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
26 to 45 of 45 Research Studies DisplayedOkumura MJ, Saunders M, Rehm RS
The role of health advocacy in transitions from pediatric to adult care for children with special health care needs: bridging families, provider and community services.
The aim of this study was to develop a theoretical understanding of how family, healthcare providers, and community supports can assist youth and young adults with special healthcare needs (YASHCN) during the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare and services. Transition Advocacy consists of the presence of, or need for, a healthcare advocate who did or can assist the YASHCN with the healthcare transition, particularly to navigate complex health or community services. If advocates were identified, youth were more likely to obtain needed services.
AHRQ-funded; HS017716.
Citation: Okumura MJ, Saunders M, Rehm RS .
The role of health advocacy in transitions from pediatric to adult care for children with special health care needs: bridging families, provider and community services.
J Pediatr Nurs 2015 Sep-Oct;30(5):714-23. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2015.05.015.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Community-Based Practice, Disabilities, Health Services Research (HSR), Young Adults
Orman ES, Mayorga ME, Wheeler SB
Declining liver graft quality threatens the future of liver transplantation in the United States.
This study used the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database to inform a 20-year discrete event simulation estimating liver transplantation (LT) volume from 2010 to 2030. It found that if donor liver utilization practices remain constant, utilization will fall from 78 percent to 44 percent by 2030, resulting in 2,230 fewer LTs.
AHRQ-funded; HS019468.
Citation: Orman ES, Mayorga ME, Wheeler SB .
Declining liver graft quality threatens the future of liver transplantation in the United States.
Liver Transpl 2015 Aug;21(8):1040-50. doi: 10.1002/lt.24160..
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Health Services Research (HSR), Transplantation
Geissler KH, Becker C, Stearns SC
Exploring the association of homicides in northern Mexico and healthcare access for US residents.
The reesearchers analyzed whether recent increases in homicides in Mexico are associated with reduced healthcare access for US border residents. They found that, despite a decrease in border crossings, increased violence in Mexico did not appear to negatively affect healthcare access for US border residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS021074.
Citation: Geissler KH, Becker C, Stearns SC .
Exploring the association of homicides in northern Mexico and healthcare access for US residents.
J Immigr Minor Health 2015 Aug;17(4):1214-24. doi: 10.1007/s10903-014-0053-4.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR), Social Determinants of Health
Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Friedewald JJ
Improving geographic equity in kidney transplantation using alternative kidney sharing and optimization modeling.
The authors analyzed current kidney allocation and developed an alternative kidney sharing strategy using a multiperiod linear optimization model, KSHARE, which aims to improve geographic equity in kidney transplantation while also respecting transplant system constraints and priorities. They used Organ Procurement and Transplant Network data to determine that enhancing the practice of sharing kidneys by the KSHARE model may increase geographic equity in kidney transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS021078.
Citation: Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Friedewald JJ .
Improving geographic equity in kidney transplantation using alternative kidney sharing and optimization modeling.
Med Decis Making 2015 Aug;35(6):797-807. doi: 10.1177/0272989x14557696.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Health Services Research (HSR), Social Determinants of Health, Transplantation
Zingmond DS, Parikh P, Louie R
Improving hospital reporting of patient race and ethnicity--approaches to data auditing.
This study investigated new metrics to improve the reporting of patient race and ethnicity (R/E) by hospitals. It examined agreement between hospital reported R/E versus self-report among mothers delivering babies and a cancer cohort in California. It concluded that comparison between reported R/E and R/E estimates using zip code level data may be a reasonable first approach to evaluate and track hospital R/E reporting.
AHRQ-funded; HS019963.
Citation: Zingmond DS, Parikh P, Louie R .
Improving hospital reporting of patient race and ethnicity--approaches to data auditing.
Health Serv Res 2015 Aug;50 Suppl 1:1372-89. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12324..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Hospitals, Hospital Discharge, Health Services Research (HSR), Registries, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Data
Toro-Diaz H, Mayorga ME, Barritt AS
Predicting liver transplant capacity using discrete event simulation.
The researchers constructed a discrete event simulation model informed by current donor characteristics to predict future liver transplant trends through the year 2030. They found that by altering assumptions about the future donor pool, their model can be used to develop policy interventions to prevent a further decline in this lifesaving therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS019468.
Citation: Toro-Diaz H, Mayorga ME, Barritt AS .
Predicting liver transplant capacity using discrete event simulation.
Med Decis Making 2015 Aug;35(6):784-96. doi: 10.1177/0272989x14559055.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR), Policy, Transplantation
Ryan AM, Burgess JF, Dimick JB
Why we should not be indifferent to specification choices for difference-in-differences.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of specification choices on the accuracy of estimates in difference-in-differences models. They found that performance of alternative specifications varied dramatically when the probability of treatment was correlated with pre-intervention levels or trends. In these cases, propensity score matching resulted in much more accurate point estimates.
AHRQ-funded; HS018546.
Citation: Ryan AM, Burgess JF, Dimick JB .
Why we should not be indifferent to specification choices for difference-in-differences.
Health Serv Res 2015 Aug;50(4):1211-35. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12270..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Health Services Research (HSR)
Ricciardi R
AHRQ Author: Ricciardi R
AHRQ focuses on ambulatory patient safety.
As AHRQ looks to expand its ambulatory safety research efforts, the agency seeks the involvement of a variety of nurses to provide expert opinion and consultation and to conduct research. The author emphasizes that this is an opportunity for both PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice prepared nurses to lead interprofessional teams to conduct research that can translate into meaningful improvements in ambulatory quality.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ricciardi R .
AHRQ focuses on ambulatory patient safety.
J Nurs Care Qual 2015 Jul-Sep;30(3):193-6. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000124..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Nursing, Primary Care, Adverse Events, Health Services Research (HSR)
Nembhard IM, Labao I, Savage S
Breaking the silence: determinants of voice for quality improvement in hospitals.
The researchers examined the drivers of “voice” for health professionals in hospitals. “Voice” is understood as the discretionary communication of ideas, suggestions, concerns, or opinions about work-related issues with the intent to improve organizational or unit functioning. They found that factors related to individuals (e.g., tenure), work (e.g., work configuration), organizational context (e.g., culture), data (e.g., benchmarking), and the external environment (e.g., attention) influenced health professionals’ voice.
AHRQ-funded; HS018987.
Citation: Nembhard IM, Labao I, Savage S .
Breaking the silence: determinants of voice for quality improvement in hospitals.
Health Care Manage Rev 2015 Jul-Sep;40(3):225-36. doi: 10.1097/hmr.0000000000000028..
Keywords: Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Communication, Organizational Change, Health Services Research (HSR)
Fontaine P, Whitebird R, Solberg LI
Minnesota's early experience with medical home implementation: viewpoints from the front lines.
This study aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers encountered by nine diverse primary care practices selected from the first 80 to achieve patient-centered medical home (PCMH) certification in Minnesota. It found that facilitators to achieve PCMH certification included a requirement for patient involvement, which pushed practices to create patient-centered innovations, and new reimbursement models based on quality indicators for a population.
AHRQ-funded; HS019161.
Citation: Fontaine P, Whitebird R, Solberg LI .
Minnesota's early experience with medical home implementation: viewpoints from the front lines.
J Gen Intern Med 2015 Jul;30(7):899-906. doi: 10.1007/s11606-014-3136-y..
Keywords: Patient-Centered Healthcare, Primary Care, Implementation, Organizational Change, Healthcare Delivery, Practice Improvement, Health Services Research (HSR)
Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
The authors explored individual-, psychosocial-, and community-level predictors of oral health status in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin Oral Health Screening project. Their results suggested that costs were a primary predictor of access to care and poor oral health status, underscoring the role that primary care, in conjunction with dental health care providers, could play in promoting oral health care, particularly in reducing barriers and promoting preventive health behaviors.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M .
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
Am J Public Health 2015 Jul;105 Suppl 3:S466-74. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302338.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Pallas SW, Khuat TH, Le QD
The changing donor landscape of health sector aid to Vietnam: a qualitative case study.
The study objective was to identify how donors and government agencies in Vietnam responded to donor proliferation in health sector aid between 1995 and 2012. The study concludes that central government and donor agencies in Vietnam responded to donor proliferation in health sector aid by endorsing aid effectiveness policies but implementing these policies inconsistently in practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Pallas SW, Khuat TH, Le QD .
The changing donor landscape of health sector aid to Vietnam: a qualitative case study.
Soc Sci Med 2015 May;132:165-72. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.027..
Keywords: Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Costs
Holzer J, Kass N
Understanding the supports of and challenges to community engagement in the CTSAs.
The researchers sought to understand the supports and challenges experienced by multiple Clinical and Translational Science Awards programs as they pursued community engagement. The interviews identified three support themes, including: funding, existing relationships with communities, and leadership and a partnership approach at the institution. Six challenge themes arose: need for capacity development, lack of positive relationships with communities, lack of leadership, funding constraints, time and staff constraints, and unsustainable models.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Holzer J, Kass N .
Understanding the supports of and challenges to community engagement in the CTSAs.
Clin Transl Sci 2015 Apr;8(2):116-22. doi: 10.1111/cts.12205..
Keywords: Community Partnerships, Community-Based Practice, Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Mullen MT, Branas CC, Kasner SE
Optimization modeling to maximize population access to comprehensive stroke centers.
This report demonstrates how mathematical optimization modeling can inform the strategic development of the US network of stroke centers by simulating the conversion of primary stroke centers into comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs). Optimal system simulation can be used to develop efficient care systems that maximize accessibility. Under optimal conditions, a large proportion of the US population will be unable to access a CSC within 60 minutes.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852; HS017960; HS010914.
Citation: Mullen MT, Branas CC, Kasner SE .
Optimization modeling to maximize population access to comprehensive stroke centers.
Neurology 2015 Mar 24;84(12):1196-205. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000001390..
Keywords: Stroke, Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR)
Hollingsworth JM, Funk RJ, Owen-Smith J
Assessing the reach of health reform to outpatient surgery with social network analysis.
The researchers used the tools of social network analysis to assess the proportion of outpatient surgery currently delivered in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that are largely unconnected to nearby hospitals. Their study of all Florida ASCs and hospitals found that 83% of the $4.3 billion in charges for ASC-based care originate from facilities that have substantial integration with their local health care systems.
AHRQ-funded; HS020927; HS018726.
Citation: Hollingsworth JM, Funk RJ, Owen-Smith J .
Assessing the reach of health reform to outpatient surgery with social network analysis.
Ann Surg 2015 Mar;261(3):468-72. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000000880..
Keywords: Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Policy, Health Services Research (HSR)
Marshall DA, Burgos-Liz L, IJzerman MJ
Selecting a dynamic simulation modeling method for health care delivery research-part 2: report of the ISPOR Dynamic Simulation Modeling Emerging Good Practices Task Force.
This report builds on previous work, systematically comparing each of the three most commonly used dynamic simulation modeling methods—system dynamics, discrete- event simulation, and agent-based modeling. It reviews criteria for selecting the most suitable method depending on: 1) the purpose— type of problem and research questions being investigated, 2) the object—scope of the model, and 3) the method to model the object to achieve the purpose.
AHRQ-funded; HS023710.
Citation: Marshall DA, Burgos-Liz L, IJzerman MJ .
Selecting a dynamic simulation modeling method for health care delivery research-part 2: report of the ISPOR Dynamic Simulation Modeling Emerging Good Practices Task Force.
Value Health 2015 Mar;18(2):147-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.01.006..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR)
Chen Y, Hong C, Riley RD
An alternative pseudolikelihood method for multivariate random-effects meta-analysis.
This paper describes the standard likelihood inferences for multivariate meta-analysis (MMA) and the proposed pseudolikelihood method. The authors next extend the proposed method to the missing data situation where only a proportion of studies have all outcomes reported. They then conduct simulation studies to compare the proposed method with the current methods and investigate the prevalence of singular covariance matrix problems, bias, coverage probability (CP), and relative efficiency (RE). Finally, they apply the proposed method to three meta-analyses.
AHRQ-funded; HS022900.
Citation: Chen Y, Hong C, Riley RD .
An alternative pseudolikelihood method for multivariate random-effects meta-analysis.
Stat Med 2015 Feb 10;34(3):361-80. doi: 10.1002/sim.6350..
Keywords: Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR)
Rivera-Hernandez M
The role of religious leaders in health promotion for older Mexicans with diabetes.
This study explored the views of ten male Mexican religious leaders about their understanding of their role in diabetes health promotion. The author found that the major themes from the qualitative interviews emphasized the importance of open communication between church leaders and their parishioners, the role of the church in diabetes programs, and the unique position of religious institutions as a link between physical and spiritual aspects of health.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Rivera-Hernandez M .
The role of religious leaders in health promotion for older Mexicans with diabetes.
J Relig Health 2015 Feb;54(1):303-15. doi: 10.1007/s10943-014-9829-z.
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Keywords: Education: Patient and Caregiver, Diabetes, Health Promotion, Health Services Research (HSR), Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Shamseer L, Moher D, Clarke M
Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation.
The PRISMA-P checklist contains 17 items considered to be essential and minimum components of a systematic review or meta-analysis protocol. This PRISMA-P 2015 Explanation and Elaboration paper provides readers with a full understanding of and evidence about the necessity of each item as well as a model example from an existing published protocol. This paper should be read together with the PRISMA-P 2015 statement.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710059I.
Citation: Shamseer L, Moher D, Clarke M .
Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation.
BMJ 2015 Jan 2;349:g7647. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g7647..
Keywords: Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR), Evidence-Based Practice
Marshall DA, Burgos-Liz L, IJzerman MJ
Applying dynamic simulation modeling methods in health care delivery research-the SIMULATE checklist: report of the ISPOR Simulation Modeling Emerging Good Practices Task Force.
This report provides an overview of common dynamic simulation modeling methods and examples of health care system interventions in which such methods could be useful. Three dynamic simulation modeling methods are presented to evaluate system interventions for health care delivery: system dynamics, discrete event simulation, and agent-based modeling.
AHRQ-funded; HS023710.
Citation: Marshall DA, Burgos-Liz L, IJzerman MJ .
Applying dynamic simulation modeling methods in health care delivery research-the SIMULATE checklist: report of the ISPOR Simulation Modeling Emerging Good Practices Task Force.
Value Health 2015 Jan;18(1):5-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.12.001..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR)