. The program was implemented at 6 rural and rural-serving organizations with 20 clinic locations over a 15-month period. Interviews and focus groups with conducted with the organizations at the end of the program period. Facilitators included a desire to help patients and their community; external pressures to make changes in opioid management; a desire to reduce workplace stress; external support for the clinic; supportive clinic leadership; and receptivity of patients. Barriers included competing demands on clinicians and staff; a culture of clinician autonomy; inadequate data systems; and a lack of patient resources in rural areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS023750.
Citation: Parchman ML, Ike B, Osterhage KP .
Barriers and facilitators to implementing changes in opioid prescribing in rural primary care clinics.
J Clin Transl Sci 2020 Jan 10;4(5):425-30. doi: 10.1017/cts.2019.448..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Rural Health, Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care, Implementation, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Delivery
Knox M, Murphy EJ, Leslie T
e-Consult implementation success: lessons from 5 county-based delivery systems.
This study evaluated organizational factors for e-consult implementation across five publicly financed, county-based health systems in California. Health system leaders whose systems received grant funding to plan and implement e-consult were interviewed to discuss platform selection, electronic health record compatibility, primary care clinician and specialist opinions, and project governance. Findings showed that three of the 5 systems successfully implemented e-consults. Existing primary care clinician-specialist relationships emerged as the strongest facilitator. E-consult-EHR technology integration was also important. These findings add to existing e-consult implementation literature that emphasizes reimbursement and leadership champions.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Knox M, Murphy EJ, Leslie T .
e-Consult implementation success: lessons from 5 county-based delivery systems.
Am J Manag Care 2020 Jan;26(1):e21-e27. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2020.42149..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Implementation, Primary Care, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Baron AN, Hemler JR, Sweeney SM
Effects of practice turnover on primary care quality improvement implementation.
This study examined the effect primary care practice turnover has on quality improvement (QI) implementation. It often stops momentum in the improvement process, especially if key members leave. Key member turnover causes loss of institutional memory about QI purpose, processes, and long-term vision.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Baron AN, Hemler JR, Sweeney SM .
Effects of practice turnover on primary care quality improvement implementation.
Am J Med Qual 2020 Jan/Feb;35(1):16-22. doi: 10.1177/1062860619844001..
Keywords: Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Workforce, Implementation