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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.
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1 to 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedHuo T, Glueck DH, Shenkman EA
Stratified split sampling of electronic health records
Data extracted from electronic health records may require very different approaches for model building and analysis than data from clinical research. Because electronic health record data is designed for clinical use, researchers need to engage in the iterative process of defining and provide clear definitions of outcome and predictor variables and assessing associations. This process can increase Type I error rates and decrease the chance of replicability. Failure to consider subgroups may mask heterogeneous relationships between predictor and outcome by subgroups, thus decreasing the generalizability of the findings. To improve the likelihood of both replicability and generalizability, the researchers recommended utilizing a stratified split sample approach for studies using electronic health records. The researchers illustrate the approach through an electronic health record study of the relationships between socio-demographic factors and uptake of hepatic cancer screening, and potential heterogeneity of association in subgroups defined by gender, self-identified race and ethnicity, census-tract level poverty and insurance type.
AHRQ-funded; HS028283.
Citation: Huo T, Glueck DH, Shenkman EA .
Stratified split sampling of electronic health records
BMC Med Res Methodol 2023 May 25; 23(1):128. doi: 10.1186/s12874-023-01938-0..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR)
Rodriguez PJ, Ward ZJ, Long MW
Applied methods for estimating transition probabilities from electronic health record data.
This study examined the usefulness of electronic health records (EHRs) in estimating transition probabilities for state-transition models. No guidelines exist on appropriate methods. The authors used 3 potential methods to estimate transition probabilities for EHR data, using pediatric eating disorders (EDs) as a case study. They mapped diagnoses to 3 ED health states: anorexia nervous, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding or eating disorder using data from PEDsnet, which includes 8 US children’s hospitals. They used 3 approaches: simple first-last proportions, a multistate Markov (MSM) model, and independent survival models. The first-last proportion approach estimated higher probabilities of remaining the same health state, while the other two approaches estimated higher probabilities of transitioning to a different health state. Published literature differed substantially from these estimates. Further research is needed to improve methods for using EHR data to inform transition probabilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Rodriguez PJ, Ward ZJ, Long MW .
Applied methods for estimating transition probabilities from electronic health record data.
Med Decis Making 2021 Feb;41(2):143-52. doi: 10.1177/0272989x20985752..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Ward TM, Skubic M, Rantz M
Human-centered approaches that integrate sensor technology across the lifespan: opportunities and challenges.
Children, parents, older adults, and caregivers routinely use sensor technology as a source of health information and health monitoring. The purpose of this paper was to describe three exemplars of research that used a human-centered approach to engage participants in the development, design, and usability of interventions that integrate technology to promote health. The exemplars were based on current research studies that integrated sensor technology into pediatric, adult, and older adult populations living with a chronic health condition.
AHRQ-funded; HS018477.
Citation: Ward TM, Skubic M, Rantz M .
Human-centered approaches that integrate sensor technology across the lifespan: opportunities and challenges.
Nurs Outlook 2020 Nov-Dec;68(6):734-44. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.05.004..
Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Gance-Cleveland B, McDonald CC, Walker RK
Use of theory to guide development and application of sensor technologies in nursing.
In this paper, three nurse scientists summarize their presentations at the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science 2019 Advanced Methods Conference on Expanding Science of Sensor Technology in Research discussing the theoretical underpinnings of sensor technologies development and use in nursing research and practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS024738; HS018646.
Citation: Gance-Cleveland B, McDonald CC, Walker RK .
Use of theory to guide development and application of sensor technologies in nursing.
Nurs Outlook 2020 Nov-Dec;68(6):698-710. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.04.007..
Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Nursing, Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Di Tosto G, McAlearney AS, Fareed N
Metrics for outpatient portal use based on log file analysis: algorithm development.
This study’s goal was to document the functionality of an outpatient portal in the context of outpatient care by mining portal usage data and to provide insights into how patients use this tool. The authors developed a taxonomy of functions and actions and computed analytic metrics, including frequency and comprehensiveness of use. They found that function use was comprehensive at the patient level, while each session was instead limited to the use of one specific function. They hope to promote the replicability of their study at other institutions and to contribute to the establishment of best practices that can facilitate the adoption of behavioral metrics that enable the measurement of patient engagement based on the outpatient portal use.
AHRQ-funded; HS024091; HS024349; HS024379.
Citation: Di Tosto G, McAlearney AS, Fareed N .
Metrics for outpatient portal use based on log file analysis: algorithm development.
J Med Internet Res 2020 Jun 12;22(6):e16849. doi: 10.2196/16849..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Weng Y, Tian L, Tedesco D
Trajectory analysis for postoperative pain using electronic health records: a nonparametric method with robust linear regression and K-medians cluster analysis.
Postoperative pain scores are widely monitored and collected in the electronic health record, yet current methods fail to fully leverage the data with fast implementation. This article describes a trajectory analysis for postoperative pain using electronic health records. A robust linear regression was fitted to describe the association between the log-scaled pain score and time from discharge after total knee replacement.
AHRQ-funded; HS024096.
Citation: Weng Y, Tian L, Tedesco D .
Trajectory analysis for postoperative pain using electronic health records: a nonparametric method with robust linear regression and K-medians cluster analysis.
Health Informatics J 2020 Jun;26(2):1404-18. doi: 10.1177/1460458219881339..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Pain, Surgery, Orthopedics, Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR)
Vemulakonda VM, Bush RA, Kahn MG
"Minimally invasive research?" Use of the electronic health record to facilitate research in pediatric urology.
This literature study examined the use of electronic health records (EHRs) to facilitate research in pediatric urology. The use of EHRs has been strongly encouraged by US federal agencies, including AHRQ. The researchers found that EHR use for research has strengths and weaknesses and more collaboration is needed to identify the method that best suits incorporation of research-oriented data collection into routine pediatric urologic clinical practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS024597; HS022404.
Citation: Vemulakonda VM, Bush RA, Kahn MG .
"Minimally invasive research?" Use of the electronic health record to facilitate research in pediatric urology.
J Pediatr Urol 2018 Oct;14(5):374-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2018.04.033..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Children/Adolescents, Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Sockolow P, Dowding D, Randell R
Using mixed methods in health information technology evaluation.
The authors illustrated some of the benefits and challenges of using mixed methods in evaluation. The diversity of the informatics scholars' research experience provides a broad overview of approaches in combining robust analysis of outcome data with qualitative methods that provide an understanding of the processes through which, and the contexts in which, those outcomes are achieved.
AHRQ-funded; HS021008.
Citation: Sockolow P, Dowding D, Randell R .
Using mixed methods in health information technology evaluation.
Stud Health Technol Inform 2016;225:83-7.
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Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies