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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.
Results
1 to 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedRamirez M, Duran MC, Penfold RB
STAR-Caregivers Virtual Training and Follow-up: a cultural adaptation for Latino caregivers of people with dementia.
This paper describes what is needed to adapt the STAR-Caregivers Virtual Training and Follow-up (STAR-VTF), an evidence-based intervention that teaches family caregivers how to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia to Latino caregivers. This qualitative research study interviewed Spanish- and English-speaking caregivers of people with dementia who self-identify as Hispanic/Latino (N = 30) and healthcare and social service providers of older Latino clients and/or Latino family caregivers (N = 14). The authors identified three themes: (i) there was a need to increase awareness about dementia and decrease stigma; (ii) semantics mattered as certain words and phrases could be stigmatizing, offensive, or culturally inappropriate; and (iii) there was a need to incorporate into program materials the traditional family structure and nature of caregiving in Latino families. Based on findings, STAR-VTF was adapted to expand content to improve understanding of dementia, language was revised that was viewed as problematic, and cultural examples were added to reflect the range of family involvement in caring for people living with dementia and multigenerational living.
AHRQ-funded; HS026369.
Citation: Ramirez M, Duran MC, Penfold RB .
STAR-Caregivers Virtual Training and Follow-up: a cultural adaptation for Latino caregivers of people with dementia.
Transl Behav Med 2023 Sep 12; 13(9):625-34. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibad028..
Keywords: Education: Patient and Caregiver, Cultural Competence, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Dementia, Neurological Disorders
Silverstein GD, Styke SC, Kaur S
The relationship between depressive symptoms, eHealth literacy, and asthma outcomes in the context of a mobile health intervention.
This study’s objective was to evaluate the associations between health/eHealth literacy and depressive symptoms with app usage and clinical outcomes. The authors recruited adults with persistent asthma to utilize the ASTHMAXcel PRO mobile app. Participants completed the following questionnaires: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess for depressive symptoms, Asthma Control Test (ACT), Mini Asthma Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaire, and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) tool to measure health literacy. Subsets of participant data were available on eHealth literacy (eHeals) (n = 24) and average number of app logins across 2 months (n = 40). The average participant age was 44.0 years, with 74% identifying as female. Increased depressive symptoms were associated with worse asthma control and asthma QOL, but not eHealth literacy. Higher eHealth literacy was associated with worse asthma QOL and more app logins. NVS scores weren’t associated with any measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS025645.
Citation: Silverstein GD, Styke SC, Kaur S .
The relationship between depressive symptoms, eHealth literacy, and asthma outcomes in the context of a mobile health intervention.
Psychosom Med 2023 Sep 1; 85(7):605-11. doi: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001170..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Asthma, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Education: Patient and Caregiver, Outcomes, Respiratory Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Volerman A, Balachandran U, Zhu M
Evaluating inhaler education interventions for hospitalized children with asthma: a randomized controlled trial.
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the technology-based intervention-Virtual Teach-to-Goal (V-TTG) could lead to less inhaler misuse among children hospitalized with asthma. A single-center randomized controlled trial of V-TTG vs brief intervention was conducted with children aged 5-10 with asthma. At baseline, nearly all children misused inhalers; inhaler misuse decreased significantly in both V-TTG and brief intervention. The researchers suggested that future studies evaluate V-TTG intervention across diverse populations and disease severities to identify its greatest impact.
AHRQ-funded; HS027804.
Citation: Volerman A, Balachandran U, Zhu M .
Evaluating inhaler education interventions for hospitalized children with asthma: a randomized controlled trial.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2023 Aug; 131(2):217-23.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.02.023..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Inpatient Care
Lucy AT, Rakestraw SL, Stringer C
Readability of patient education materials for bariatric surgery.
This paper examined readability and reading level of online bariatric surgery and standardized perioperative electronic medical record (EMR) patient education materials (PEM). National organizations recommend that PEM not exceed a sixth grade reading level. One institution was used to assess readability of PEM. Text readability was assessed by seven validated instruments and mean readability scores calculated with standard deviations and compared using unpaired t-tests. A total of 32 webpages and seven EMR education documents were assessed. Web pages were overall assessed as "difficult to read" compared to "standard/average" readability EMR materials. All web pages were at or above high school reading levels, with the highest reading levels being pages with nutrition information and the lowest reading level patient testimonials. EMR materials were found to be at sixth to ninth grade reading level.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Lucy AT, Rakestraw SL, Stringer C .
Readability of patient education materials for bariatric surgery.
Surg Endosc 2023 Aug; 37(8):6519-25. doi: 10.1007/s00464-023-10153-3..
Keywords: Surgery, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Obesity: Weight Management, Obesity, Health Literacy
Burstin H, Curry S, Ranney ML
AHRQ Author: Jain A
Identifying credible sources of health information in social media: phase 2-considerations for non-accredited nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and individual sources.
This paper (which included an AHRQ author) objective was to develop principles and attitudes to guide social media and other digital platforms to rigorously identify credible sources of health information. This paper was partially funded by YouTube. Phase 1 of this study was completed in 2021 by an expert advisory group convened by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) which yielded foundational principles and attributes for determining credibility of health information sources, but only for US sources. This paper describes Phase 2, which was carried out by a multidisciplinary, independent advisory committee convened by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) in collaboration with NAM and WHO and expanded from Phase 1 to include global sources. The Phase 2 advisory committee examined and deliberated on the three principles established during Phase 1 and their defining attributes in individual breakout groups. The focus was on one of three potential sources of credible health information: for-profit organizations, non-accredited nonprofit organizations, and individuals. A draft of the proposed new attributes, a related questionnaire and a preliminary draft of this paper was posted for public comment from September 9 to 19, 2022. A final virtual meeting was convened so the entire committee could discuss and incorporate feedback from the public comments. The principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) was identified as of sufficient importance to elevate it as a new principle. A table showing the four principles and the attributes for each of the sources is included.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Burstin H, Curry S, Ranney ML .
Identifying credible sources of health information in social media: phase 2-considerations for non-accredited nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and individual sources.
NAM Perspect 2023 May 23; 2023. doi: 10.31478/202305b..
Keywords: Social Media, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Carroll AR, Schlundt D, Bonnet K
Caregiver and clinician perspectives on discharge medication counseling: a qualitative study.
This study’s objective was to explore the perspectives of multidisciplinary clinicians and caregivers regarding discharge medication counseling for children and to develop a conceptual model to inform intervention efforts to reduce discharge medication dosing errors. The authors conducted a qualitative analysis using results from focus groups and individual interviews with 17 caregivers and 16 clinicians. Domains and subthemes included: (1) infrastructure of healthcare delivery, including supplies for counseling, content and organization of discharge instructions, clinician training and education, roles and responsibilities of team members, and hospital pharmacy delivery and counseling program; (2) processes of healthcare delivery, including medication reconciliation, counseling content, counseling techniques, and language barriers and health literacy; and (3) measurable outcomes, including medication dosing accuracy and caregiver understanding and adherence to discharge instructions. The conceptual model that resulted from this analysis can be applied to the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce discharge medication dosing errors following a hospitalization.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Carroll AR, Schlundt D, Bonnet K .
Caregiver and clinician perspectives on discharge medication counseling: a qualitative study.
Hosp Pediatr 2023 Apr; 13(4):325-42. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2022-006937..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medication, Hospital Discharge, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Caregiving
Conley CC, Wernli KJ, Knerr S
Using protection motivation theory to predict intentions for breast cancer risk management: intervention mechanisms from a randomized controlled trial.
The objective of this study was to evaluate direct and indirect effects of a web-based, Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)-informed education and decision support tool for risk-reducing medication and breast MRI among women with high risk of breast cancer. Findings indicated that PMT-informed intervention effected behavioral intentions. No direct intervention effect on intentions for risk-reducing medication or MRI were found, but there were significant indirect effects on risk-reducing medication intentions via perceived risk, self-efficacy, and response efficacy, and on MRI intentions via perceived risk and response efficacy, The authors suggested that future research should extend these findings from intentions to behavior.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Conley CC, Wernli KJ, Knerr S .
Using protection motivation theory to predict intentions for breast cancer risk management: intervention mechanisms from a randomized controlled trial.
J Cancer Educ 2023 Feb; 38(1):292-300. doi: 10.1007/s13187-021-02114-y..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Risk, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Barlow SE, Yudkin J, Nelson V
Dynamo Kids!/¡Niños Dinámicos! A web site for pediatric primary care providers to offer parents of children 6-12 years old with overweight and obesity: web site development and protocol for pilot study.
The purpose of this study will be to determine whether a self-guided web site offered by pediatric primary care providers could assist parents with applying healthy behaviors. If successful, a large, controlled study may be conducted to further assess. The Dynamo Kids/¡Niños Dinámicos program was created with feedback from parents and health care professionals, developing a bilingual site for parents to about healthy behavior changes for their children and how to implement them. Electronic health record modifications alert providers to qualified children at well-child encounters. Parents complete online surveys before entering the site. In month 3 of the study, the practitioners will examine children in weight-focused appointments. Outcomes include change in Family Nutrition and Physical Activity parent survey score (primary) and change in child relative BMI (secondary). Additional data include time spent on site, provider surveys, and provider and parent interviews.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Barlow SE, Yudkin J, Nelson V .
Dynamo Kids!/¡Niños Dinámicos! A web site for pediatric primary care providers to offer parents of children 6-12 years old with overweight and obesity: web site development and protocol for pilot study.
J Pediatr Health Care 2023 Jan-Feb; 37(1):17-24. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2022.09.003..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Primary Care, Obesity, Obesity: Weight Management, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Family Health and History