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 25 of 96 Research Studies DisplayedBarwise AK, Curtis S, Diedrich DA
Using artificial intelligence to promote equitable care for inpatients with language barriers and complex medical needs: clinical stakeholder perspectives.
The objectives of this planned qualitative study were to use machine learning predictive analytics to identify patients with language barriers and complex medical needs in order to prioritize them for in-person interpreters. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with clinicians, interpreters, and staff involved in caring for patients or organizing interpreters to understand perceived risks and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in this domain. Perceived risks included concerns about transparency, accuracy, redundancy, privacy, stigmatization among patients, alert fatigue, and supply-demand issues; perceived benefits included increased awareness of in-person interpreters, improved standard of care, and prioritization for interpreter utilization. They concluded that the use of AI to identify and prioritize patients for interpreter services has the potential to improve standard of care and address healthcare disparities among patients with language barriers.
AHRQ-funded; HS028475.
Citation: Barwise AK, Curtis S, Diedrich DA .
Using artificial intelligence to promote equitable care for inpatients with language barriers and complex medical needs: clinical stakeholder perspectives.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2024 Feb 16; 31(3):611-21. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocad224.
Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Disparities, Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication
DeSimone AK, Kapoor N, Lacson R
Impact of an automated closed-loop communication and tracking tool on the rate of recommendations for additional imaging in thoracic radiology reports.
The objectives of this retrospective, institutional review board-approved study set in academic quaternary care hospital were to assess the effects of feedback reports and the implementation of a closed-loop communication system based on rates of recommendations for additional imaging (RAIs) in thoracic radiology reports. A previously validated natural language processing tool was used to classify reports with an RAI. The results showed that feedback reports alone increased RAI rates; an IT intervention that promoted documentation of complete RAI in addition to feedback reports led to significant reductions in RAI rate, incomplete RAI, and improved overall completeness of radiology recommendations.
AHRQ-funded; HS029348.
Citation: DeSimone AK, Kapoor N, Lacson R .
Impact of an automated closed-loop communication and tracking tool on the rate of recommendations for additional imaging in thoracic radiology reports.
J Am Coll Radiol 2023 Aug; 20(8):781-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2023.05.004..
Keywords: Imaging, Health Information Technology (HIT), Communication
Cho Y, Yang R, Gong Y
Use of electronic communication with clinicians among cancer survivors: Health Information National Trend Survey in 2019 and 2020.
This study’s objective was to describe cancer survivors' use of electronic communication (e-communication) with clinicians and identify factors associated with their use, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a secondary analysis of cancer survivors (N = 1,482) from the combined Health Information National Trends Survey HINTS 5 Cycle 3 and Cycle 4. Survivors' use of e-communication was defined by at least one of four e-communication use behaviors in the previous 12 months. Cancer survivors had a 64% prevalence of e-communication use, with older adults (≥65 years old) were less likely to use e-communication. Survivors who were white, living in a metro area, diagnosed with breast cancer, seeking cancer-related information previously, or having a regular health care provider were more likely to use e-communication. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was marginally associated with the increased e-communication use when other variables were controlled.
AHRQ-funded; HS027846.
Citation: Cho Y, Yang R, Gong Y .
Use of electronic communication with clinicians among cancer survivors: Health Information National Trend Survey in 2019 and 2020.
Telemed J E Health 2023 Jun; 29(6):866-74. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0203..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Cancer, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK
Cross-sectional association of patient language and patient-provider language concordance with video telemedicine use among patients with limited English proficiency.
The surge in telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to address gaps in patient care, particularly for individuals with limited English proficiency. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patient language, patient-provider language alignment, and the type of telemedicine visit (video or phone consultation). The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using automated data from primary care telemedicine appointments scheduled between March 16, 2020, and October 31, 2020 within a comprehensive healthcare delivery system in Northern California. A total of 22,427 completed primary care telemedicine visits booked by 13,764 patients with limited English proficiency through the patient portal. The study examined the cross-sectional link between electronic health record-documented patient language (with Spanish as the reference) and patient-provider language concordance, considering patient demographics, technology access, and technology familiarity. RESULTS: The study found that among all scheduled appointments, 34.5% (n=7747) were video consultations. The three most common patient languages were Spanish (42.4%), Cantonese (16.9%), and Mandarin (10.3%). After adjusting for demographic and technology factors, video visit usage was higher for patients speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese, compared to Spanish-speaking patients, but lower for those who spoke Punjabi. Language concordance was linked to decreased video visit utilization and influenced the relationship between speaking Spanish, Cantonese, and Korean with video visit usage. Furthermore, for all language groups, patients with prior video visit experience were more likely to use video visits again.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189
Citation: Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK .
Cross-sectional association of patient language and patient-provider language concordance with video telemedicine use among patients with limited English proficiency.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Feb;38(3):633-40. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07887-6.
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Healthcare Delivery, COVID-19
Lieu TA, Warton EM, Levan C
Association of medical assistant-supported virtual rooming with successful video visit connections.
The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate medical assistant-supported virtual rooming for physician video visits to address the digital divide which exists in physician video visit availability and accessibility for patients who have lower socioeconomic status (SES), low English proficiency, or are African American or Black or Latino. The study found that of the 114,214 video visits with successful connections, 14.2% had low neighborhood SES, 3.6% needed interpreters, 20.1% were Latino, and 7.9% were African American or Black. African American or Black race, Latino ethnicity, needing an interpreter, and living in a low SES neighborhood were associated with a lower likelihood of connecting. The researchers concluded that medical assistant–supported virtual rooming was associated with successful video visit connections in this diverse population. High medical assistant supported rooming rates were associated with larger connection improvements for patients at higher risk of not connecting, including those with lower SES, of Latino ethnicity or African American or Black race, or needing interpreters.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189.
Citation: Lieu TA, Warton EM, Levan C .
Association of medical assistant-supported virtual rooming with successful video visit connections.
JAMA Intern Med 2022 Jun;182(6):680-82. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.1032..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Healthcare Delivery
McCarthy DM, Formella KT, Ou EZ
There's an app for that: teaching residents to communicate diagnostic uncertainty through a mobile gaming application.
The purpose of this study was to improve doctor-patient communication by assessing the utilization of a mobile application (app) for teaching physician communication skills about diagnostic uncertainty, obtaining feedback on app utilization, and evaluating the association between app use and mastery of skills. Emergency medicine resident physicians were randomized to receive immediate or delayed access to an educational curriculum focused on diagnostic uncertainty which included a web-based interactive model and an app. Only 31.2% of the 109 participants used the app, with senior residents more likely to use the app than junior residents. Researchers report that of those who used the app, reviews were positive, with 76% indicating the app facilitated their learning. The study found that in the trial there was no significant correlation between the utilization of the app and mastery of the communication skill. The researchers concluded that without mandated use and evidence of effectiveness, apps should not be offered to physicians as an educational option and training opportunity for improving communication skills.
AHRQ-funded; HS025651.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Formella KT, Ou EZ .
There's an app for that: teaching residents to communicate diagnostic uncertainty through a mobile gaming application.
Patient Educ Couns 2022 Jun;105(6):1463-69. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.09.038..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Jacobson CE, Heximer A, Olmeda-Barrientos R
Language accessibility of liver transplantation center websites.
This research letter describes an analysis of language accessibility of liver transplantation center websites. The authors surveyed patient-facing educational websites of all 140 active, accredited US liver transplantation centers. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia had websites. Inclusion criteria was that they were using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network website. They analyzed each website for non-English content. Excluded were websites from Puerto Rico, as Spanish is the predominant governmental language. A total of 23 states had no transplant websites with online materials in a second language, and 34 sites (24.3%) had resources other than English on their website. California had the highest number of centers with resources in a language other than English, followed by Texas and New York. Spanish was the most common language available at 100% of sites that had resources other than English, followed by Arabic at 38.9% and Mandarin Chinese at 38.9%. A total of 108 different languages were represented among 10 state websites.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Jacobson CE, Heximer A, Olmeda-Barrientos R .
Language accessibility of liver transplantation center websites.
Liver Transpl 2022 Apr; 28(4):722-24. doi: 10.1002/lt.26343..
Keywords: Transplantation, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Literacy
Lafferty M, Harrod M, Krein S
It's like sending a message in a bottle: a qualitative study of the consequences of one-way communication technologies in hospitals.
Researchers examined how physicians and nurses use available communication technologies and identify the implications for communication and patient care based on the theory of workarounds. They found that one-way communication technologies created an environment where workarounds could flourish. By placing results within the context of the theory of workarounds, they extended what is known about why and how workarounds develop, and they offered strategies to minimize workarounds' adverse effects. They concluded that two-way communication technologies could minimize workarounds and gaps in information exchange and could reduce unnecessary interruptions and the potential for adverse events.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021 Nov 25;28(12):2601-07. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab191.
Citation: Lafferty M, Harrod M, Krein S .
It's like sending a message in a bottle: a qualitative study of the consequences of one-way communication technologies in hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS022305..
Keywords: Hospitals, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Provider: Physician
Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK
Disparities in use of video telemedicine among patients with limited English proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors hypothesized that limited English proficiency (LEP) would be associated with lower video use compared with telephone, especially among patients without prior video visit experience. They found that one-third of patients with LEP scheduled a visit by video instead of telephone. Patients with LEP chose video less often than patients without LEP, even after adjusting for technology factors. However, among patients with prior video visit experience, no significant difference in video visit use by LEP was found.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189.
Citation: Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK .
Disparities in use of video telemedicine among patients with limited English proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Nov;4(11):e2133129. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.33129..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Disparities, Communication
Bowles EJA, O'Neill SC, Li T
Effect of a randomized trial of a web-based intervention on patient-provider communication about breast density.
This study evaluated a personalized web-based intervention between women and their providers designed to improve breast cancer risk communication. This randomized trial included women aged 40-69 years with 504 women in the control group and 492 women who used the intervention website. The website included information about breast density, personalized breast cancer risk, chemoprevention, and magnetic resonance imaging. Participants self-reported their communication about density with providers at 6 weeks and 12 months. Women in the intervention arm were 2.39 times more likely to report density communication at 6 weeks than the control arm. This effect persisted at 12 months. At 6 weeks the effect was only significant among women who reported versus those who did not report any previous density discussions. A quarter of women in each arm did not have a density conversation at any point during the study.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Bowles EJA, O'Neill SC, Li T .
Effect of a randomized trial of a web-based intervention on patient-provider communication about breast density.
J Womens Health 2021 Nov;30(11):1529-37. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0053.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982..
AHRQ-funded; HS022982..
Keywords: Communication, Women, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Calabrese SK, Lane SB, Caldwell A
Electronic dissemination of a web-based video promotes PrEP contemplation and conversation among US women engaged in care at Planned Parenthood.
This study evaluated the acceptability and impact of a web-based PrEP educational video among women (n = 126) by comparing two Planned Parenthood centers: one using a Web Video and the other using standard education tools. Most women reported the video helped them understand better what PrEP is (92%), how it works (93%), and how to take PrEP (92%). One month post-intervention, more women in the Web Video group reported a high level of comfort discussing PrEP with a provider (82% vs 48%) and commonly thinking about PrEP (36.% vs. 4%).
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Calabrese SK, Lane SB, Caldwell A .
Electronic dissemination of a web-based video promotes PrEP contemplation and conversation among US women engaged in care at Planned Parenthood.
AIDS Behav 2021 Aug;25(8):2483-500. doi: 10.1007/s10461-021-03210-2..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Sexual Health, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Promotion, Prevention, Health Information Technology (HIT), Communication, Women
Kandaswamy S, Pruitt Z, Kazi S
Clinician perceptions on the use of free-text communication orders.
The aim of this study was to investigate (1) why ordering clinicians use free-text orders to communicate medication information; (2) what risks physicians and nurses perceive when free-text orders are used for communicating medication information; and (3) how electronic health records (EHRs) could be improved to encourage the safe communication of medication information. The investigators concluded that clinicians' use of free-text orders as a workaround to insufficient structured order entry can create unintended patient safety risks.
AHRQ-funded; HS025136; HS024755.
Citation: Kandaswamy S, Pruitt Z, Kazi S .
Clinician perceptions on the use of free-text communication orders.
Appl Clin Inform 2021 May;12(3):484-94. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731002..
Keywords: Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Medication: Safety, Medication, Patient Safety, Communication, Provider: Clinician, Provider, Risk
Patel M, Cadzinski AJ, Bell AM
Interprofessional consultations (eConsults) in urology.
This study examined the implementation of an asynchronous form of telehealth called eConsult which is used by primary care providers to consult with a specialist in place of an in-person consultation. The use of eConsult in the practice of urology was analyzed at four academic institutions: University of Michigan, University of California-San Francisco, University of Washington, and Montefiore Medical Center. Data looked at was eConsult conversion rate (to an in-person consultation), response time, completion time, and diagnosis categories. Out of a total of 462 urological eConsults requested, 36% were converted to a traditional in-person visit. Among resolved eConsults, 53.8% were addressed in less than 1 day; 28.6% in 1 day, 8.4% in 2 days, 3.4% in 3 days; 3.4% in 4 days, 1.7% in 5 days, and 0.8% in 6 days or more. Half were completed in 1-10 minutes; 46.7% in 11-20 minutes, 2.8% in 21-39 minutes, and less than 1% in 31 minutes or more.
AHRQ-funded; HS027632.
Citation: Patel M, Cadzinski AJ, Bell AM .
Interprofessional consultations (eConsults) in urology.
Urol Pract 2021 May;8(3):321-27. doi: 10.1097/upj.0000000000000209..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Implementation
Legler S, Diehl M, Hilliard B
Evaluation of an intrahospital telemedicine program for patients admitted with COVID-19: mixed methods study.
This pilot study’s objective was to evaluate an intrahospital telemedicine program along with its impact on exposure risk and communication for patients admitted with COVID-19. Virtual care was the main primary exposure variable and patient characteristics, PPE use rates, and their association with virtual care were assessed. Out of 137 total patients in their primary analysis, 43 patients used virtual care. There were 82 inpatient days of use, and 401 inpatient days without use. Surveys of 41 patients and clinicians showed high rates of recommendation for further use. A significant reduction in PPE use and physical exam rate was associated with virtual care. However, there are limitations in usability, medical assessment, and empathetic communication.
AHRQ-funded; HS026732.
Citation: Legler S, Diehl M, Hilliard B .
Evaluation of an intrahospital telemedicine program for patients admitted with COVID-19: mixed methods study.
J Med Internet Res 2021 Apr 29;23(4):e25987. doi: 10.2196/25987..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Hospitals, Hospitalization, Communication, COVID-19
Krupp A, Di Martino M, Chung W
Communication and role clarity inform TeleICU use: a qualitative analysis of opportunities and barriers in an established program using AACN framework.
This study is a qualitative analysis of opportunities and barriers to tele-intensive care unit (teleICU) use. The authors sought to explore if novel ways to utilize teleICU services can emerge within an established, consulting-style teleICU model considering the program’s flexible, provider-driven operation. This study used semi-structured interviews from a convenience sample of ICU (n = 19) and teleICU (n = 13) nurses. Interviews were analyzed to identify themes that describe their experiences with teleICU using a deductive codebook developed from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) statement on teleICU nursing. Three themes identified by the nurses were: 1) unique teleICU knowledge, including systems thinking and technological skills, 2) the teleICU partnership supported quality improvement initiatives, and 3) elements of the work environment influenced perceptions of teleICU and its use. When effective communication and role clarity were not present, teleICU was variable.
AHRQ-funded; HS026372.
Citation: Krupp A, Di Martino M, Chung W .
Communication and role clarity inform TeleICU use: a qualitative analysis of opportunities and barriers in an established program using AACN framework.
BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Mar 25;21(1):277. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06287-6..
Keywords: Communication, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Kelly MM, Smith CA, Hoonakker PLT
Stakeholder perspectives in anticipation of sharing physicians' notes with parents of hospitalized children.
Researchers sought to elicit stakeholder perspectives on the anticipated benefits and challenges of sharing hospital physicians' admission and daily progress notes with parents at the bedside during their child's hospitalization and to identify strategies to aid implementation of inpatient note sharing. Focus groups with 34 stakeholders at a children's hospital were conducted. The researchers identified four anticipated benefits of sharing inpatient notes, five expected challenges, and three suggested implementation strategies.
Citation: Kelly MM, Smith CA, Hoonakker PLT .
Stakeholder perspectives in anticipation of sharing physicians' notes with parents of hospitalized children.
Acad Pediatr 2021 Mar;21(2):259-64. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.11.018..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Inpatient Care, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication
Rodriguez JA, Fossa A, Mishuris R
Bridging the language gap in patient portals: an evaluation of Google Translate.
Due to communication barriers, limited English-proficient (LEP) patients face challenges in the healthcare system. Given the language divide, the investigators sought to assess the use of Google Translate (GT) in the clinical setting and compare its efficacy to traditional human translation of patient messages. The investigators translated the messages to English using a professional translator and GT and created a series of clinical comprehension questions based on the message content.
AHRQ-funded; HS021495.
Citation: Rodriguez JA, Fossa A, Mishuris R .
Bridging the language gap in patient portals: an evaluation of Google Translate.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Feb;36(2):567-69. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05719-z..
Keywords: Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Brown W, Balyan R, Karter AJ
Challenges and solutions to employing natural language processing and machine learning to measure patients' health literacy and physician writing complexity: the ECLIPPSE study.
In the National Library of Medicine-funded ECLIPPSE Project (Employing Computational Linguistics to Improve Patient-Provider Secure Emails exchange), the researchers attempted to create novel, valid, and scalable measures of both patients' health literacy (HL) and physicians' linguistic complexity by employing natural language processing techniques and machine learning. They identified 23 challenges and associated approaches that emerged from three overarching process domains. They suggested that investigators undertaking similar research in HL or using computational linguistic methods to assess patient-clinician exchange may find their solutions helpful when designing and executing health communications research.
Citation: Brown W, Balyan R, Karter AJ .
Challenges and solutions to employing natural language processing and machine learning to measure patients' health literacy and physician writing complexity: the ECLIPPSE study.
AHRQ-funded; HS026383..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication
Aronson PL, Politi MC, Schaeffer P
Development of an app to facilitate communication and shared decision-making with parents of febrile infants ≤ 60 days old.
This study’s aim was to develop and test a tool to engage parents of febrile infants 60 days or less of age evaluated in the emergency department (ED). The tool was designed to improve communication between parents and healthcare providers and to support shared decision-making (SDM) about whether to perform a lumbar puncture (LP) for infants 29 to 60 days of age. The authors conducted a multi-phase development and testing process including individual, semi-structured interviews with parents and clinicians; design of a “storyboard” of the tool with design impression testing; development of a software application prototype called e-Care; and usability testing of e-Care using qualitative assessment and the System Usability Scale (SUS). The authors interviewed 27 parents and 23 clinicians. After the interviews, they developed separate versions of e-Care for infants aged 28 days or less and 29 to 60 days of age in both English and Spanish. e-Care is divided into 4 sections: 1) homepage; 2) why testing is done; 3) what tests are done; and 4) what happens after testing. The mean SUS score given by parents and clinicians was 90.3 representing “excellent” usability.
AHRQ-funded; HS026006.
Citation: Aronson PL, Politi MC, Schaeffer P .
Development of an app to facilitate communication and shared decision-making with parents of febrile infants ≤ 60 days old.
Acad Emerg Med 2021 Jan;28(1):46-59. doi: 10.1111/acem.14082..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Newborns/Infants, Caregiving, Shared Decision Making, Patient and Family Engagement, Emergency Department, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Howland C, Despins L, Sindt J
Primary care clinic nurse activities with a telehealth monitoring system.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the types of nursing activities and communication processes reported in a primary care clinic between patients using a home-based monitoring system to electronically communicate self-monitored blood glucose and blood pressure values and those assuming usual care. Significant differences were identified for the direct care nursing activities of providing lifestyle and health education, medication adjustments, and patient follow-up, providing evidence of greater nursing activity reported in a primary care clinic in patients who utilized a home-based monitoring system.
AHRQ-funded; HS017035.
Citation: Howland C, Despins L, Sindt J .
Primary care clinic nurse activities with a telehealth monitoring system.
West J Nurs Res 2021 Jan;43(1):5-12. doi: 10.1177/0193945920923082..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Blood Pressure, Primary Care, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Patient Self-Management, Nursing, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Diabetes
Thate JA, Couture B, Schnock KO
Information needs and the use of documentation to support collaborative decision-making: implications for the reduction of central line-associated blood stream infections.
It is clear that interdisciplinary communication and collaboration have the potential to mitigate healthcare-associated harm, yet there is limited research on how communication through documentation in the patient record can support collaborative decision making. Understanding what information is needed to support collaborative decision making is necessary to design electronic health information systems that facilitate effective communication and, ultimately, safe care. To explore this issue, the investigators focused on information needs related to central venous catheter management and the prevention of central line-associated blood stream infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS0235335.
Citation: Thate JA, Couture B, Schnock KO .
Information needs and the use of documentation to support collaborative decision-making: implications for the reduction of central line-associated blood stream infections.
Comput Inform Nurs 2020 Nov 2;39(4):208-14. doi: 10.1097/cin.0000000000000683..
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Shared Decision Making, Communication, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Nursing
Rogith D, Satterly T, Singh H
Application of human factors methods to understand missed follow-up of abnormal test results.
This study demonstrated application of human factors methods for understanding causes for lack of timely follow-up of abnormal test results ("missed results") in outpatient settings. The investigators identified 30 cases of missed test results by querying electronic health record data, developed a critical decision method based interview guide to understand decision-making processes, and interviewed physicians who ordered these tests. They analyzed transcribed responses, developed a CI-based flow model, and conducted a fault tree analysis to identify hierarchical relationships between factors that delayed action.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087; HS022901.
Citation: Rogith D, Satterly T, Singh H .
Application of human factors methods to understand missed follow-up of abnormal test results.
Appl Clin Inform 2020 Oct;11(5):692-98. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1716537..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Shared Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication
McAlearney AS, Walker DM, Gaughan A
Helping patients be better patients: a qualitative study of perceptions about inpatient portal use.
This qualitative study looked at perceptions about inpatient portal use and its impact on patient experience and the care process. The authors interviewed 120 patients and 433 care team members across a seven-hospital academic medical center that offers an inpatient portal to hospitalized patients. Care team members felt the inpatient portal helped patients be “better patients” by improving their ability to be informed about their health and enabling them to be more involved in the care process. The care team members suggested portal use could be improved by addressing challenges with tablet administration, use of the patient education feature, and the functionality of the scheduling feature.
AHRQ-funded; HS024379; HS024091.
Citation: McAlearney AS, Walker DM, Gaughan A .
Helping patients be better patients: a qualitative study of perceptions about inpatient portal use.
Telemed J E Health 2020 Sep;26(9):1184-87. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2019.0198..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Inpatient Care, Hospitals
Liu LH, Garrett SB, Li J
Patient and clinician perspectives on a patient-facing dashboard that visualizes patient reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.
The authors’ goal was to develop a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 'dashboard' that could facilitate conversations about patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and that would be acceptable to a wide range of patients, including English and Spanish speakers and patients with adequate or limited health literacy. Using focus groups and principles of human-centered design, they created an RA dashboard that was well-accepted among patients and clinicians. They indicated that the ability to customize the data display was important for tailoring the dashboard to patients with diverse needs and preferences, with special attention to be given to feasibility concerns voiced by clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS025405.
Citation: Liu LH, Garrett SB, Li J .
Patient and clinician perspectives on a patient-facing dashboard that visualizes patient reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.
Health Expect 2020 Aug;23(4):846-59. doi: 10.1111/hex.13057..
Keywords: Arthritis, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Health Literacy
McDonald A, Francis L, Crouch BI
Legal aspects of information sharing and communication by poison centers in the United States.
This narrative review analyzes both typical activities and emerging innovations of poison control centers in relation to U.S. law and regulation regarding privacy, specifically the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Text message exchanges present particularly difficult privacy challenges under these laws.
AHRQ-funded; HS021472.
Citation: McDonald A, Francis L, Crouch BI .
Legal aspects of information sharing and communication by poison centers in the United States.
Clin Toxicol 2020 Jul;58(7):669-75. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2019.1705478..
Keywords: Communication, Policy, Health Information Technology (HIT)