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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 209 Research Studies DisplayedKovacevic M, Montes M, Tirone V
Treating a common comorbidity: pain outcomes following a 3-week cognitive processing therapy-based intensive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder address.
This study examined changes in pain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms among 125 veterans completing a 3-week cognitive processing therapy (CPT)-based intensive treatment program (ITP) for PTSD. The authors explored whether pretreatment pain interference predicted changes in PTSD and depressive symptom severity and whether larger changes in pain interference over the course of treatment were associated with larger changes in PTSD and depressive symptom severity. Higher levels of pretreatment pain interference were associated with higher PTSD, and depressive symptom severity, over time. Larger reductions in pain interference corresponded to more improvement in PTSD symptoms, but not depressive symptoms.
AHRQ-funded; HS028511.
Citation: Kovacevic M, Montes M, Tirone V .
Treating a common comorbidity: pain outcomes following a 3-week cognitive processing therapy-based intensive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder address.
J Trauma Stress 2024 Feb; 37(1):47-56. doi: 10.1002/jts.22979.
Keywords: Pain, Behavioral Health, Outcomes, Chronic Conditions
Shapiro HFJ, Loder E, Shapiro DJ
Association between clinician specialty and prescription of preventive medication for young adults with migraine: a retrospective cohort study.
The purpose of this multicenter retrospective cohort study was to compare prescribing patterns of preventive medications between pediatric and adult neurologists for young adults with migraine. The primary study outcome was whether the patient received a prescription for any preventive medication during the study period. Among the 767 included patients, 37.8% were seen by a pediatric neurologist. Preventive medications were prescribed for 45.2% of patients seen by a pediatric neurologist and 43.2% of patients seen by an adult neurologist. In the mixed effects logistic regression model, clinician specialty was not related with preventive medication use Female sex and number of visits during the study period were related with receiving preventive medication. The study concluded that proportion of young adults being prescribed migraine medications did not differ according to clinician specialty.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Shapiro HFJ, Loder E, Shapiro DJ .
Association between clinician specialty and prescription of preventive medication for young adults with migraine: a retrospective cohort study.
Headache 2023 Oct; 63(9):1232-39. doi: 10.1111/head.14628..
Keywords: Young Adults, Medication, Pain, Neurological Disorders
Somohano VC, Smith CL, Saha S
Patient-provider shared decision-making, trust, and opioid misuse among US veterans prescribed long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain.
This article examined the role that trust in a prescribing provider has on shared decision-making and opioid misuse in opioid-specific pain management. A secondary analysis of data from a prospective cohort study was conducted of US Veterans (N = 1273) prescribed long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic non-cancer pain. Patient-provider shared decision-making had a total significant effect on opioid misuse, in the absence of the mediator, such that higher levels of shared decision-making were associated with lower levels of reported opioid misuse. When trust in provider was added to the mediation model, the indirect effect of shared decision-making on opioid misuse through trust in provider remained significant.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Somohano VC, Smith CL, Saha S .
Patient-provider shared decision-making, trust, and opioid misuse among US veterans prescribed long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Sep; 38(12):2755-60. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08212-5..
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Bongiovanni T, Pletcher MJ, Lau C
A behavioral intervention to promote use of multimodal pain medication for hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has become a foundational strategy to decrease the use of opioids, but data is lacking to describe recommending utilization when admitting patients using electronic health record systems. The purpose of this study was to assess an electronic health record system to increase ordering of NSAIDs for hospitalized adults. The researchers conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of clinicians admitting adult patients to a health system over a period of 9-months. Clinicians in the intervention arm were required to actively order or decline NSAIDs; the control arm was provided the same order but without a required response. A total of 20,085 hospitalizations were included. The study found that among the hospitalizations, 52% were admitted by a clinician randomized to the intervention arm. NSAIDs were ordered in 22% of the interventions and 22% of the control admissions. There were no statistically significant differences in NSAID administration, pain scores, or opioid prescribing. There were no differences in clinical harms, with average pain scores of 3.36 in the control group and 3.39 in the intervention group, on a scale of 0-5.
AHRQ-funded; HS026383.
Citation: Bongiovanni T, Pletcher MJ, Lau C .
A behavioral intervention to promote use of multimodal pain medication for hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial.
J Hosp Med 2023 Aug; 18(8):685-92. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13153..
Keywords: Pain, Opioids, Medication, Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns
Kim HS, Strickland KJ, Seitz AL
Patient perspectives on seeking emergency care for acute low back pain and access to physical therapy in the emergency department.
This study’s purpose was to explore patient perspectives on visiting the emergency department (ED) for low back pain to inform a more patient-centered approach to emergency care. The authors conducted focus group discussions and individual interviews among patients visiting an urban academic ED for acute low back pain. They recruited participants from an ongoing prospective study of 101 patients receiving either ED-initiated physical therapy or usual care. They conducted 4 focus group discussions among 18 participants (median age 46.5 years, 66.7% women, 61.1% Black) and individual interviews with 27 participants (median age 45 years, 55.6% women, 44.4% White). They identified 5 summary themes: (1) the decision to seek emergency care for low back pain is motivated by severe pain, resulting disability, and fears about a catastrophic diagnosis, (2) participants sought various goals from their ED visit but emphasized the primacy of pain control, (3) participants were reluctant to use pain medications but also acknowledged their benefit, (4) participants perceived a number of benefits from direct access to an ED physical therapist in the ED, and (5) participation in physical therapy ultimately facilitated recovery, but the pain was a barrier to performing exercises.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011; HS027426.
Citation: Kim HS, Strickland KJ, Seitz AL .
Patient perspectives on seeking emergency care for acute low back pain and access to physical therapy in the emergency department.
Ann Emerg Med 2023 Aug; 82(2):154-63. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.12.028..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Back Health and Pain, Pain
Ayers DC, Yousef M, Yang W
Age-related differences in pain, function, and quality of life following primary total knee arthroplasty: results from a FORCE-TJR (Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement) cohort.
The purpose of this prospective, multicenter cohort study was to evaluate the differences in pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) reported 1 year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) across varying age groups. The researchers preoperatively assessed 11,602 unilateral primary TKA patients, and collected demographic data, comorbid conditions, and patient-reported outcome measures including the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), KOOS-12, KOOS Joint Replacement, and Short-Form health survey (12-item) and then collected again at 1-year postoperatively. The study found that prior to surgery, patients less than 55 years reported worse KOOS pain (39), function (50), and QoL (18) scores with poor mental health score (47) than other older patient groups. At 1 year after TKA, patients less than 55 years reported lower KOOS pain, function, and QoL scores when compared to patients 75 years or older. The differences in score changes among the age groups were statistically significant but clinically irrelevant. Further statistical analyses revealed that age was a significant predictor for pain, but not for function at 1 year where KOOS pain score was predicted to be higher in patients 75 years or older when compared to patients less than 55 years of age.
AHRQ-funded; HS018910.
Citation: Ayers DC, Yousef M, Yang W .
Age-related differences in pain, function, and quality of life following primary total knee arthroplasty: results from a FORCE-TJR (Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement) cohort.
J Arthroplasty 2023 Jul; 38(7 Suppl 2):S169-S76. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.04.005..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Quality of Life, Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Pain
Ayers DC, Zheng H, Yang W
How back pain affects patient satisfaction after primary total knee arthroplasty.
This study looked at patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for patients with back pain (BP) who underwent total knee arthroscopy (TKA) surgery for pre- and postoperatively. This multicenter cohort study included 9,057 patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA who were enrolled in FORCE-TJ. Back pain (BP) intensity was assessed using the Oswestry back disability index (ODI) pain intensity questionnaire, with BP severity then classified into 4 categories. PROs were collected preoperatively and postoperatively after 1 year including the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (total score, pain, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Quality of Life (QOL), Short-Form health survey 36-item (SF-36) Physical Component Score (PCS), and Mental Component Score (MCS)). At 1 year a total of 18.3% TKA patients were dissatisfied. At the time of surgery, a total of 4,765 patients (52.6%) reported back pain, divided into mild BP (24.9%), moderate (20.3%), and severe (7.2%). Severe back pain was significantly associated with patient dissatisfaction at 1 year after TKA. The predictive variables for dissatisfaction include age [odds ratio (OR) for younger patients <65 years versus older patients ≥65 years], educational level [OR for post high school versus less], smoking [OR for nonsmoker versus current smoker)], and Charlson comorbidity index [OR for CCI ≥2 versus 0]. The authors recommend surgeons consider a spine evaluation in patients who have severe BP prior to TKA.
AHRQ-funded; HS018910.
Citation: Ayers DC, Zheng H, Yang W .
How back pain affects patient satisfaction after primary total knee arthroplasty.
J Arthroplasty 2023 Jun; 38(6s):S103-s08. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.03.072..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Pain, Pain, Patient Experience, Orthopedics, Surgery
Ganguli I, Ying W, Shakley T
Cascade services and spending following low-value imaging for uncomplicated low back pain among commercially insured adults.
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of low-value imaging on cascade services and spending in commercially-insured adults with uncomplicated acute low back pain. The researchers analyzed medical claims from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members aged 18-50 years who received a 2018 diagnosis of uncomplicated low back pain, for which imaging was considered inappropriate according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) criteria. In 2018, 30,892 members were eligible for low-value imaging. Of these, 6009 (19.5%) received low-value imaging: 5091 (16.5%) X-ray and 787 (2.5%) MRI. The study found that when compared to patients without low-value imaging, those with low-value X-ray or MRI had higher adjusted probabilities of receiving cascade services and greater adjusted total spending at 3, 6, and 12 months. These results were robust to falsification testing. Members with high deductible health plans (HDHP) had higher narrowly defined cascade-associated out-of-pocket spending than those in other plans. The most common sources of narrowly defined cascade-associated spending were physical therapy, office visits, radiology studies, laboratory studies, and surgery.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Mar;38(4):1102-05. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07829-2
Citation: Ganguli I, Ying W, Shakley T .
Cascade services and spending following low-value imaging for uncomplicated low back pain among commercially insured adults.
.
Keywords: Imaging, Back Health and Pain, Pain, Healthcare Costs
Parikh MA, Fabiyi C, Mistry KB
AHRQ Author: Fabiyi C, Mistry KB
Factors associated with postprocedure opioid prescribing and persistent opioid use among opioid-naive patients: A nationally representative sample.
This study’s objective was to examine factors associated with postprocedure opioid receipt and persistent opioid use among opioid-naive patients in a nationally representative sample. The authors used panels 18-20 in MEPS between the years 2013 and 2015. They found that younger age, Western location, and a high-school degree were associated with higher odds of postprocedure opioid receipt. Patients who had procedures in an inpatient, outpatient, and dental setting; or musculoskeletal diagnoses and injuries were more likely to have postprocedure opioid receipt. Persistent opioid use was associated with Midwest and Northeast location, musculoskeletal diagnosis, public insurance, and positive depression screening.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Parikh MA, Fabiyi C, Mistry KB .
Factors associated with postprocedure opioid prescribing and persistent opioid use among opioid-naive patients: A nationally representative sample.
Ann Surg 2022 Dec 1;276(6):e706-e13. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004630..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Pain
Carlile N, Fuller TE, Benneyan JC
Lessons learned in implementing a chronic opioid therapy management system.
This article describes a research collaborative of health service researchers, systems engineers, and clinicians that sought to improve processes for safer chronic opioid therapy management in an academic primary care center. The authors present implementation results and lessons learned along with an intervention toolkit that others may consider using within their organization. They designed, tested, and implemented two key safe opioid use process metrics-percent for patients with recent opioid treatment agreements and urine drug tests. Focus groups were conducted after the conclusion of the implementation. They found a general lack of knowledge regarding resources available to patients and prescribers in the primary care clinic. In addition, 69% of clinicians reported largely “inheriting” (rather than initiating) their chronic opioid therapy patients. They also tracked 68 patients over a 4-year period and found although process measures improved, full adherence was not achieved for the entire population. Barriers identified included team structure, the evolving opioid environment, and surveillance challenges, along with disruptions resulting from the 2019 novel coronavirus.
AHRQ-funded; HS024453.
Citation: Carlile N, Fuller TE, Benneyan JC .
Lessons learned in implementing a chronic opioid therapy management system.
J Patient Saf 2022 Dec 1;18(8):e1142-e49. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001039..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns
Bongiovanni T, Gan S, Finlayson E
Prolonged use of newly prescribed gabapentin after surgery.
This study investigated postoperative prolonged gabapentin use in adults 65 years and older. The authors merged a 20% sample of Medicare Carrier, MedPAR, and Outpatient Files with Part D for 2013-2018. They defined new postoperative gabapentin as fills for 7 days before surgery until 7 days after discharge. Overall, 3% of all eligible patients (n = 17,970) had a new prescription for gabapentin postsurgery. Out of those, the mean age was 73 years old and 62% were female. The most common surgeries that gabapentin was prescribed for was total knee (45%) and total hip (21%) replacements. Prolonged use occurred in 22% of patients, with women, non-White, those with concurrent prolonged opioid use, and patients having undergone emergency surgery more likely to have prolonged use.
Citation: Bongiovanni T, Gan S, Finlayson E .
Prolonged use of newly prescribed gabapentin after surgery.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2022 Dec;70(12):3560-69. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18005..
Keywords: Medication, Surgery, Pain, Elderly, Practice Patterns
Howard R, Gunaseelan V, Brummett C
New persistent opioid use after inguinal hernia repair.
The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to characterize the risk factors and incidence of new persistent use of opioids after inguinal hernia repair. During the study period of 208-2016, 59,795 patients met the inclusion criteria. The study found that 1.5% of patients continued filling their opioids prescriptions at least 3 months after their surgery. The greatest risk factor for developing new persistent opioid use after surgery was filling an opioid prescription in the 30 days before surgery. Other risk factors for new persistent opioid use after surgery included having a major postoperative complication, receiving a larger opioid prescription, having more comorbidities, and having certain mental health disorders or pain disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS025778.
Citation: Howard R, Gunaseelan V, Brummett C .
New persistent opioid use after inguinal hernia repair.
Ann Surg 2022 Nov 1;276(5):e577-e83. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004560..
Keywords: Opioids, Surgery, Medication, Pain
Pritchard KT, Baillargeon J, Lee WC
Trends in the use of opioids vs nonpharmacologic treatments in adults with pain, 2011-2019.
This serial cross-sectional analysis on trends in the use of prescription opioids and nonpharmacologic alternatives in treating pain used MEPS to estimate the use of outpatient services by cancer-free adults with chronic or surgical pain from 2011 to 2019. A total of unweighted 46,420 respondents, 9643 (20.4% weighted) received surgery and 36,777 (79.6% weighted) did not. The prevalence of nonpharmacologic treatments increased in 2019 for both chronic and surgical pain cohorts, especially with exclusive use compared with 2011. Chiropractors and physical therapists were the most common licensed healthcare professionals used among the cohort who used nonpharmacologic treatment.
AHRQ-funded; T32HS026133.
Citation: Pritchard KT, Baillargeon J, Lee WC .
Trends in the use of opioids vs nonpharmacologic treatments in adults with pain, 2011-2019.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Nov;5(11):e2240612. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.40612..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Treatments
Rogal SS, Chinman MJ, DeMonte W
Using intervention mapping to develop a novel pain self-management intervention for people with cirrhosis.
The purpose of this study was to design a pain self-management (PSM) intervention for patients with cirrhosis. The LEAP (Liver Education About Pain) intervention is a 12-week, modular intervention delivered by phone via individual and group sessions with a health coach. Participants described barriers to PSM behaviors, including the absence of simple, evidence-based interventions for pain for patients with cirrhosis, inadequate provider knowledge, time, and training, with lack of champions, funding, and communication. Patients described high motivation to treat pain using behavioral methods including meditation, prayer, and exercise. The intervention was designed to address barriers to PSM behaviors for patients with cirrhosis, using behavior change methods that address knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations.
AHRQ-funded; HS019461.
Citation: Rogal SS, Chinman MJ, DeMonte W .
Using intervention mapping to develop a novel pain self-management intervention for people with cirrhosis.
Dig Dis Sci 2022 Nov;67(11):5063-78. doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07380-4..
Keywords: Pain, Chronic Conditions, Patient Self-Management
Jackson P, Goodin BR, Long DL
The area deprivation index corresponds effectively with other measures of objective socioeconomic status in adults with chronic low back pain.
The purpose of this study was to compare the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and other measures of socioeconomic status (SES), including income, education, and subjective social status (SSS), in their ability to predict pain severity/ interference in patients with chronic low back pain. The study found that pain severity/ interference correlated negatively with income and education and correlated positively with ADI. Criterion scores of the pain severity model indicate income performs best followed by ADI, with similar results with the pain interference model. The study concluded that when attempting to understand the impact of SES on chronic low back pain, neighborhood-level and individual-level factors should be considered.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Jackson P, Goodin BR, Long DL .
The area deprivation index corresponds effectively with other measures of objective socioeconomic status in adults with chronic low back pain.
J Nurs Meas 2022 Sep 1;30(3):433-48. doi: 10.1891/jnm-d-20-00126..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Social Determinants of Health
Windgassen SS, Sutherland S, Finn MTM
Gender differences in the experience of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
This study assessed gender differences in a debilitating urologic pain condition, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Findings indicated that women reported greater pain intensity and extent, but not significantly greater impairment from pain. The duration between time of pain symptom onset and time to diagnosis was significantly greater for women than men. Men emphasized needing more physiological treatment options whilst women emphasized needing more social and emotional support. While men reported feeling supported and involved in treatment decisions, women reported feeling dismissed and disbelieved.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Windgassen SS, Sutherland S, Finn MTM .
Gender differences in the experience of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
Front Pain Res 2022 Aug 11;3:954967. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.954967..
Keywords: Pain, Sex Factors, Women
McDonagh MS, Morasco BJ, Wagner J
Cannabis-based products for chronic pain : a systematic review.
Researchers sought to evaluate the benefits and harms of cannabinoids for chronic pain. They found that oral, synthetic cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios and sublingual, extracted cannabis products with comparable THC-to-CBD ratios may be associated with short-term improvements in chronic pain and increased risk for dizziness and sedation.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: McDonagh MS, Morasco BJ, Wagner J .
Cannabis-based products for chronic pain : a systematic review.
Ann Intern Med 2022 Aug;175(8):1143-53. doi: 10.7326/m21-4520.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006..
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006..
Keywords: Pain, Chronic Conditions, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Treatments, Evidence-Based Practice
Curatolo M, Rundell SD, Gold LS
Long-term effectiveness of epidural steroid injections after new episodes of low back pain in older adults.
The purpose of this prospective study was to compare older adults undergoing epidural steroid injections (ESI) with patients not receiving ESI to test the hypotheses that those on ESI: 1) have worse outcomes before ESI, 2) have improved outcomes after ESI, and 3) have improved outcomes due to a specific ESI effect. The researchers evaluated patients 65 years of age or older from 3 United States health care systems who presented to primary care with new episodes of back pain. The three outcomes assessed were back and leg pain intensity, disability, and quality of life, all of which were evaluated at baseline, and then with 3-, 6-, 12- and 24- month follow-ups. The study found that in ESI patients, pain intensity, disability, and quality of life at baseline were significantly worse than in non-ESI patients. The study concluded that adults 65 and older who were treated with ESI have long-term improvement, but the improvement is not likely to be related to a specific effect of ESI, making epidural steroid injections unlikely to provide long-term benefits.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222; HS022972.
Citation: Curatolo M, Rundell SD, Gold LS .
Long-term effectiveness of epidural steroid injections after new episodes of low back pain in older adults.
Eur J Pain 2022 Aug;26(7):1469-80. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1975..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Pain, Treatments
Khouja T, Zhou J, Gellad WF
Serious opioid-related adverse outcomes associated with opioids prescribed by dentists.
This study’s objective was to evaluate adverse outcomes and persistent opioid use (POU) after opioid prescriptions by dentists, based on whether opioids were overprescribed or within recommendations. A cross-sectional analysis of adults with dental visit and corresponding opioid prescription from 2011 to 2017 within a nationwide commercial claims database was conducted. As per CDC guidelines, opioid overprescribing was defined as >120 morphine milligram equivalents. Of 633,387 visits, 16.6% had POU and 2.6% experienced an adverse outcome. POU was higher when opioids were overprescribed with visits associated with mild pain and those with substance use disorders having the highest risk of both outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Khouja T, Zhou J, Gellad WF .
Serious opioid-related adverse outcomes associated with opioids prescribed by dentists.
Pain 2022 Aug 1;163(8):1571-80. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002545..
Keywords: Opioids, Dental and Oral Health, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns, Pain, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Kagarmanova A, Sparkman H, Laiteerapong N
Improving the management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorder in older adults: study protocol for i-cope study.
This article describes a protocol for an upcoming study on the planned implementation and evaluation of I-COPE (Improving Chicago Older Adult Opioid and Pain Management through Patient-centered Clinical Decision Support and Project ECHO®) to improve care for older adults with chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorder (OUD). The study will be implemented in 35 clinical sites across the metropolitan Chicago area for patients aged ≥ 65 with chronic pain, opioid use, or OUD who receive primary care at one of the clinics. I-COPE includes the integration of patient-reported data on symptoms and preferences, clinical decision support tools and shared decision making into routine primary care. Primary care providers will be trained on the tools through web-based videos and an optional Project ECHO® course, entitled "Pain Management and OUD in Older Adults." A framework called RE-AIM will be used to assess the I-COPE implementation. Outcomes considered effective include an increased variety of recommended pain treatments, decreased prescriptions of higher-risk pain treatments, and decreased patient pain scores. Outcomes will be evaluated at 6 and 12 months after implementation, and PCPs participating in Project ECHO® will be evaluated on changes in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy using pre- and post-course surveys.
AHRQ-funded; HS027910.
Citation: Kagarmanova A, Sparkman H, Laiteerapong N .
Improving the management of chronic pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorder in older adults: study protocol for i-cope study.
Trials 2022 Jul 27;23(1):602. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06537-w..
Keywords: Elderly, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Shared Decision Making, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Salloum RG, Bilello L, Bian J
Study protocol for a type III hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate scaling interoperable clinical decision support for patient-centered chronic pain management in primary care.
The objective of this 3-year project is to study the adaptation and implementation of an existing interoperable clinical decision support (CDS) tool for pain treatment shared decision making, with tailored implementation support, in new clinical settings in the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium. The evaluation will be organized by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, with an adaptation and tailoring of PainManager, an open source interoperable CDS tool. It is anticipated that this evaluation will establish the feasibility and obtain preliminary data in preparation for a multi-site pragmatic trial targeting the effectiveness of PainManager and tailored implementation support on shared decision making and patient-reported pain and physical function.
AHRQ-funded; R18 HS028584.
Citation: Salloum RG, Bilello L, Bian J .
Study protocol for a type III hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate scaling interoperable clinical decision support for patient-centered chronic pain management in primary care.
Implement Sci 2022 Jul 15;17(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s13012-022-01217-4..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Pain, Chronic Conditions, Primary Care, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Sisco-Taylor BL, Magel JS, McFadden M
Changes in pain catastrophizing and fear-avoidance beliefs as mediators of early physical therapy on disability and pain in acute low-back pain: a secondary analysis of a clinical trial.
In this study, the researchers hypothesized that reducing pain catastrophizing and fear-avoidance beliefs early would mediate early physical therapy’s effects on changes in disability and pain intensity. The Fear-Avoidance Model (FAM) postulates that pain catastrophizing and fear-avoidance beliefs are predictive for chronicity and disability. The research studied 204 clinical study trial patients who had been experiencing low-back pain for less than 16 days. At a baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year, the participants completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ work and physical activity scales), and outcomes (Oswestry Disability Index and Numeric Pain Rating Scale). The researchers found that early physical therapy led to improvements in pain and disability over 3 months, but not 1 year. In the single mediator model, 4-week reductions in pain catastrophizing mediated the effects of early PT on 3-month disability and pain intensity improvements, but the effects were small. The study concluded that at least partly through reducing patients’ catastrophizing, early physical therapy may improve disability and pain outcomes in patients with acute low-back pain.
AHRQ-funded; HS018672.
Citation: Sisco-Taylor BL, Magel JS, McFadden M .
Changes in pain catastrophizing and fear-avoidance beliefs as mediators of early physical therapy on disability and pain in acute low-back pain: a secondary analysis of a clinical trial.
Pain Med 2022 May 30;23(6):1127-37. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab292..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Pain
Kim HS, Muschong KM, Fishman IL KM, Fishman IL
Embedded emergency department physical therapy versus usual care for acute low back pain: a protocol for the NEED-PT randomised trial.
This protocol paper discusses a study that will evaluate outcomes of having an embedded physical therapist in the emergency department (ED) for patients experiencing acute low back pain. The desired outcome is lower patient-reported opioid use post-discharge. The study will enroll patients with acute low back pain at an urban academic ED in Chicago, Illinois. This case-control study will randomize patients to either the embedded physical therapy or the usual care. The authors will follow the patients to a primary endpoint of 3 months and compare a primary outcome of change in PROMIS-Pain Interference score and secondary outcomes of change in modified Oswestry Disability Index score and patient-reported opioid use.
AHRQ-funded; HS027426.
Citation: Kim HS, Muschong KM, Fishman IL KM, Fishman IL .
Embedded emergency department physical therapy versus usual care for acute low back pain: a protocol for the NEED-PT randomised trial.
BMJ Open 2022 May 24;12(5):e061283. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061283..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Back Health and Pain, Pain
Cheng BT, Paller AS, Griffith JW
Burden and characteristics of skin pain among children with atopic dermatitis.
The purpose of this study was to determine clinical features and quality-of-life (QOL) burden associated with atopic dermatitis (AD)- induced skin pain in children. The researchers conducted a national cross-sectional survey of child-parent dyads with AD. Questions were administered to the parent proxy for all participants, and children 8 years and older completed a similar questionnaire adapted for self-report. The researchers surveyed 240 children with AD and parent dyads, including 60 infants (1-4 years) and 180 children (5-17 years). This cohort included 200 (83%) with moderate to very severe disease. The study reported that 111 of 240 participants (46%) had parent-proxy reported skin pain, and 59 of 133 children (44%) aged 8 to 17 years had self-reported skin pain. Children self-reported slightly greater pain intensity than did their parents. Pain intensity was associated with clinical skin features of bleeding, weeping/ oozing, cracking, itch frequency, and itch severity. Quality of life scores were also analyzed, with results indicating that skin pain was a significant factor in lower quality of life scores. The researchers concluded that intensity of skin pain in children was associated with significant decreases in quality of life.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Cheng BT, Paller AS, Griffith JW .
Burden and characteristics of skin pain among children with atopic dermatitis.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2022 Apr;10(4):1104-06.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.12.012..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Skin Conditions, Pain
Chen C, Lo-Ciganic WH, Winterstein AG
Concurrent use of prescription opioids and gabapentinoids in older adults.
This cross-sectional study investigated concurrent opioid-gabapentinoid use among older Medicare opioid users with chronic noncancer pain. The study found 464,732 eligible older beneficiaries aged 65 and older who filled ≥1 opioid prescription within 3 months after a randomly selected chronic noncancer pain diagnosis in a calendar year between 2011 and 2018. The prevalence of concurrent use increased from 17% in 2011 to 23.5% in 2013. The profile of concurrent users tended to be non-Black, low-income subsidy recipients, and Southern residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS027230.
Citation: Chen C, Lo-Ciganic WH, Winterstein AG .
Concurrent use of prescription opioids and gabapentinoids in older adults.
Am J Prev Med 2022 Apr;62(4):519-28. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.08.024..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Chronic Conditions