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
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Back Health and Pain (1)
- Blood Clots (1)
- Cancer (3)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Communication (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Data (1)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (3)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Guidelines (2)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- (-) Imaging (13)
- Kidney Disease and Health (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Pain (1)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Practice Patterns (3)
- Provider: Health Personnel (1)
- Quality of Care (1)
- Registries (1)
- Research Methodologies (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (2)
- Risk (1)
- Screening (1)
- Shared Decision Making (2)
- Stroke (1)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (1)
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 13 of 13 Research Studies DisplayedKerlikowske K, Zhu W, Su YR
Supplemental magnetic resonance imaging plus mammography compared with magnetic resonance imaging or mammography by extent of breast density.
This study compared using supplemental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with or without mammography to inform discussions about supplemental MRI in women with dense breasts. The authors evaluated 52, 237 women aged 40-79 years who underwent 2611 screening MRIs alone and 6518 supplemental MRI plus mammography pairs propensity score-matched to 65, 810 screening mammograms. They estimated rates per 1000 examinations of interval, advanced, and screen-detected early-stage invasive cancers and false-positive recall and biopsy recommendation by breast density (nondense = almost entirely fatty or scattered fibroglandular densities; dense = heterogeneously/extremely dense) adjusting for registry, examination year, age, race and ethnicity, family history of breast cancer, and prior breast biopsy. Screen-detected early-stage cancer rates were statistically higher for MRI plus mammography vs mammography for nondense (9.3 vs 2.9) and dense (7.5 vs 3.5) breasts and for MRI vs MRI plus mammography for dense breasts (19.2 vs 7.5). Interval rates were not statistically different for MRI plus mammography vs mammography for nondense (0.8 vs 0.5) or dense breasts (1.5 vs 1.4), nor were advanced cancer rates. MRI plus mammography had statistically higher false-positive recall and biopsy recommendation rates than mammography alone.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Kerlikowske K, Zhu W, Su YR .
Supplemental magnetic resonance imaging plus mammography compared with magnetic resonance imaging or mammography by extent of breast density.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2024 Feb 8; 116(2):249-57. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad201.
Keywords: Imaging, Cancer
Gyftopoulos S, Simon E, Swartz JL
Efficacy and impact of a multimodal intervention on CT pulmonary angiography ordering behavior in the emergency department.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multimodal intervention to reduce overutilization of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for suspected pulmonary embolism in the emergency department. Results indicated that guideline concordance increased significantly after intervention. The authors concluded that their success in increasing guideline concordance demonstrated the efficacy of a mixed-methods, human-centered approach to behavior change; however, given that neither of the secondary outcomes improved, the results may demonstrate potential limitations to the guidelines directing the ordering of CTPA studies.
AHRQ-funded; HS024376.
Citation: Gyftopoulos S, Simon E, Swartz JL .
Efficacy and impact of a multimodal intervention on CT pulmonary angiography ordering behavior in the emergency department.
J Am Coll Radiol 2024 Feb; 21(2):309-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2023.02.033.
Keywords: Emergency Department, Respiratory Conditions, Imaging, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Blood Clots
Smieliauskas F, MacMahon H, Salgia R
Geographic variation in radiologist capacity and widespread implementation of lung cancer CT screening.
The researchers estimated the prevalence of capacity constraints in the radiologist workforce and resulting potential disparities in access to lung cancer screening. They found that scaling up lung cancer screening would increase imaging procedures by an average of 4% across Health Service Areas (HSAs). HSAs that were rural, with many eligible smokers, and disproportionately Hispanic or low-income smokers had significantly higher odds of facing capacity constraints.
AHRQ-funded; HS018535.
Citation: Smieliauskas F, MacMahon H, Salgia R .
Geographic variation in radiologist capacity and widespread implementation of lung cancer CT screening.
J Med Screen 2014 Dec;21(4):207-15. doi: 10.1177/0969141314548055..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Screening, Imaging
Kruger JF, Chen AH, Rybkin A
Clinician perspectives on considering radiation exposure to patients when ordering imaging tests: a qualitative study.
The authors examined outpatient clinician attitudes towards considering radiation exposure when ordering CT scans and clinician reactions to displaying radiation exposure information for CT scans at clinician electronic order entry. They found that displaying clinically relevant radiation exposure information at order entry may improve clinician knowledge and inform patient-clinician discussions regarding risks and benefits of imaging.
AHRQ-funded; HS018090.
Citation: Kruger JF, Chen AH, Rybkin A .
Clinician perspectives on considering radiation exposure to patients when ordering imaging tests: a qualitative study.
BMJ Qual Saf 2014 Nov;23(11):893-901. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2013-002773.
.
.
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Provider: Health Personnel, Imaging, Patient Safety, Practice Patterns
Lacson R, Prevedello LM, Andriole KP
Four-year impact of an alert notification system on closed-loop communication of critical test results.
The authors evaluated the impact of an alert notification system on policy adherence for communicating critical imaging test results to referring providers and assessed system adoption over the first 4 years after implementation. They concluded that an automated alert notification system for communicating critical imaging results was successfully adopted and was associated with increased adherence to institutional policy for communicating critical test results and with reduced workflow interruptions.
AHRQ-funded; HS019635.
Citation: Lacson R, Prevedello LM, Andriole KP .
Four-year impact of an alert notification system on closed-loop communication of critical test results.
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2014 Nov;203(5):933-8. doi: 10.2214/ajr.14.13064.
.
.
Keywords: Communication, Shared Decision Making, Guidelines, Health Information Technology (HIT), Imaging
Merdan S, Womble PR, Miller DC
Toward better use of bone scans among men with early-stage prostate cancer.
This study evaluated the performance of published guidelines compared with that of current practice for radiographic staging of men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. It found that, based on current practice patterns, more uniform application of existing guidelines would ensure that bone scans are performed for almost all men with bone metastases, while avoiding many negative imaging studies.
AHRQ-funded; HS018346
Citation: Merdan S, Womble PR, Miller DC .
Toward better use of bone scans among men with early-stage prostate cancer.
Urology. 2014 Oct;84(4):793-8. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2014.06.010..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Guidelines, Imaging
Deppen SA, Blume JD, Kensinger CD
Accuracy of FDG-PET to diagnose lung cancer in areas with infectious lung disease: a meta-analysis.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) combined with fludeoxyglucose F18 (FDG) for pulmonary modules suspicious for lung cancer in regions where infectious lung disease is endemic and compare the accuracy in regions where such disease is rare. It found that the accuracy of FDG-PET was extremely heterogeneous.
AHRQ-funded; HS021554.
Citation: Deppen SA, Blume JD, Kensinger CD .
Accuracy of FDG-PET to diagnose lung cancer in areas with infectious lung disease: a meta-analysis.
JAMA 2014 Sep 24;312(12):1227-36. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.11488..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Respiratory Conditions, Imaging
Hollingsworth JM, Sakshaug JW, Zhang Y
In-office imaging capabilities among procedure-based specialty practices.
The authors sought to determine whether arrangements tailored to fit Stark law spur utilization. They found that the availability of in-office advanced imaging is associated with increased imaging use.
AHRQ-funded; HS020927; HS018726.
Citation: Hollingsworth JM, Sakshaug JW, Zhang Y .
In-office imaging capabilities among procedure-based specialty practices.
Surg Innov 2014 Aug;21(4):403-8. doi: 10.1177/1553350613505715.
.
.
Keywords: Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Quality of Care, Imaging, Practice Patterns
Johnson EK, Graham DA, Chow JS
Nationwide emergency department imaging practices for pediatric urolithiasis: room for improvement.
The researchers describe the national use of computed tomography (CT) versus ultrasound imaging for pediatric patients seen at emergency departments (EDs) for suspected urolithiasis (SU) during the period 2006-2010. Use of CT was much higher than use of ultrasound, although it dropped off after 2007. Lowest CT use was seen at EDs that care for more children.
AHRQ-funded; HS019485
Citation: Johnson EK, Graham DA, Chow JS .
Nationwide emergency department imaging practices for pediatric urolithiasis: room for improvement.
J Urol. 2014 Jul;192(1):200-6. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.01.028..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Imaging, Children/Adolescents, Practice Patterns
Lyerly MJ, Houston JT, Boehme AK
Safety of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration with computed tomography evidence of prior infarction.
The researchers sought to determine if the presence of a previous stroke on pretreatment computed tomography (CT) is a predictor of hemorrhagic complications and functional outcomes after the administration of intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Their data suggest that a prior stroke on CT should not be viewed as a reason to withhold this treatment unless it occurred within the last 3 months.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Lyerly MJ, Houston JT, Boehme AK .
Safety of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration with computed tomography evidence of prior infarction.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2014 Jul;23(6):1657-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.01.011..
Keywords: Stroke, Risk, Outcomes, Imaging
Suri P, Boyko EJ, Goldberg J
Longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms: retrospective analysis of data from the longitudinal assessment of imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBACK).
The researchers examined the association of incident lumbar MRI findings with two specific spine-related symptom outcomes: 1) incident chronic bothersome lower back pain, and 2) incident radicular symptoms such as pain, weakness, or sensation alterations in the lower extremity. They found that even when applying more specific definitions for spine-related symptom outcomes, few MRI findings show strong associations with symptom outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222
Citation: Suri P, Boyko EJ, Goldberg J .
Longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms: retrospective analysis of data from the longitudinal assessment of imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBACK).
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 May 13;15:152. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-152..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Pain
Valencia V, Moghadassi M, Kriesel DR
Study of Tomography Of Nephrolithiasis Evaluation (STONE): methodology, approach and rationale.
This paper describes the rationale and methods of STONE (Study of Tomography Of Nephrolithiasis Evaluation), a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness trial comparing different imaging strategies for patients with suspected urolithiasis. It concluded that the detailed methodology of STONE will provide a roadmap for comparative effectiveness studies of diagnostic imaging conducted in an ED setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS019312.
Citation: Valencia V, Moghadassi M, Kriesel DR .
Study of Tomography Of Nephrolithiasis Evaluation (STONE): methodology, approach and rationale.
Contemp Clin Trials 2014 May;38(1):92-101. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.03.006..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Imaging, Kidney Disease and Health, Research Methodologies
Wernli KJ, DeMartini WB, Ichikawa L
Patterns of breast magnetic resonance imaging use in community practice.
The researchers described patterns of breast MRI use in US community practice during the period 2005 through 2009. They found that the overall rate of breast MRI from 2005 through 2009 nearly tripled from 4.2 to 11.5 examinations per 1000 women, with the most rapid increase from 2005 to 2007.
AHRQ-funded; HS019482.
Citation: Wernli KJ, DeMartini WB, Ichikawa L .
Patterns of breast magnetic resonance imaging use in community practice.
JAMA Intern Med 2014 Jan;174(1):125-32. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.11963..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Data, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Registries