National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Asthma (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (2)
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) (2)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (3)
- (-) Communication (23)
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1)
- Critical Care (1)
- Cultural Competence (1)
- Disparities (1)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (2)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (3)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- (-) Evidence-Based Practice (23)
- Guidelines (10)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (3)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (2)
- Implementation (8)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (2)
- Long-Term Care (1)
- Medication (2)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- Nursing (1)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Obesity (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Organizational Change (1)
- Outcomes (2)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (5)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (5)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Policy (2)
- Practice Patterns (2)
- Prevention (8)
- Primary Care (4)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Public Health (1)
- Quality Improvement (4)
- Quality of Care (4)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Social Media (1)
- Tobacco Use (1)
- Tools & Toolkits (2)
- Training (2)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (3)
- Vaccination (1)
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 23 of 23 Research Studies DisplayedWeinstein R, Brohinsky J, Meltzer A
AHRQ Author: Weinstein R
Establishing and maintaining trust: how the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force uses strategic communications to build confidence in and disseminate its evidence-based recommendations.
This article examined ways in which strategic communications support for the United States Preventive Services Task Force helped to fulfill its mission to improve the health of people nationwide through evidence-based preventive services recommendations. Communications challenges specific to the USPSTF are described, and two case examples of strategic communications approaches provided.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Weinstein R, Brohinsky J, Meltzer A .
Establishing and maintaining trust: how the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force uses strategic communications to build confidence in and disseminate its evidence-based recommendations.
J Health Commun 2023 Jun 3; 28(6):344-48. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2208532..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention
Patel MR, Smith A, Leo H
Improving patient-provider communication and therapeutic practice through better integration of electronic health records in the exam room: a pilot study.
This study assessed the effectiveness of providing physicians who use electronic health records (EHRs) education for communication strategies and its impact on patient outcomes. The evidence-based Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) program was extended in a pilot program using 18 providers and 126 adult patients with persistent asthma. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3- and 6-month postintervention intervals. Providers who completed the EHR-PACE program felt more confident in communicating with their patients, but there was no significant changes in patient asthma outcomes or their perceptions of their provider’s communication skills.
AHRQ-funded; HS023786.
Citation: Patel MR, Smith A, Leo H .
Improving patient-provider communication and therapeutic practice through better integration of electronic health records in the exam room: a pilot study.
Health Educ Behav 2019 Jun;46(3):484-93. doi: 10.1177/1090198118796879..
Keywords: Asthma, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Evidence-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT), Outcomes, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Winkler SL, Kairalla JA, Cooper R
Comparison of functional benefits of self-management training for amputees under virtual world and e-learning conditions.
This project used a randomized design to compare two methods of disseminating an evidence-based self-management intervention for amputees, which included, avatar-based virtual world and e-learning environments. The investigators found that the virtual world group had a significantly higher dropout rate than the e-learning group.
AHRQ-funded; HS022021.
Citation: Winkler SL, Kairalla JA, Cooper R .
Comparison of functional benefits of self-management training for amputees under virtual world and e-learning conditions.
Journal of Alternative Medicine Research 2018;10(1):65-72..
Keywords: Communication, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Evidence-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Self-Management, Training
Chou AF, Homco JB, Nagykaldi Z
Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.
The Healthy Hearts for Oklahoma (H2O) Study proposes to build a quality improvement (QI) infrastructure by (1) constructing a sustainable Oklahoma Primary Healthcare Improvement Collaborative (OPHIC) to support dissemination and implementation (D&I) of QI methods; and (2) providing QI support in primary care practices to better manage patients at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. H2O has 263 small primary care practices across Oklahoma that receive the bundled QI intervention to improve ABCS (aspirin therapy, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation) performance. The infrastructure established as a result of this funding will help reach medically underserved Oklahomans, particularly among rural and tribal populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS023919.
Citation: Chou AF, Homco JB, Nagykaldi Z .
Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.
BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Jun 4;18(1):404. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3189-4.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Communication, Heart Disease and Health, Healthcare Delivery, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care, Prevention, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Sepucha KR, Abhyankar P, Hoffman AS
Standards for UNiversal reporting of patient Decision Aid Evaluation studies: the development of SUNDAE Checklist.
This study sought to develop and reach consensus on reporting guidelines to improve the quality of publications evaluating patient decision aids (PDAs). The study concluded that the SUNDAE (Standards for UNiversal reporting of patient Decision Aid Evaluations) Checklist will help ensure that reports of PDA evaluation studies are understandable, transparent and of high quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS024250.
Citation: Sepucha KR, Abhyankar P, Hoffman AS .
Standards for UNiversal reporting of patient Decision Aid Evaluation studies: the development of SUNDAE Checklist.
BMJ Qual Saf 2018 May;27(5):380-88. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2017-006986..
Keywords: Communication, Shared Decision Making, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Health Literacy, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Meyers D, Miller T, Genevro J
AHRQ Author: Meyers D, Miller T, Genevro J, Zhan C, De La Mare J, Fournier A, Bennett H, McNellis RJ
EvidenceNOW: Balancing primary care implementation and implementation research.
In 2015, AHRQ invested in the largest primary care research project in its history. EvidenceNOW is a $112 million effort to disseminate and implement patient-centered outcomes research evidence in more than 1,500 primary care practices and to study how quality-improvement support can build the capacity of primary care practices to understand and apply evidence. EvidenceNOW comprises 7 implementation research grants, each funded to provide external quality-improvement support to primary care practices to implement evidence-based cardiovascular care and to conduct rigorous internal evaluations of their work.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meyers D, Miller T, Genevro J .
EvidenceNOW: Balancing primary care implementation and implementation research.
Ann Fam Med 2018 Apr;16(Suppl 1):S5-s11. doi: 10.1370/afm.2196.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Implementation
Kurth AE, Krist AH, Borsky AE
AHRQ Author: Borsky AE, Fan T, Weinstein R
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force methods to communicate and disseminate clinical preventive services recommendations.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issues evidence-based screening and prevention recommendations, and key to this task is dissemination and implementation of these recommendations. This paper outlines the approaches used by the USPSTF to both solicit input (e.g., public comment periods), as well as to facilitate dissemination of its recommendations to help improve the health of all Americans (e.g., web-based and mobile application tools, journal publications, and annual reports to Congress).
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kurth AE, Krist AH, Borsky AE .
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force methods to communicate and disseminate clinical preventive services recommendations.
Am J Prev Med 2018 Jan;54(1s1):S81-s87. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.07.004.
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Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention, Primary Care, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
Ganiats TG, Bierman AS
AHRQ Author: Ganiats TG, Bierman AS
AHRQ's tools for better practice: helping family physicians manage today's challenges.
AHRQ is engaged in the dissemination and widespread implementation of what works in primary care. The agency’s main point of contact with the primary care community is the National Center for Excellence in Primary Care Research (NCEPCR). The authors discuss the variety of tools and resources made available by the NCEPCR.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ganiats TG, Bierman AS .
AHRQ's tools for better practice: helping family physicians manage today's challenges.
Am Fam Physician 2017 Nov 1;96(9):569-70.
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Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Provider: Physician, Primary Care, Tools & Toolkits
Squires A
Evidence-based approaches to breaking down language barriers.
This article provides background information about language barriers between nurses and patients and some strategies for addressing these gaps. After detailing how these barriers affect patient outcomes, practice-based strategies are offered to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions. Although the article doesn’t address barriers to communicating with patients with hearing loss, many of the same principles apply to these patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS023593.
Citation: Squires A .
Evidence-based approaches to breaking down language barriers.
Nursing 2017 Sep;47(9):34-40. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000522002.60278.ca.
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Keywords: Communication, Cultural Competence, Evidence-Based Practice, Nursing, Clinician-Patient Communication
Castro FG, Yasui M
Advances in EBI development for diverse populations: towards a science of intervention adaptation.
This introduction examines major issues and challenges as presented in this special issue of Prevention Science, "Challenges to the Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence Based Prevention Interventions for Diverse Populations." The authors describe the Fidelity-Adaptation Dilemma that generated controversies and debates and new perspectives on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) within diverse populations. The five articles in this special issue address many of these controversies and challenges.
AHRQ-funded; HS023007.
Citation: Castro FG, Yasui M .
Advances in EBI development for diverse populations: towards a science of intervention adaptation.
Prev Sci 2017 Aug;18(6):623-29. doi: 10.1007/s11121-017-0809-x.
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Keywords: Communication, Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Implementation
Meisel ZF, Metlay JP, Sinnenberg L
A randomized trial testing the effect of narrative vignettes versus guideline summaries on provider response to a professional organization clinical policy for safe opioid prescribing.
The authors compared whether narrative vignettes embedded in the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) daily e-newsletter improved dissemination of the clinical policy to ACEP members, and engagement of members with the clinical policy, compared with traditional summary text. They found that the vignettes outperformed traditional guideline text in promoting engagement with an evidence-based clinical guideline related to opioid prescriptions.
AHRQ-funded; HS021956.
Citation: Meisel ZF, Metlay JP, Sinnenberg L .
A randomized trial testing the effect of narrative vignettes versus guideline summaries on provider response to a professional organization clinical policy for safe opioid prescribing.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Dec;68(6):719-28. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.03.007.
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Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Policy, Provider
Shay LA, Street RL, Jr., Baldwin AS
Characterizing safety-net providers' HPV vaccine recommendations to undecided parents: a pilot study.
The researchers developed a tool to describe strength and content of provider HPV vaccination recommendations. The tool showed how providers undercut their recommendations through qualifications or support them with a rationale. The authors recommended that providers would benefit from communication skills training on how to make explicit recommendations with an evidence-based rationale.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Shay LA, Street RL, Jr., Baldwin AS .
Characterizing safety-net providers' HPV vaccine recommendations to undecided parents: a pilot study.
Patient Educ Couns 2016 Sep;99(9):1452-60. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.06.027.
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Keywords: Practice Patterns, Vaccination, Infectious Diseases, Sexual Health, Clinician-Patient Communication, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Communication
Fordis M, King JE, Bonaduce de Nigris F
Dissemination of evidence from systematic reviews through academic CME providers: a feasibility study.
This study explored the feasibility of working with continuing medical education (CME) directors and faculty to promote systematic review utilization. They found that potential barriers included faculty unfamiliarity with systematic reviews, challenges in maintaining review currency, and review scope. Systematic review evidence and summary products proved acceptable to CME directors, course faculty, and learners by multiple measures, demonstrating the feasibility of approaches to use AHRQ-SRs in CME courses and programming.
AHRQ-funded; 290200810015.
Citation: Fordis M, King JE, Bonaduce de Nigris F .
Dissemination of evidence from systematic reviews through academic CME providers: a feasibility study.
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2016 Spring;36(2):104-12. doi: 10.1097/ceh.0000000000000074.
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Keywords: Communication, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Evidence-Based Practice, Implementation
Rangachari P, Madaio M, Rethemeyer RK
Cumulative impact of periodic top-down communications on infection prevention practices and outcomes in two units.
The authors investigated the challenge of consistent implementation of evidence-based infection prevention practices at the unit level. Their results showed that the interventions cumulatively had a significant desired impact on central catheter use and helped validate the theoretical literature and identify evidence-based management strategies for practice change at the unit level. Further, periodic top-down communications have the potential to modify interprofessional knowledge exchanges and enable practice change at the unit level, leading to significantly improved outcomes and reduced costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS019785.
Citation: Rangachari P, Madaio M, Rethemeyer RK .
Cumulative impact of periodic top-down communications on infection prevention practices and outcomes in two units.
Health Care Manage Rev 2015 Oct-Dec;40(4):324-36. doi: 10.1097/hmr.0000000000000038.
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Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Children/Adolescents, Prevention
Narayanaswami P, Gronseth G, Dubinsky R
The impact of social media on dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines: a longitudinal observational study.
The researchers’ aim was to develop and evaluate an innovative dissemination strategy by adding social media-based dissemination methods to traditional methods for the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) “Complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis.” They found that social media-based dissemination methods did not confer additional benefit over print-, email-, and Internet-based methods in increasing CPG awareness and changing intent in physicians or patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS022004.
Citation: Narayanaswami P, Gronseth G, Dubinsky R .
The impact of social media on dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines: a longitudinal observational study.
J Med Internet Res 2015 Aug 13;17(8):e193. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4414..
Keywords: Communication, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Social Media, Implementation
Morrato EH, Rabin B, Proctor J
Bringing it home: expanding the local reach of dissemination and implementation training via a university-based workshop.
The Colorado Research in Implementation Science Program (CRISP) developed and delivered an introductory D&I workshop adapted from national programs to extend training reach and foster a local learning community for D&I. This paper describes the context of the local training environment, findings from a pre-workshop needs assessment survey, training design and structure, and post-workshop evaluation. Lessons learned may inform others intending to develop local D&I training workshop.
AHRQ-funded; HS021138.
Citation: Morrato EH, Rabin B, Proctor J .
Bringing it home: expanding the local reach of dissemination and implementation training via a university-based workshop.
Implement Sci 2015 Jul 4;10:94. doi: 10.1186/s13012-015-0281-6..
Keywords: Communication, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Training, Implementation
Tjia J, Field T, Mazor K
Dissemination of evidence-based antipsychotic prescribing guidelines to nursing homes: a cluster randomized trial.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of efforts to translate and disseminate evidence-based guidelines about atypical antipsychotic use to nursing homes (NHs). It found that RE-AIM indicators suggest some success in disseminating the toolkit and differences in reach, adoption, and implementation according to dissemination strategy but no measurable effect on antipsychotic prescribing trends.
AHRQ-funded; HS019351.
Citation: Tjia J, Field T, Mazor K .
Dissemination of evidence-based antipsychotic prescribing guidelines to nursing homes: a cluster randomized trial.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2015 Jul;63(7):1289-98. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13488..
Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Practice Patterns, Tools & Toolkits, Implementation
Borden WB, Chiang YP, Kronick R
AHRQ Author: Kronick, R
Bringing patient-centered outcomes research to life.
Achieving better health outcomes requires both the generation of new patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) knowledge and the appropriate and timely dissemination of that knowledge into practice. This article highlights the work AHRQ has done, is doing, and will do to improve the uptake of PCOR findings.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Borden WB, Chiang YP, Kronick R .
Bringing patient-centered outcomes research to life.
Value Health. 2015 Jun;18(4):355-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.01.010..
Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Implementation
Leeman J, Myers AE, Ribisl KM
Disseminating policy and environmental change interventions: insights from obesity prevention and tobacco control.
This paper describes the approach that two projects developed to disseminate policy and environmental change interventions. The Center for Training and Research Translation (Center TRT) disseminates evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to promote physical activity and healthy eating. Counter Tobacco disseminates EBIs to counter tobacco product sales and marketing in the retail environment.
AHRQ-funded; HS019468.
Citation: Leeman J, Myers AE, Ribisl KM .
Disseminating policy and environmental change interventions: insights from obesity prevention and tobacco control.
Int J Behav Med 2015 Jun;22(3):301-11. doi: 10.1007/s12529-014-9427-1..
Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Obesity, Policy, Prevention, Public Health, Tobacco Use, Implementation
Rangachari P, Madaio M, Rethemeyer RK
The evolution of knowledge exchanges enabling successful practice change in two intensive care units.
There are gaps in understanding the mechanisms by which top-down communications enable practice change. The authors sought to address these gaps in order to help identify evidence-based management strategies for successful practice change at the unit level. They found that both intensive care units studied experienced substantially improved outcomes and indicated a statistically significant increase in proactive communications. Early in the study, champions emerged within each unit to initiate process improvements. The authors concluded that the study helped to identify evidence-based management strategies for successful practice change at the unit level.
AHRQ-funded; HS019785.
Citation: Rangachari P, Madaio M, Rethemeyer RK .
The evolution of knowledge exchanges enabling successful practice change in two intensive care units.
Health Care Manage Rev 2015 Jan-Mar;40(1):65-78. doi: 10.1097/hmr.0000000000000001.
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Keywords: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Critical Care, Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Organizational Change, Prevention, Patient Safety
Rangachari P, Madaio M, Rethemeyer RK
Role of communication content and frequency in enabling evidence-based practices.
The study sought to promote central line bundle (CLB) implementation in a medical ICU and a pediatric ICU through periodic quality improvement (QI) interventions over a 52-week period. It found that proactive communications increased by 68 percent in the MICU and 61 percent in the PICU. During the same timeframe, both units increased CLB adherence to 100 percent. Both units also demonstrated statistically significant declines in catheter days.
AHRQ-funded; HS019785.
Citation: Rangachari P, Madaio M, Rethemeyer RK .
Role of communication content and frequency in enabling evidence-based practices.
Qual Manag Health Care 2014 Jan-Mar;23(1):43-58. doi: 10.1097/qmh.0000000000000017..
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Schwitzer G
Addressing tensions when popular media and evidence-based care collide.
This paper documents recurring problems in media messages about health-care interventions and offers suggestions for new or expanded efforts to improve the public dialogue about health care. It concluded that inaccurate, imbalanced, incomplete news stories may drown out more careful scrutiny of the evidence by many influential news organizations.
AHRQ-funded; 290200810015C
Citation: Schwitzer G .
Addressing tensions when popular media and evidence-based care collide.
BMC Med Inform Decis Making 2013;13 Suppl 3:S3. doi: 10.1186/1472-6947-13-s3-s3..
Keywords: Communication, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Evidence-Based Practice
Jensen JD, Krakow M, John KK
Against conventional wisdom: when the public, the media, and medical practice collide.
In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released new mammography screening guidelines that sparked a torrent of criticism. The goal of this article is to articulate how conflicts of this type arise and to review possible means of redress. The authors concluded that science is routinely simplified as it is prepared for public consumption. In line with the model of information overload, this practice may increase short-term adherence to recommendations at the expense of long-term message consistency and trust in science.
AHRQ-funded; 290200810015C
Citation: Jensen JD, Krakow M, John KK .
Against conventional wisdom: when the public, the media, and medical practice collide.
BMC Med Inform Decis Making 2013;13 Suppl 3:S4. doi: 10.1186/1472-6947-13-s3-s4..
Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Health Services Research (HSR), U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)