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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 3 of 3 Research Studies DisplayedRay EM, Riedel RF, LeBlanc TW
Assessing the impact of a novel integrated palliative care and medical oncology inpatient service on health care utilization before hospice enrollment.
The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the impact of integrating specialist palliative care (PC) on health care utilization among hospitalized cancer patients before hospice enrollment. Patients in the solid tumor inpatient unit who were discharged to hospice pre- and post-integration were compared on the following outcomes: intensive care unit days, invasive procedures, subspecialty consultations, radiographic studies, hospital length of stay, and use of chemotherapy or radiation. Health care utilization was relatively low in both groups, and researchers found no significant differences in utilization between the two groups. They conclude that PC integration may not impact health care utilization during the final hospitalization before discharge to hospice, which may reflect the greater benefits of integrating PC farther ‘upstream’ from the final hospitalization.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Ray EM, Riedel RF, LeBlanc TW .
Assessing the impact of a novel integrated palliative care and medical oncology inpatient service on health care utilization before hospice enrollment.
J Palliat Med 2019 Apr;22(4):420-23. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0235..
Keywords: Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Inpatient Care, Palliative Care
Johnston FM, Neiman JH, Parmley LE
Stakeholder perspectives on the use of community health workers to improve palliative care use by African Americans with cancer.
This study focused on the issue of lack of palliative care for African-Americans with cancer. Stakeholder interviews and focus groups were conducted with cancer patients, caregivers, health care administrators, oncologists, and community health workers (CHWs). Participants felt that CHWs could play a central role in bridging patients with their providers, information and resources. They also felt that CHWs should either come from the community, or be familiar with the history, culture, and norms of the communities from which they operate.
AHRQ-funded; HS024736.
Citation: Johnston FM, Neiman JH, Parmley LE .
Stakeholder perspectives on the use of community health workers to improve palliative care use by African Americans with cancer.
J Palliat Med 2019 Mar;22(3):302-06. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0366..
Keywords: Access to Care, Cancer, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization, Cultural Competence, Disparities, Palliative Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H
Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H, Halm EA, Rhodes RL. Examining the association between healthcare utilization and clinical characteristics among cancer patients in a safety net health system.
The goal of this study was to examine the association between available patient and clinical characteristics and healthcare utilization in a cohort of breast, lung, and colorectal cancer patients within a safety-net hospital system. The investigators found that some patient and clinical characteristics associated with increased ER visits and hospitalizations in this cohort included race/ethnicity, palliative care referral, markers of advanced disease, and number opioids prescribed.
AHRQ-funded; R24 HS022418.
Citation: Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H .
Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H, Halm EA, Rhodes RL. Examining the association between healthcare utilization and clinical characteristics among cancer patients in a safety net health system.
J Palliat Med 2019 Jan;22(1):80-83. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0202..
Keywords: Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Palliative Care, Hospitals