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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 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedSchulte A, Biggs MA
Association between facility and clinician characteristics and family planning services provided during U.S. outpatient care visits.
The purpose of this study was to characterize the provision of family planning services in outpatient care settings and evaluate variation by facility and clinician characteristics. The researchers utilized National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data, to evaluate family planning service provision by facility location, facility type, physician specialty, types of clinicians seen, and if the patient was seen by their primary care provider. The sample used for analysis included 53,489 patient visits between 2011 and 2019 with reproductive-age (15-49 years) individuals. Family planning services were provided at 8% of total sampled visits and were more likely to be provided in urban compared with rural areas and at community health centers compared with private physician practices. Family planning services were also more likely to be provided when the patient saw a physician assistant or nurse compared with only a physician. After controlling for observed covariates, measures of between-clinician heterogeneity demonstrated broad variation in which clinicians offered family planning services.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Schulte A, Biggs MA .
Association between facility and clinician characteristics and family planning services provided during U.S. outpatient care visits.
Womens Health Issues 2023 Nov-Dec; 33(6):573-81. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2023.06.008..
Keywords: Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Maternal Care, Women, Sexual Health
Bossick AS, Painter I, Williams EC
Development of a composite risk index of reproductive autonomy using state laws: association with maternal and neonatal outcomes.
This study investigated whether greater reproductive autonomy would be associated with lower rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), pregnancy-related mortality (PRM), preterm birth (PTB), and low birthweight. It was hypothesized that greater reproductive autonomy would lower the risks of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. The authors developed a composite index to quantify state legislation, which was used to examine the association with maternal and neonatal outcomes. A Delphi panel was used to inform index development, and restrictive policies were assigned values of -1 and enabling policies +1. Publicly available data was used to conduct a cross-sectional study of all live births in the 50 US states for people ages 15 to 44 from 2016 to 2018 to examine the association between the risk index and PRM, SMM, PTB, and low birthweight. There were 11,530,785 births, 2,846 pregnancy-related deaths, and 154,384 cases of SMM from 2016 to 2018. The Delphi panel found a summed state measure of 106 laws in 8 categories that could affect reproductive anatomy. In adjusted analyses, states in the most enabling reproductive autonomy quartile had a 44.7 per 10,000 higher rate of SMM compared with the most restrictive quartile. However, the most enabling quartile was associated with a 9.87 per 100,000 lower rate of PRM and 0.67 per 100 lower rate of PTB compared with the most restrictive quartile.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Bossick AS, Painter I, Williams EC .
Development of a composite risk index of reproductive autonomy using state laws: association with maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Womens Health Issues 2023 Jul-Aug; 33(4):359-66. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2023.03.008..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Sexual Health, Women, Newborns/Infants, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Cantor AG, Nelson HD, Pappas M
Telehealth for women's preventive services for reproductive health and intimate partner violence: a comparative effectiveness review.
This comparative effectiveness review was conducted on the effectiveness and harms of telehealth interventions for women's reproductive health and intimate partner violence (IPV) services. A literature search was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies of telehealth strategies for women's reproductive health and IPV versus usual care for the period July 2016 to May 2022. Eight RCTs, 1 nonrandomized trial, and 7 observational studies were included (7 studies of contraceptive care and 9 of IPV services). Telehealth services demonstrated similar care as usual care for contraceptive use, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy (low strength of evidence [SOE]). Evidence on abortion was insufficient. Outcomes were also similar between telehealth and usual care interventions to replace or supplement IPV services and comparators for repeat IPV, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, fear of partner, coercive control, self-efficacy, and safety behaviors (low SOE). Telehealth barriers identified included limited internet access, digital literacy, technical challenges, and confidentiality concerns. Safety strategies increased telehealth use for IPV services. Evidence lacked on access, health equity, or harms.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: Cantor AG, Nelson HD, Pappas M .
Telehealth for women's preventive services for reproductive health and intimate partner violence: a comparative effectiveness review.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 May; 38(7):1735-43. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08033-6..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Women, Prevention, Domestic Violence, Evidence-Based Practice, Maternal Care, Sexual Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Comparative Effectiveness
Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion with postpartum contraception use and pregnancy. The researchers found that Medicaid expansion was associated with a 7.0 percentage point increase in postpartum use of the contraceptive implant and intrauterine device LARC, a 3.1 percentage point decrease in short-acting contraception, and a 3.9 percentage point decrease in non-prescription contraceptive use overall. Increases in LARC use were concentrated among non-Hispanic, White, and Black respondents. Medicaid expansion was associated with a decrease in early postpartum pregnancy only among non-Hispanic Black respondents. The researchers concluded that the ACA Medicaid expansion improved postpartum contraceptive access and led to shifts from methods with a lower upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance towards methods with the higher upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance. These changes suggest that Medicaid expansions increased access to the full range of contraceptive methods.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464; HS000011
Citation: Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW .
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
Contraception 2022 Sep;113:42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.02.012..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Women, Medicaid, Access to Care, Policy
Thompson I, Bryant AG, Stuebe AM
Centering the patient in postpartum contraceptive counseling.
This article discusses the timing of postpartum contraceptive counseling and the fact that many health care providers believe prevention of future pregnancies is a priority in the postpartum period and that the inpatient postpartum stay is an ideal time to discuss contraception. However, this belief is not necessarily shared by the birthing parent, and they might be unready to discuss contraceptives, especially for people whose reproduction has been marginalized. The authors state that health care providers must acknowledge this harmful and racist history to change counseling practices actively and thoughtfully to best meet patient needs while simultaneously respecting patient autonomy.
AHRQ-funded; HS027260.
Citation: Thompson I, Bryant AG, Stuebe AM .
Centering the patient in postpartum contraceptive counseling.
Clin Obstet Gynecol 2022 Sep 1;65(3):588-93. doi: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000725..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Sexual Health
Moniz MH, Dalton VK, Smith RD
Feasibility and acceptability of a toolkit-based process to implement patient-centered, immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception services.
The objectives of this single-site study were to develop a theory-informed toolkit, to evaluate the feasibility of toolkit-based implementation of immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception services, and to refine the toolkit. The study was conducted at a large academic medical center. The authors concluded that the toolkit-based process was associated with high acceptability but mixed healthcare quality outcomes. They suggested that future research should test the effectiveness of the refined toolkit in a multisite, prospective trial.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465.
Citation: Moniz MH, Dalton VK, Smith RD .
Feasibility and acceptability of a toolkit-based process to implement patient-centered, immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception services.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022 Mar; 226(3):394.e1-94.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.10.009..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Women, Sexual Health
Dude AM, Schueler K, Schumm LP
Preconception care and severe maternal morbidity in the United States.
This study’s objective was to measure the association between preconception care and the odds of severe maternal morbidity among women with Medicaid using a secondary analysis of Medicaid claims using Medicaid Analytic Extract files. Findings showed that contraceptive services in the year before conception and routine exams for women with chronic disease were associated with decreased odds of severe maternal morbidity or death for Medicaid enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS027027.
Citation: Dude AM, Schueler K, Schumm LP .
Preconception care and severe maternal morbidity in the United States.
Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2022 Mar;4(2):100549. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100549..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Labor and Delivery, Sexual Health
Moniz MH, Bonawitz K, Wetmore MK
Implementing immediate postpartum contraception: a comparative case study at 11 hospitals.
Researchers examined how organizational context and implementation strategies drive successful implementation of immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception services, with a goal of informing the design of future implementation interventions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians, nurses, residents, pharmacy and revenue cycle staff, and hospital administrators. They found that implementation efforts in maternity settings may be more successful if they select strategies to optimize local conditions for success. They recommended future research to evaluate whether these strategies effectively optimize local conditions for successful implementation in a variety of settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465; HS023784.
Citation: Moniz MH, Bonawitz K, Wetmore MK .
Implementing immediate postpartum contraception: a comparative case study at 11 hospitals.
Implement Sci Commun 2021 Apr 12;2(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s43058-021-00136-7..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Women, Hospitals, Implementation, Sexual Health
Darney BG, Fuentes-Rivera E, Saavedra-Avendaño B
Contraceptive receipt among first-trimester abortion clients and postpartum women in urban Mexico.
The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare uptake of contraception prior to discharge between abortion clients in Mexico City's public abortion program and postpartum women from urban settings. Data were taken from clinical records of abortion clients in Mexico City and from a population-based survey of urban women on their adoption of contraception immediately postpartum. The results showed that women who received abortions in Mexico City's public abortion program were more likely to receive a reversible modern contraceptive method before leaving the facility than urban postpartum women. The authors concluded that women should be offered the full range of contraceptive methods after any obstetric event to help prevent unintended pregnancies and avoid short interpregnancy intervals.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Darney BG, Fuentes-Rivera E, Saavedra-Avendaño B .
Contraceptive receipt among first-trimester abortion clients and postpartum women in urban Mexico.
Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2020 Dec 14; 46(Suppl 1):35-43. doi: 10.1363/46e0720..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Women, Maternal Care
Bonawitz K, Wetmore M, Heisler M
Champions in context: which attributes matter for change efforts in healthcare?
The authors sought to identify and describe champion attributes influencing outcomes of healthcare change efforts. Using postpartum contraceptive care as a case study, they found that effective champions appear to leverage six key attributes to facilitate healthcare change efforts. They concluded that prospective evaluations of the interactions among champion attributes, context, and outcomes may further elucidate how champions exert their effects.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465.
Citation: Bonawitz K, Wetmore M, Heisler M .
Champions in context: which attributes matter for change efforts in healthcare?
Implement Sci 2020 Aug 6;15(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13012-020-01024-9..
Keywords: Implementation, Sexual Health, Women, Maternal Care
Cottrell E, Darney BG, Marino M
Study protocol: a mixed-methods study of women's healthcare in the safety net after Affordable Care Act implementation - EVERYWOMAN.
In this paper, the authors describe a 5-year, mixed-methods study comparing women's contraceptive, preventive, prenatal and postpartum care before and after ACA implementation and between Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. They conclude that the findings will be relevant to policy and practice, informing efforts that enhance the provision of timely, evidence-based reproductive care, to improve health outcomes, and to reduce disparities among women. Patient, provider and practice-level interviews will serve to contextualize their findings and to develop subsequent studies and interventions to support women's healthcare provision in community health center settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS025155.
Citation: Cottrell E, Darney BG, Marino M .
Study protocol: a mixed-methods study of women's healthcare in the safety net after Affordable Care Act implementation - EVERYWOMAN.
Health Res Policy Syst 2019 Jun 11;17(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s12961-019-0445-y..
Keywords: Women, Access to Care, Medicaid, Policy, Prevention, Maternal Care, Sexual Health
Upadhya KK, Jalazo ER, Connor KA
AHRQ Author: Mistry KB
Optimizing preconception health among young women: what are we missing?
This study evaluated whether receipt of specific preconception counseling topics differs between teen, young adult, and older mothers. It found that teen mothers were less than half as likely to be counseled about taking folic acid, 4 times more likely to be counseled about vaccines, and twice as likely to be counseled about mental health before pregnancy compared with adult mothers.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Upadhya KK, Jalazo ER, Connor KA .
Optimizing preconception health among young women: what are we missing?
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2016 Oct;29(5):464-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2016.02.010.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Sexual Health, Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Young Adults