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 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedEhlers AP, Vitous CA, Sales A
Exploration of factors associated with surgeon deviation from practice guidelines for management of inguinal hernias.
Investigators explored factors associated with surgeon choice of approach (minimally invasive vs open) in inguinal hernia repair as a tool to gain an understanding of guideline-discordant care. They found that decision-making for the approach to inguinal hernia repair was largely influenced by surgeon preference and access to resources rather than patient factors. Although a one-size-fits-all approach is not recommended, the operative approach should ideally be informed by patient factors, including hernia characteristics. They recommended addressing surgeon preference and available resources with a clinician-facing decision aid to provide an opportunity to optimize care for patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.
AHRQ-funded; HS025778.
Citation: Ehlers AP, Vitous CA, Sales A .
Exploration of factors associated with surgeon deviation from practice guidelines for management of inguinal hernias.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2023684. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.23684..
Keywords: Surgery, Guidelines, Provider: Physician, Provider, Shared Decision Making, Evidence-Based Practice
Chen DW, Reyes-Gastelum D, Radhakrishnan A
Physician-reported misuse of thyroid ultrasonography.
The authors explored physician-reported use of thyroid ultrasonography. They found that a substantial number of physicians endorsed the use of ultrasonography for reasons not supported by clinical guidelines and in conflict with the Choosing Wisely recommendations. They concluded that their study highlights the need for focused physician education on clinically supported and unsupported indications for use of thyroid ultrasonography, with potential roles for future clinical practice guidelines, patient decision-making aids, and clinical decision-making support tools.
AHRQ-funded; HS024512.
Citation: Chen DW, Reyes-Gastelum D, Radhakrishnan A .
Physician-reported misuse of thyroid ultrasonography.
JAMA Surg 2020 Oct;155(10):984-86. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.2507..
Keywords: Imaging, Shared Decision Making, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice
Smith ME, Vitous CA, Hughes TM
Barriers and facilitators to de-implementation of the Choosing Wisely((R)) guidelines for low-value breast cancer surgery.
The objective of this study was to understand why surgeons stop performing certain unnecessary cancer operations but not others and how best to de-implement entrenched and emerging unnecessary procedures. The investigators concluded that with a growing focus on the elimination of ineffective, unproven or low value practices, it is imperative that the behavioral determinants are understood and targeted with specific interventions to decrease utilization rapidly.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Smith ME, Vitous CA, Hughes TM .
Barriers and facilitators to de-implementation of the Choosing Wisely((R)) guidelines for low-value breast cancer surgery.
Ann Surg Oncol 2020 Aug;27(8):2653-63. doi: 10.1245/s10434-020-08285-0..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Shared Decision Making, Guidelines, Women
Brand-McCarthy SR, Delaney RK, Noseworthy PA
Can shared decision making improve stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation?: Implications of the updated guidelines.
This paper discusses the need for shared decision making (SDM) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients not just at the beginning of treatment but throughout during ongoing care. Use of SDM can help with patient adherence to recommended anticoagulation treatment regimens and lifestyle changes. It can help build a strong partnership between clinician and patient.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Brand-McCarthy SR, Delaney RK, Noseworthy PA .
Can shared decision making improve stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation?: Implications of the updated guidelines.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2020 Mar;13(3):e006080. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.119.006080..
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Stroke, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Prevention, Guidelines, Blood Thinners, Medication, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Dugas AF, Hsieh YH, LoVecchio F
Derivation and validation of a clinical decision guideline for influenza testing in 4 US emergency departments.
This study looked at which patients should be tested for influenza among adult emergency department (ED) patients with fever or respiratory symptoms who met criteria for antiviral treatment per 2013 CDC guidelines. A prospective cohort study was conducted at 4 US EDs from November 2013 to April 2014. All 1941 enrolled participants were tested for influenza using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 183 patients (9.4%) had influenza. The CDC clinical decision guidelines (CDGs) for influenza testing includes new or increased cough (2 points), headache (1 point), subjective fever (1 point), and triage temperature >100.4F degrees. The CDG had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.1% and 36.6% respectively in the derivation set and the validation set.
AHRQ-funded; HS009699.
Citation: Dugas AF, Hsieh YH, LoVecchio F .
Derivation and validation of a clinical decision guideline for influenza testing in 4 US emergency departments.
Clin Infect Dis 2020 Jan;70(1):49-58. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz171..
Keywords: Guidelines, Shared Decision Making, Influenza, Respiratory Conditions, Emergency Department, Evidence-Based Practice, Diagnostic Safety and Quality