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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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedJenkins JL, Hsu EB, Zhang A
Current evidence for infection prevention and control interventions in emergency medical services: a scoping review.
This study’s aim was to summarize current evidence from the United States on the effectiveness of practices and interventions for preventing, recognizing, and controlling occupationally acquired infectious diseases in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) clinicians. A database search was conducted for literature published January 2006 through March 15, 2022 to search for studies in the United States that involved EMS clinicians and firefighters, reported on one or more workplace practices or interventions that prevented or controlled infectious diseases, and included outcome measures. Eleven observational studies reported on infection prevention and control (IPC) practices providing evidence that hand hygiene, standard precautions, mandatory vaccine policies, and on-site vaccine clinics are effective. Less frequent handwashing and less frequent hand hygiene after glove use were positively correlated with nasal colonization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) or PPE breach were correlated with higher severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity and virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity. Workers were more likely to be vaccinated against influenza if their employer offered the vaccine. Vaccination rates for H1N1 influenza increased with the use of active, targeted education modules.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00003.
Citation: Jenkins JL, Hsu EB, Zhang A .
Current evidence for infection prevention and control interventions in emergency medical services: a scoping review.
Prehosp Disaster Med 2023 Jun; 38(3):371-77. doi: 10.1017/s1049023x23000389..
Keywords: COVID-19, Emergency Department, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Adams C, Peterson SR, Hall AJ
Associations of infection control measures and norovirus outbreak outcomes in healthcare settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review/meta-analysis’ goal was to assess associations between norovirus outbreak control measures and outcomes in hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCFs), globally. The authors identified 102 papers describing 162 norovirus outbreaks. Control measures were reportedly implemented in 118 (73%) outbreaks and were associated with 0.6 times smaller patient case counts and 0.7 times shorter durations in hospitals but 1.5, 1.5 and 1.6 times larger overall, resident and staff case counts, respectively, and 1.4 times longer durations in LTCFs. The paper concluded that control measures were likely implemented in response to larger/longer outbreaks in LTCFs rather than causing them, while hospitals’ preemptive control measures resulted in smaller/shorter outbreaks.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Adams C, Peterson SR, Hall AJ .
Associations of infection control measures and norovirus outbreak outcomes in healthcare settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2022 Feb;20(2):279-90. doi: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1949985..
Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Public Health, Evidence-Based Practice
Chou R, Dana T, Jungbauer R
Masks for prevention of respiratory virus infections, including SARS-CoV-2, in health care and community settings : a living rapid review.
This study examined the effectiveness of N95, surgical, and cloth masks in community and health care settings for preventing respiratory virus infections, including coronavirus. The effects of reuse or extended use of N95 masks was also studied. The authors used multiple electronic databases, including the World Health Organization COVID-19 database and medRxiv preprint server (2003 through 2020), and reference lists. Randomized trials of masks and risks for respiratory virus infection were included. The studies were abstracted and methodological limitations were assessed by one reviewer, with a second reviewer providing verification. Thirty-nine studies with 33,867 participants were included. No studies were found that evaluated reuse or extended use of N95 masks. The studies showed that COVID-19 and MERS probably decreased with use versus nonuse and possibly decreased with N95 versus surgical mask use. Random trials in community settings found not much difference between N95 versus surgical masks. The studies’ findings were not definitive.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500009I.
Citation: Chou R, Dana T, Jungbauer R .
Masks for prevention of respiratory virus infections, including SARS-CoV-2, in health care and community settings : a living rapid review.
Ann Intern Med 2020 Oct 6;173(7):542-55. doi: 10.7326/m20-3213..
Keywords: COVID-19, Respiratory Conditions, Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Public Health, Evidence-Based Practice
Bartsch SM, O'Shea KJ, Ferguson MC
Vaccine efficacy needed for a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine to prevent or stop an epidemic as the sole intervention.
This study examined the needed efficacy and coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine to prevent or stop the pandemic. Simulation experiments were conducted at 60-80% efficacy rates. At 60% efficacy, vaccination coverage needs to be 100%. If the coverage rate is reduced to 75%, the efficacy needs to be 70% and up to 80% when coverage drops to 60%. These findings show that the vaccine needs to have at least an efficacy rate of 70% to prevent an epidemic and at least 80% to extinguish an epidemic without any other measures such as social distancing.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Bartsch SM, O'Shea KJ, Ferguson MC .
Vaccine efficacy needed for a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine to prevent or stop an epidemic as the sole intervention.
Am J Prev Med 2020 Oct;59(4):493-503. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.06.011..
Keywords: Vaccination, COVID-19, Public Health, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Infectious Diseases
Livingston CJ, Allison RD, Niebuhr DW
AHRQ Author: Niebuhr DW
Preventive medicine physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 6|18 Initiative.
This paper describes the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work done as part of the cooperative 5-year agreement called the 6|18 Initiative to improve population health through primary care and public health integration. This initiative is called 6|18 because its’ aim was to target six common and high-cost health behaviors/conditions with 18 proven interventions. CDC created three different buckets to describe the preventions. The six health behaviors/conditions targeted included reducing tobacco use, control high blood pressure, improve antibiotic use, control asthma, prevent unintended pregnancy, and prevent type 2 diabetes. The initiative aligned recommendations from national and professional societies and focused the guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). After six telephone-moderated discussions of the authors, three themes were developed as to how physicians may perceive the 6|18 interventions. The problems included lack of knowledge/awareness, variations in financial incentives and operational challenges such as time constraints.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Livingston CJ, Allison RD, Niebuhr DW .
Preventive medicine physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 6|18 Initiative.
Am J Prev Med 2019 Jul;57(1):127-33. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.02.014..
Keywords: Prevention, Primary Care, Public Health, Evidence-Based Practice, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Guidelines, Chronic Conditions
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