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 Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Alcohol Use (6)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Behavioral Health (10)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (1)
- Care Management (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Communication (1)
- Community-Based Practice (1)
- Disparities (2)
- Education: Academic (1)
- Elderly (1)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (2)
- Guidelines (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Health Insurance (2)
- Health Status (1)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Hospital Readmissions (1)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (3)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Lifestyle Changes (2)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Medication (9)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- Men's Health (1)
- Mortality (2)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Opioids (8)
- Outcomes (1)
- Pain (2)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (3)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Policy (4)
- Pregnancy (2)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (3)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Risk (3)
- Rural Health (1)
- Screening (1)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Social Stigma (2)
- Stress (1)
- (-) Substance Abuse (31)
- Tobacco Use (1)
- Training (1)
- Treatments (1)
- Women (1)
- Young Adults (3)
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 25 of 31 Research Studies DisplayedCha S, Masho SW, Mezuk B
Age of sexual debut and cannabis use in the United States.
The goals of this study were to assess the relationship between early sexual debut and cannabis use. It found that later age of sexual debut was associated with lower odds of cannabis use relative to the average age of debut. For every year that respondents delayed their sexual debut, the relative odds of lifetime cannabis use declined by 17 percent.
AHRQ-funded; HS021504.
Citation: Cha S, Masho SW, Mezuk B .
Age of sexual debut and cannabis use in the United States.
Subst Use Misuse 2016;51(4):439-48. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2015.1110177.
.
.
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Lifestyle Changes, Risk, Sexual Health, Lifestyle Changes
Cochran G, Field C, DiClemente C
Latent classes among recipients of a brief alcohol intervention: a replication analysis.
The purpose of this study was to identify differential improvement in alcohol use among injured patients following brief intervention. Increases in both clinical trials for days abstinent were reported by classes characterized by multiple risks and minimal risks. Decreases in volume consumed for both studies were also reported by classes characterized by multiple risks and minimal risks.
AHRQ-funded; HS021394.
Citation: Cochran G, Field C, DiClemente C .
Latent classes among recipients of a brief alcohol intervention: a replication analysis.
Behav Med 2016;42(1):29-38. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2014.951305.
.
.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Treatments
Komaromy M, Duhigg D, Metcalf A
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes): a new model for educating primary care providers about treatment of substance use disorders.
ECHO is a distance education model that connects specialists with numerous PCPs via simultaneous video link for the purpose of facilitating case-based learning. This article describes a teleECHO clinic that is focused on treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and behavioral health disorders. It concluded that the ECHO model can promote expansion of access to treatment for opioid use disorder and other SUDs, particularly in underserved areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS016510.
Citation: Komaromy M, Duhigg D, Metcalf A .
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes): a new model for educating primary care providers about treatment of substance use disorders.
Subst Abus 2016;37(1):20-4. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1129388.
.
.
Keywords: Community-Based Practice, Primary Care, Substance Abuse, Training, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Jayadevappa R, Chhatre S
Association between age, substance use, and outcomes in Medicare enrollees with prostate cancer.
The authors analyzed the association between age, substance use, and outcomes in fee-for-service Medicare enrollees with advanced prostate cancer. As they found age-specific results, they recommend an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to screen, refer, and treat substance use in patients with prostate cancer to improve outcomes and reduce costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS024106.
Citation: Jayadevappa R, Chhatre S .
Association between age, substance use, and outcomes in Medicare enrollees with prostate cancer.
J Geriatr Oncol 2016 Nov;7(6):444-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2016.06.007.
.
.
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Outcomes, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Substance Abuse
Morgan E, Khanna AS, Skaathun B
Marijuana use among young black men who have sex with men and the HIV care continuum: findings from the uConnect cohort.
The authors investigated how substances most commonly used by young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM), such as marijuana, are related to the HIV continuum. They found that YBMSM who used marijuana heavily were more likely to be HIV-positive unaware than those who never used marijuana..
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Morgan E, Khanna AS, Skaathun B .
Marijuana use among young black men who have sex with men and the HIV care continuum: findings from the uConnect cohort.
Subst Use Misuse 2016 Nov 9;51(13):1751-9. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1197265.
.
.
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Substance Abuse
Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT
Non-medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans: a prospective cohort study.
The researchers estimated the influence of non-medical use of prescription opioids on heroin initiation among US veterans receiving medical care. Using a multivariable Cox regression model, they found that non-medical use of prescription opioids was associated positively and independently with heroin initiation.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112; HS023258.
Citation: Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT .
Non-medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans: a prospective cohort study.
Addiction 2016 Nov;111(11):2021-31. doi: 10.1111/add.13491.
.
.
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC
The effect of substance use disorders on the association between guideline-concordant long-term opioid therapy and all-cause mortality.
The objective of this study was to determine whether the presence of a substance use disorder (SUD) modifies the association between guideline-concordant care and 1-year all-cause mortality among patients receiving long-term opioid therapy (LtOT) for pain. It found that for clinicians prescribing LtOT to patients with untreated SUDs, engaging patients with psychotherapeutic and SUD treatment services may reduce mortality.
AHRQ-funded; U19 HS021112.
Citation: Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC .
The effect of substance use disorders on the association between guideline-concordant long-term opioid therapy and all-cause mortality.
J Addict Med 2016 Nov/Dec;10(6):418-28. doi: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000255.
.
.
Keywords: Care Management, Medication, Mortality, Substance Abuse, Opioids, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Kennedy-Hendricks A, McGinty EE, Barry CL
Effects of competing narratives on public perceptions of opioid pain reliever addiction during pregnancy.
The researchers tested the effects of narratives portraying a woman with opioid pain reliever addiction during pregnancy on beliefs about people addicted to opioid pain relievers, perceptions of treatment effectiveness, policy attitudes, and emotional responses. They found that the extent to which narratives portraying successfully treated addiction affected public attitudes depended on the socioeconomic status of the woman portrayed.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Kennedy-Hendricks A, McGinty EE, Barry CL .
Effects of competing narratives on public perceptions of opioid pain reliever addiction during pregnancy.
J Health Polit Policy Law 2016 Oct;41(5):873-916. doi: 10.1215/03616878-3632230.
.
.
Keywords: Opioids, Pain, Pregnancy, Social Stigma, Substance Abuse
Bradley KA, Lapham GT
Is it time for a more ambitious research agenda for decreasing alcohol-related harm among young adults?
The authors commented that brief motivational interviewing-based interventions could probably impact drinking at the population level. They noted that there is a critical need to develop and test more effective interventions and recommended that the public health approach to preventing alcohol-related harm among young adults include known effective approaches, including those that decrease alcohol use by reducing the availability of alcohol.
AHRQ-funded; HS023173.
Citation: Bradley KA, Lapham GT .
Is it time for a more ambitious research agenda for decreasing alcohol-related harm among young adults?
Addiction 2016 Sep;111(9):1531-2. doi: 10.1111/add.13235.
.
.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Lifestyle Changes, Prevention, Substance Abuse, Young Adults
Kennedy-Hendricks A, Busch SH, McGinty EE
Primary care physicians' perspectives on the prescription opioid epidemic.
The authors aimed to determine primary care physicians' perceptions of the seriousness of the prescription opioid epidemic, its causes, groups responsible for addressing it, attitudes toward individuals with prescription opioid use disorder, beliefs about the effectiveness of addiction treatments, and support for various policies. They found that respondents largely attributed the causes to individual-oriented factors and certain physician-oriented factors, and that respondents believed that individuals with prescription opioid use disorder and physicians were primarily responsible for addressing the problem. The researchers also found that negative attitudes toward people with prescription opioid use disorder were prevalent, but a majority believed that treatment could be effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Kennedy-Hendricks A, Busch SH, McGinty EE .
Primary care physicians' perspectives on the prescription opioid epidemic.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2016 Aug 1;165:61-70. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.05.010.
.
.
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Medication, Opioids, Primary Care, Substance Abuse
Clark BJ, Rubinsky AD, Ho PM
Alcohol screening scores and the risk of intensive care unit admission and hospital readmission.
This study sought to determine whether alcohol misuse was associated with admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) among patients receiving outpatient care. Among 486,115 veterans receiving outpatient care, the adjusted probability of ICU admission within 1 year was 2.0 percent for abstinent patients, 1.6 percent for patients with lower-risk alcohol use, 1.8 percent for patients with moderate alcohol misuse, and 2.5 percent for patients with severe alcohol misuse.
AHRQ-funded; HS022800.
Citation: Clark BJ, Rubinsky AD, Ho PM .
Alcohol screening scores and the risk of intensive care unit admission and hospital readmission.
Subst Abus 2016 Jul-Sep;37(3):466-73. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1137259.
.
.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Hospital Readmissions, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Screening, Substance Abuse
Kim HS, Monte AA
Colorado cannabis legalization and its effect on emergency care.
The authors noted that increased marijuana use after legalization has been accompanied by increases in emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to marijuana intoxication. They recommended that providers in states with impending legalization measures should become familiar with the symptoms and management of acute marijuana intoxication, as well as understand the effects on chronic diseases frequently observed in the emergency department. Further, they suggested that residency program directors should make an effort to integrate this topic into their residency curricula.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Kim HS, Monte AA .
Colorado cannabis legalization and its effect on emergency care.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Jul;68(1):71-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.01.004.
.
.
Keywords: Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hospitalization, Policy, Substance Abuse
Kennedy-Hendricks A, Gielen A, McDonald E
Medication sharing, storage, and disposal practices for opioid medications among US adults.
The authors conducted a national survey among US adults with recent opioid medication use to examine the pervasiveness of sharing opioid medications, medication storage and disposal practices, and the sources of information received. Their findings suggested that current practices related to sharing, storing, and disposing of opioid medications, as well as communication of information on these topics, are suboptimal. They recommended that more research is needed to identify effective strategies to advance safer practices related to opioid medication sharing, storage, and disposal.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Kennedy-Hendricks A, Gielen A, McDonald E .
Medication sharing, storage, and disposal practices for opioid medications among US adults.
JAMA Intern Med 2016 Jul;176(7):1027-9. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2543.
.
.
Keywords: Medication: Safety, Medication, Opioids, Patient Safety, Substance Abuse
Wisk LE, Weitzman ER
Substance use patterns through early adulthood: results for youth with and without chronic conditions.
As there have been no nationally representative studies of substance use during this period for these medically vulnerable youth, the authors examined onset and intensification of these behaviors for a national sample of youth with and without chronic conditions. Youth with chronic medical conditions (YCMC) were more likely to engage in any and heavier substance use; transition years and early adulthood were periods of peak risk for YCMC compared with their healthy peers.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Wisk LE, Weitzman ER .
Substance use patterns through early adulthood: results for youth with and without chronic conditions.
Am J Prev Med 2016 Jul;51(1):33-45. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.01.029.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Children/Adolescents, Chronic Conditions, Substance Abuse, Young Adults
Creedon TB, Cook BL
Access to mental health care increased but not for substance use, while disparities remain.
The researchers assessed whether early implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and state health insurance exchanges increased access to mental health and substance use treatment among those in need and whether these changes differed by racial/ethnic group. They found that mental health treatment rates increased significantly but found no evidence of a reduction in the wide racial/ethnic disparities in mental health treatment that preceded ACA expansion from 2005 to 2013.
AHRQ-funded; HS021486.
Citation: Creedon TB, Cook BL .
Access to mental health care increased but not for substance use, while disparities remain.
Health Aff 2016 Jun;35(6):1017-21. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0098.
.
.
Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Health Insurance, Policy, Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse
Davis MM, Spurlock M, Dulacki K
Disparities in alcohol, drug use, and mental health condition prevalence and access to care in rural, isolated, and reservation areas: Findings from the South Dakota Health Survey.
The authors studied alcohol, drug use, and mental health (ADM) condition prevalence and access to care across diverse geographies in a predominantly rural state. They concluded that geographic disparities in ADM conditions are related to differences in access as opposed to prevalence, particularly for individuals in isolated and reservation areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Davis MM, Spurlock M, Dulacki K .
Disparities in alcohol, drug use, and mental health condition prevalence and access to care in rural, isolated, and reservation areas: Findings from the South Dakota Health Survey.
J Rural Health 2016 Jun;32(3):287-302. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12157.
.
.
Keywords: Disparities, Behavioral Health, Rural Health, Access to Care, Substance Abuse
Palar K, Laraia B, Tsai AC
Food insecurity is associated with HIV, sexually transmitted infections and drug use among men in the United States.
The researchers examined the population-level association between food insecurity, HIV risk factors, and HIV serostatus among men. They found that food insecurity is associated with prevalent HIV, STIs, and illicit drug use among men in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Palar K, Laraia B, Tsai AC .
Food insecurity is associated with HIV, sexually transmitted infections and drug use among men in the United States.
AIDS 2016 Jun 1;30(9):1457-65. doi: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001095.
.
.
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Infectious Diseases, Men's Health, Nutrition, Substance Abuse
Witt WP, Mandell KC, Wisk LE
Infant birthweight in the US: the role of preconception stressful life events and substance use.
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among preconception stressful life events (PSLEs), women's alcohol and tobacco use before and during pregnancy, and infant birthweight. It concluded that PSLEs and women's tobacco use before and during pregnancy are independent risk factors for having a lower birthweight baby.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063; HS000083.
Citation: Witt WP, Mandell KC, Wisk LE .
Infant birthweight in the US: the role of preconception stressful life events and substance use.
Arch Womens Ment Health 2016 Jun;19(3):529-42. doi: 10.1007/s00737-015-0595-z.
.
.
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Pregnancy, Stress, Substance Abuse, Women
Montz E, Layton T, Busch AB
Risk-adjustment simulation: plans may have incentives to distort mental health and substance use coverage.
The authors examined health plan incentives to limit covered services for mental health and substance use disorders under the risk-adjustment system used in the health insurance Marketplaces. They documented how Marketplace risk adjustment does not remove incentives for plans to limit coverage for services associated with mental health and substance use disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Montz E, Layton T, Busch AB .
Risk-adjustment simulation: plans may have incentives to distort mental health and substance use coverage.
Health Aff 2016 Jun;35(6):1022-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1668.
.
.
Keywords: Health Insurance, Policy, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse
Gibbs EL, Kass AE, Eichen DM
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-specific stimulant misuse, mood, anxiety, and stress in college-age women at high risk for or with eating disorders.
The researchers examined the misuse of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-specific stimulants in a college population at high risk for or with clinical or subclinical eating disorders. They found that ADHD-specific stimulant misuse is associated with eating disorder and comorbid pathology among such individuals, recommending that screening for stimulant misuse and eating disorder pathology may improve identification of college-age women who may be engaging in maladaptive behaviors and inform prevention efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Gibbs EL, Kass AE, Eichen DM .
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-specific stimulant misuse, mood, anxiety, and stress in college-age women at high risk for or with eating disorders.
J Am Coll Health 2016 May-Jun;64(4):300-8. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2016.1138477.
.
.
Keywords: Education: Academic, Behavioral Health, Medication, Substance Abuse, Young Adults
Chavez LJ, Williams EC, Lapham GT
Changes in patient-reported alcohol-related advice following veterans health administration implementation of brief alcohol interventions.
The researchers examined whether an independent measure of brief interventions-patient-reported alcohol-related advice-also increased among VA outpatients who screened positive for alcohol misuse on a mailed survey. They found that among patients with alcohol misuse, the adjusted prevalence of alcohol-related advice increased from 40.4% in 2007 to 55.5% in 2011. Rates of alcohol-related advice increased significantly each year except the last.
AHRQ-funded; HS022800.
Citation: Chavez LJ, Williams EC, Lapham GT .
Changes in patient-reported alcohol-related advice following veterans health administration implementation of brief alcohol interventions.
J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2016 May;77(3):500-8.
.
.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Substance Abuse
Smith LR, Earnshaw VA, Copenhaver MM
Substance use stigma: reliability and validity of a theory-based scale for substance-using populations.
The researchers aimed to advance measurement efforts of substance use stigma by drawing on stigma theory to develop and evaluate the Substance Use Stigma Mechanisms Scale (SU-SMS). Their findings support the structural and construct validity of the SU-SMS, suggesting the scale was able to capture enacted, anticipated, and internalized stigma as distinct stigma experiences, also differentiating between two distinct stigma sources, family and healthcare providers. They concluded that the SU-SMS may serve as a valuable tool for better understanding the processes through which substance use stigma serves to undermine key health behaviors and outcomes among persons with substance use disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Smith LR, Earnshaw VA, Copenhaver MM .
Substance use stigma: reliability and validity of a theory-based scale for substance-using populations.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2016 May 1;162:34-43. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.02.019.
.
.
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Social Stigma, Substance Abuse
Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC
The association between receipt of guideline-concordant long-term opioid therapy and all-cause mortality.
The researchers' objective was to determine the association between receipt of guideline-concordant long-term opioid therapy (LtOT) and 1-year all-cause mortality. They found no association between all-cause mortality and primary care visits or urine drug testing and recommended that providers use caution in initiating LtOT in conjunction with benzodiazepines and untreated substance use disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112.
Citation: Gaither JR, Goulet JL, Becker WC .
The association between receipt of guideline-concordant long-term opioid therapy and all-cause mortality.
J Gen Intern Med 2016 May;31(5):492-501. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3571-4.
.
.
Keywords: Guidelines, Mortality, Opioids, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Substance Abuse
Blanco C, Hasin DS, Wall MM
Cannabis use and risk of psychiatric disorders: prospective evidence from a US national longitudinal study.
The researchers examined prospective associations between cannabis use and risk of mental health and substance use disorders in the general adult population. Within the general population, cannabis use is associated with an increased risk for several substance use disorders. Physicians and policy makers should take these associations of cannabis use under careful consideration.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112.
Citation: Blanco C, Hasin DS, Wall MM .
Cannabis use and risk of psychiatric disorders: prospective evidence from a US national longitudinal study.
JAMA Psychiatry 2016 Apr;73(4):388-95. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.3229.
.
.
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Risk, Adverse Drug Events (ADE)
McGinty EE, Kennedy-Hendricks A, Baller J
Criminal activity or treatable health condition? News media framing of opioid analgesic abuse in the United States, 1998-2012.
The authors conducted an analysis of the volume and content of news media coverage of opioid analgesic abuse over a 15-year period from 1998 to 2012. They found that news media more often frame the problem as a criminal justice issue, rather than a public health crisis. The most frequently mentioned cause of the problem was illegal drug dealing, and the most frequently mentioned solutions were law enforcement solutions. Prevention-oriented approaches were mentioned more frequently in the latter years of the study period, but few of the news stories overall mentioned expanding substance abuse treatment, and even fewer mentioned expanding access to evidence-based medication-assisted treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: McGinty EE, Kennedy-Hendricks A, Baller J .
Criminal activity or treatable health condition? News media framing of opioid analgesic abuse in the United States, 1998-2012.
Psychiatr Serv 2016 Apr;67(4):405-11. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500065.
.
.
Keywords: Communication, Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse