National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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 14 of 14 Research Studies DisplayedVu JV, Gunaseelan V, Dimick JB
Mechanisms of age and race differences in receiving minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair.
Black patients and older adults are less likely to receive minimally invasive hernia repair. In this study, the investigators explored the association between race, age, and surgeon utilization of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) with the likelihood of receiving MIS inguinal hernia repair. The investigators concluded that race differences were explained by surgeon MIS utilization, implicating access to MIS-performing surgeon as a mediator. Conversely, age disparity was independent of MIS utilization, even after adjusting for comorbidities, indicating some degree of provider bias against performing MIS repair in older patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS025778.
Citation: Vu JV, Gunaseelan V, Dimick JB .
Mechanisms of age and race differences in receiving minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair.
Surg Endosc 2019 Dec;33(12):4032-37. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-06695-0..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Surgery, Elderly, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization
Goins RT, Jones J, Schure M
Type 2 diabetes management among older American Indians: beliefs, attitudes, and practices.
This study’s purpose was to examine beliefs, attitudes, and practices of older Native Americans regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management. This disease is one the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among Native Americans, and they are twice as likely to have T2DM, and over three times the mortality rate from T2DM as Whites. Semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 participants with a mean age of 73 years, with 57% female. Participants’ mean confidence score of their T2DM management was 8.0 on a scale of 1 to 10 and their mean Hb1Ac was 7.3.%. Overall 5 themes were discussed: sociocultural factors, causes and consequences, cognitive and affective assessment, diet and exercise, and medical management.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Goins RT, Jones J, Schure M .
Type 2 diabetes management among older American Indians: beliefs, attitudes, and practices.
Ethn Health 2020 Nov;25(8):1055-71. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2018.1493092..
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Patient Self-Management, Care Management
McKellar MS, Kuchibhatla MN, Oursler KAK
Racial differences in change in physical functioning in older male veterans with HIV.
Little is known about longitudinal change in physical functioning of older African American/Black and White HIV-infected persons. In this study, the investigators examined up to 10 years of data on African American and White men with HIV infection and comparable HIV-negative men age 50-91 years from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study Survey sample.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112; HS023464; HS023258.
Citation: McKellar MS, Kuchibhatla MN, Oursler KAK .
Racial differences in change in physical functioning in older male veterans with HIV.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2019 Nov/Dec;35(11-12):1034-43. doi: 10.1089/aid.2018.0296..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Health Status, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Elderly, Men's Health
Vadlamani A, Perry JA, McCunn M
Racial differences in discharge location after a traumatic brain injury among older adults.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to determine if there were racial differences in discharge location among older adults treated for traumatic brain injury (TBI) at a level 1 trauma center. The authors concluded that in this group of Medicare-eligible older adults, blacks were more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation compared to whites.
AHRQ-funded; HS024560.
Citation: Vadlamani A, Perry JA, McCunn M .
Racial differences in discharge location after a traumatic brain injury among older adults.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2019 Sep;100(9):1622-28. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.03.008.
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Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Brain Injury, Trauma, Elderly, Hospital Discharge, Rehabilitation, Medicare
Gorges RJ, Sanghavi P, Konetzka RT
A national examination of long-term care setting, outcomes, and disparities among elderly dual eligibles.
The authors investigated the outcomes of expanding Medicaid funding for long-term care home and community-based services (HCBS). Using national Medicaid claims data on older adults enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, they found that overall hospitalization rates were similar for HCBS and nursing facility users. They concluded that home and community-based services need to be carefully targeted to avoid adverse outcomes and that the racial/ethnic disparities in access to high-quality institutional long-term care are also present in HCBS.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Gorges RJ, Sanghavi P, Konetzka RT .
A national examination of long-term care setting, outcomes, and disparities among elderly dual eligibles.
Health Aff 2019 Jul;38(7):1110-18. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05409..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicaid, Medicare, Long-Term Care, Home Healthcare, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Schure M, Goins RT, Jones J
Dietary beliefs and management of older American Indians with type 2 diabetes.
This qualitative study examined dietary-related beliefs and self-management among older American Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The investigators concluded that American Indian older adults face a variety of challenges to dietary management of T2DM. The investigators suggested that future research efforts can focus on assessing how social support can be leveraged to facilitate healthy diets for American Indians with T2DM.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Schure M, Goins RT, Jones J .
Dietary beliefs and management of older American Indians with type 2 diabetes.
J Nutr Educ Behav 2019 Jul-Aug;51(7):826-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2018.11.007..
Keywords: Elderly, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Nutrition, Patient Self-Management
Bravo RI, Kietzman KG, Toy P
Linking primary care and community organizations to increase colorectal cancer screening rates: the HAPPI project.
This paper describes the Healthy Aging Partnerships in Prevention Initiative (HAPPI) which aims to increase colorectal cancer screening and other preventive services among underserved Latinos and African-Americans in South Los Angeles who are 50 years and older. It uses an evidence-based model (SPARC) to leverage existing resources and has multi-sectoral partnerships among different agencies, community health centers (CHCs), and a university. The authors engaged five CHCs in quality improvement activities and eight non-governmental organizations in networking and programming to increase awareness of these preventive services.
AHRQ-funded; HS010858.
Citation: Bravo RI, Kietzman KG, Toy P .
Linking primary care and community organizations to increase colorectal cancer screening rates: the HAPPI project.
Salud Publica Mex 2019 Jul-Aug;61(4):427-35. doi: 10.21149/9450..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Vulnerable Populations, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Fabius CD, Thomas KS
Examining black-white disparities among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living settings in 2014.
The purpose of this study examined racial differences among a national cohort of assisted living (AL) residents and how the racial variation among AL Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries compared to differences among community-dwelling and nursing home cohorts. Using the Medicare Master Summary Beneficiary File, researchers found that black patients were disproportionately represented in AL, younger, more likely to be Medicaid eligible, had higher levels of acuity, and more often lived in ALs with fewer whites and more patients with dual eligibility. Further, new black residents entered AL with higher rates of acute care hospitalizations and skilled nursing facility utilization. Further research is recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Fabius CD, Thomas KS .
Examining black-white disparities among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living settings in 2014.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Jun;20(6):703-09. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.032..
Keywords: Disparities, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Hoover DS, Pappadis MR, Housten AJ
Preferences for communicating about breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse older women.
The purpose of this study was to examine preferences for communicating about screening mammography among racially/ethnically diverse older women. Through in-depth interviews, findings revealed that older women desire information about the benefits and harms of screening mammography and would prefer to learn this information through discussions with healthcare providers and multiple other formats. Results were consistent regardless of participants' age, race/ethnicity, or education.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Hoover DS, Pappadis MR, Housten AJ .
Preferences for communicating about breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse older women.
Health Commun 2019 Jun;34(7):702-06. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1431026..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Elderly, Women, Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Screening
Chan B, Goldman LE, Sarkar U
High perceived social support and hospital readmissions in an older multi-ethnic, limited English proficiency, safety-net population.
This study examined the association between perceived social support and 30-day hospital readmission or death in older adults. The study used the cohort from the Support From Hospital to Home for Elders (SHHE) trial. Participants were English, Chinese and Spanish-speaking adults living in the community who were admitted to wards at an urban safety-net hospital in San Francisco. Overall readmission or death rate was 15%. Participants had a mean age of 66.2 with the majority being Asian (31.9%), then Black (24.8%), Latino (19.3%) and White (18.8%). Researchers found that those with high social support had half the odds of admission or death than those with low social support. The protection however seemed true only among minorities, and seemed to have the opposite effect among whites.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Chan B, Goldman LE, Sarkar U .
High perceived social support and hospital readmissions in an older multi-ethnic, limited English proficiency, safety-net population.
BMC Health Serv Res 2019 May 24;19(1):334. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4162-6..
Keywords: Communication, Cultural Competence, Elderly, Hospital Readmissions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Fabius CD, Robison J
Differences in living arrangements among older adults transitioning into the community: examining the impact of race and choice.
The federal Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration program allows nursing home residents to use Medicaid funds for home and community-based services rather than institutional care. Race, choice in housing, and challenges faced prior to transitioning may impact living arrangements following a discharge into the community. This study examined the influence of these factors on living arrangements for 659 program participants age 65 or older.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Fabius CD, Robison J .
Differences in living arrangements among older adults transitioning into the community: examining the impact of race and choice.
J Appl Gerontol 2019 Apr;38(4):454-78. doi: 10.1177/0733464816687496..
Keywords: Elderly, Transitions of Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicaid, Nursing Homes, Home Healthcare, Healthcare Delivery
Mahalingam M, Moore Jx, Donnelly JP
Frailty syndrome and risk of sepsis in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.
This study examined the association between frailty (weakness, exhaustion, and low physical activity) and the risk of sepsis in stroke patients. Data from the cohort study Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) was used. There was an associated increase in sepsis hospitalizations and 30-day case fatalities from sepsis in stroke patients with more frailty indicators.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Mahalingam M, Moore Jx, Donnelly JP .
Frailty syndrome and risk of sepsis in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.
J Intensive Care Med 2019 Apr;34(4):292-300. doi: 10.1177/0885066617715251..
Keywords: Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Risk, Sepsis, Stroke
Hong M, Casado BL, Lee SE
The intention to discuss advance care planning in the context of Alzheimer's disease among Korean Americans.
The authors examined the intention to discuss advance care planning (ACP) for a family member with Alzheimer's disease among Korean Americans. Path analyses were conducted on a cross-sectional convenience sample; age, gender, education, and knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and ACP were included as covariates. From their findings, the authors recommended promoting ACP among this population and designing educational interventions to address positive attitudes and subjective norms toward ACP.
AHRQ-funded; HS022947.
Citation: Hong M, Casado BL, Lee SE .
The intention to discuss advance care planning in the context of Alzheimer's disease among Korean Americans.
Gerontologist 2019 Mar 14;59(2):347-55. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnx211..
Keywords: Elderly, Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Shared Decision Making, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Baughman KR, Ludwick R, Jarjoura D
Advance care planning in skilled nursing facilities: a multisite examination of professional judgments.
Lack of advance care planning (ACP) may increase hospitalizations and impact the quality of life for skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents, especially African American residents who may be less likely to receive ACP discussions. In this study, the investigators examined the professional judgments of skilled nursing facility providers to see if race of SNF residents and providers, and risk for hospitalization for residents influenced professional judgments as to when ACP was needed.
AHRQ-funded; HS022162.
Citation: Baughman KR, Ludwick R, Jarjoura D .
Advance care planning in skilled nursing facilities: a multisite examination of professional judgments.
Gerontologist 2019 Mar 14;59(2):338-46. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnx129..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospitalization, Nursing Homes, Quality of Life, Racial and Ethnic Minorities