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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (3)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Blood Thinners (5)
- Burnout (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Colonoscopy (1)
- Data (1)
- Diabetes (1)
- Education: Academic (1)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Elderly (2)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (2)
- Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing) (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (1)
- Medical Errors (2)
- Medication (15)
- Medication: Safety (3)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (2)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Provider: Nurse (1)
- (-) Provider: Pharmacist (21)
- Screening (1)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
- Social Media (1)
- Social Stigma (1)
- Substance Abuse (2)
- Telehealth (1)
- Vaccination (1)
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 21 of 21 Research Studies DisplayedFerrari RM, Atkins DL, Wangen M
Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.
The objective of this study was to assess patient perspectives on receiving fecal immunochemical colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests through pharmacies. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with participants in North Carolina and Washington. Survey participants reported pharmacy-based CRC screening programs to be highly acceptable, citing convenience, ease of access, and avoidance of co-pays, but they also had concerns about privacy and coordination with primary care providers. The researchers concluded that CRC screening in pharmacies is potentially a good option, provided patients have privacy and their primary care providers are informed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Ferrari RM, Atkins DL, Wangen M .
Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.
Transl Behav Med 2023 Dec 15; 13(12):909-18. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibad057..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Colonoscopy, Screening, Prevention
Watterson TL, Stone JA, Kleinschmidt PC
CancelRx case study: implications for clinic and community pharmacy work systems.
This study examined the impact of implementation of CancelRx, a health IT system that automatically communicates medication discontinuations from the clinic electronic health record to the community pharmacy dispensing platform, theoretically improving communication. The system was implemented across a Midwest academic health system in October 2017, using their 15 outpatient community pharmacies to test it. Interviews were conducted with 9 medical assistants, 12 community pharmacists, and 3 pharmacy administrators employed by the health system across 3-time periods between 2017 and 2018: 3-months prior to CancelRx implementation, 3-months after CancelRx implementation, and 9-months after CancelRx implementation. While CancelRx automated and streamlined how medication discontinuation messages were received and processed, it also increased workload and introduced new errors.
AHRQ-funded; HS025793.
Citation: Watterson TL, Stone JA, Kleinschmidt PC .
CancelRx case study: implications for clinic and community pharmacy work systems.
BMC Health Serv Res 2023 Dec 6; 23(1):1360. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-10396-9..
Keywords: Cancer, Provider: Pharmacist, Medication
Kaufman BG, Holland DE, Vanderboom CE
Multicomponent pharmacist intervention did not reduce clinically important medication errors for ambulatory patients initiating direct oral anticoagulants.
The aim of this randomized controlled trial study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for decreasing clinically important medication errors (CIMEs). The researchers included ambulatory patients beginning a DOAC or resuming one after a complication. The intervention included pharmacist evaluation and monitoring based on the implementation of a recently published checklist. The primary measure was anticoagulant-related CIMEs and non-anticoagulant-related CIMEs over 90 days from DOAC initiation. Primary variables included evaluation of the appropriateness of DOAC, need for DOAC affordability assistance, three pharmacist-initiated telephone consultations, access to a DOAC hotline, documented hand-off to the patient's continuity provider, and monitoring of follow-up laboratory tests. A total of 561 patients contributed 479 anticoagulant-CIMEs including 31 preventable and ameliorable ADEs and 448 significant anticoagulant medication errors without subsequent documented ADEs. The most common anticoagulant-related CIMEs were failure to perform required blood tests and concurrent, inappropriate usage of a DOAC with aspirin or NSAIDs despite pharmacist documentation systematically identifying these issues when present. There was no reduction in anticoagulant-related CIMEs among intervention patients or non-anticoagulant-related CIMEs.
AHRQ-funded; HS02592401.
Citation: Kaufman BG, Holland DE, Vanderboom CE .
Multicomponent pharmacist intervention did not reduce clinically important medication errors for ambulatory patients initiating direct oral anticoagulants.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Dec; 38(16):3526-34. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08315-z..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medical Errors, Blood Thinners, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Wu L, Chang C, Lo K
Telephone-based social health screening by pharmacists in the nonadherent Medicare population.
The study examined social health needs among Medicare patients and pharmacist-led screening's impact on medication adherence and healthcare use. Using a predictive algorithm, higher-risk patients were identified. Patients accepting referrals had better statin adherence, while those declining had more hospital stays and fewer primary care visits. The findings suggest pharmacist interventions can improve medication adherence without worsening healthcare use or plan membership.
AHRQ-funded; HS027343.
Citation: Wu L, Chang C, Lo K .
Telephone-based social health screening by pharmacists in the nonadherent Medicare population.
J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2023 Nov; 29(11):1184-92. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2023.29.11.1184..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Social Determinants of Health, Medication
Ranusch A, Lin YJ, Dorsch MP
Role of individual clinician authority in the implementation of informatics tools for population-based medication management: qualitative semistructured interview study.
The objective of this study was to examine how individual authority of clinical pharmacists and anticoagulation nurses is affected by the implementation success of an electronic health record (EHR) direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) Dashboard for safe DOAC medication prescribing. Researchers conducted semistructured interviews with pharmacists and nurses after the implementation of the EHR DOAC Dashboard at three clinical sites. Results showed that a high level of individual clinician authority was associated with high levels of key facilitators for effective use of the DOAC Dashboard; conversely, a lack of individual authority was associated with key barriers to effective use. The researchers concluded that increased individual clinician authority is a necessary antecedent to the effective implementation of an EHR DOAC Population Management Dashboard.
AHRQ-funded; HS026874.
Citation: Ranusch A, Lin YJ, Dorsch MP .
Role of individual clinician authority in the implementation of informatics tools for population-based medication management: qualitative semistructured interview study.
JMIR Hum Factors 2023 Oct 24; 10:e49025. doi: 10.2196/49025..
Keywords: Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Provider: Nurse, Blood Thinners
Pitts SI, Olson s, Yanek LR
Pharmacy e-prescription dispensing before and after CancelRx implementation.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of implementation of e-prescription cancellation messaging (CancelRx) with medication dispensing after discontinuation of e-prescriptions in electronic health records (EHRs). Patients who had at least one medication e-prescribed in ambulatory care to a health system pharmacy and discontinued within the study period participated in a case series with interrupted time series analysis. Findings indicated that CancelRx implementation was associated with an immediate and sustained reduction in the proportion of e-prescriptions sold after discontinuation in the EHR. The authors concluded that widespread implementation of CancelRx could significantly improve medication safety through the reduction of medication dispensing after discontinuation by prescribers.
AHRQ-funded; HS026584.
Citation: Pitts SI, Olson s, Yanek LR .
Pharmacy e-prescription dispensing before and after CancelRx implementation.
JAMA Intern Med 2023 Oct; 183(10):1120-26. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.4192..
Keywords: Medication, Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Provider: Pharmacist
Smith SN, Lanham M, Seagull FJ
Implementing pharmacist-prescriber collaboration to improve evidence-based anticoagulant use: a randomized trial.
This article described a study designed to improve existing alert systems for direct oral anticoagulant medications (DOAC) by testing novel alerts that encourage collaboration between prescribers and expert pharmacists working in anticoagulation clinics. Its goals were to determine the effect of notifications targeting existing inappropriate DOAC prescriptions, to examine the effect of alerts on newly prescribed inappropriate DOACs, and to examine changes in the magnitude of effects over time for both the new and existing prescription alerts. Prescribing healthcare providers would be randomized to different types of electronic health record medication alerts when a patient has an unsafe anticoagulant prescription; the authors identified which alerts are most effective at encouraging evidence-based prescribing.
AHRQ-funded; HS028562.
Citation: Smith SN, Lanham M, Seagull FJ .
Implementing pharmacist-prescriber collaboration to improve evidence-based anticoagulant use: a randomized trial.
Implement Sci 2023 May 15; 18(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s13012-023-01273-4..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Blood Thinners, Medication, Evidence-Based Practice
Watterson TL, Chui MA
Subjective perceptions of occupational fatigue in community pharmacists.
The objective of this study was to describe subjective perceptions of occupational fatigue in community pharmacists. Wisconsin pharmacists who were eligible to participate completed a demographic questionnaire, a Pharmacist Fatigue Instrument, and semi-structured interview. Interview results were separated into overarching themes that included mental fatigue, physical fatigue, active fatigue, and passive fatigue. The researchers concluded that interventions aimed at improving occupational fatigue in community pharmacies should consider key themes of fatigue that pharmacists experience.
AHRQ-funded; HS027766.
Citation: Watterson TL, Chui MA .
Subjective perceptions of occupational fatigue in community pharmacists.
Pharmacy 2023 May 9; 11(3):84. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy11030084..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Burnout
Wilson AS, Pham T, Mbusa D
Pharmacist-led, checklist intervention did not improve adherence in ambulatory patients starting/resuming DOACs.
This study’s aim was to determine whether checklist-driven care from a clinical pharmacist improved adherence in ambulatory patients starting a direct-acting anticoagulant (DOAC) or resuming it after a setback (thromboembolic event or bleeding) in an ambulatory setting. Clinical pharmacists using the DOAC checklist verified DOAC appropriateness, instructed dose de-escalation, educated through 3 tele-visits, fielded hotline calls, and handed off to a continuity provider after 3 months. Coupons and help with completing manufacturer-based medication assistance applicants were made available to intervention and control patients. Using pharmacy dispense records, the authors measured medication possession ratio (MPR) at 90 days (primary outcome) and proportion of days covered (PDC) at 90 days and MPR and PDC at 180 and 365 days (secondary outcomes). Of the 561 patients randomized, only 427 had sufficient records to analyze. Adherence was high with only 41 patients having MPR less than 80% at 90 days. There was no difference in adherence between intervention and control patients for primary outcome (odds ratio 0.94)) or secondary outcomes. The authors felt that given the already high levels of adherence in both study groups, reassessing the DOAC checklist outside of a traditional trial may be more fruitful.
AHRQ-funded; HS02592401.
Citation: Wilson AS, Pham T, Mbusa D .
Pharmacist-led, checklist intervention did not improve adherence in ambulatory patients starting/resuming DOACs.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2023 May-Jun; 63(3):878-84.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.02.019..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Blood Thinners, Medication
Herges JR, May HP, Meade L
Pharmacist-provider collaborative visits after hospital discharge in a comprehensive acute kidney injury survivor model.
This pilot study’s objective was to describe pharmacist contributions to a comprehensive postdischarge acute kidney injury (AKI) survivorship program in primary care (the AKI in Care Transitions [ACT] program). The program was piloted from May to December of 2021 at Mayo Clinic as a bundled care strategy for patients who survived an episode of AKI and were discharged home without the need for hemodialysis. Predischarge patients received education and care coordination from nurses and later completed postdischarge laboratory assessment and clinician follow-up in primary care. During follow-up, patients completed a 30-minute comprehensive medication management visit with a pharmacist focusing on AKI survivorship considerations. Pharmacists made 28 medication therapy recommendations (median 3 per patient) and identified 14 medication discrepancies for the 11 patients who completed the pilot program, with 86% of the medication therapy recommendations being acted on by the PCP within 7 days. Six recommendations were made to initiate renoprotective medications, and 5 were acted on.
AHRQ-funded; HS028060.
Citation: Herges JR, May HP, Meade L .
Pharmacist-provider collaborative visits after hospital discharge in a comprehensive acute kidney injury survivor model.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2023 May-Jun; 63(3):909-14. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.12.029..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Kidney Disease and Health, Hospital Discharge
Pham T, Patel P, Mbusa D
Impact of a pharmacist intervention on DOAC knowledge and satisfaction in ambulatory patients.
This randomized clinical trial’s goal was to assess the impact on knowledge and satisfaction of an intervention framed around a newly developed direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) Checklist to guide and educate patients initiating or resuming DOACs. The cohort included ambulatory patients starting a DOAC or resuming one after setback (bleeding, stroke, or transient ischemic attack) in an ambulatory setting (office, emergency department, or short stay hospitalization). The study included three educational clinical pharmacist tele-visits, hotline access to the pharmacist, and coordination with continuity providers in 3 months. An abbreviated version of the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Survey was administered to 463 patients. Scores were similar for the 233 intervention patients vs. 203 control patients (63.7% vs 62.2% correct). Satisfaction scores on the 7-point Likert scale were also virtually identical. The pharmacist-led intervention framed around the DOAC checklist had little impact on knowledge and satisfaction. There were delays between the intervention end and completion of the follow-up questionnaires, which may have obscured benefits experienced earlier.
AHRQ-funded; HS026859.
Citation: Pham T, Patel P, Mbusa D .
Impact of a pharmacist intervention on DOAC knowledge and satisfaction in ambulatory patients.
J Thromb Thrombolysis 2023 Feb;55(2):346-54. doi: 10.1007/s11239-022-02743-0.
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Blood Thinners, Medication, Patient Experience, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Ndefo UA, Moultry AM, Davis PN
Provision of medication therapy management by pharmacists to patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus in a federally qualified health center.
This article describes a medication therapy management (MTM) pilot program that was implemented at a federally qualified health center. This program was implemented at three clinics involving patients with uncontrolled diabetes, defined as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) greater than 8 percent. Fifty-seven patients met the established criteria and were enrolled in the six-month program. Thirty-seven patients completed the program and had an average 15 percent reduction in HbA1c.
AHRQ-funded; 290201100001C.
Citation: Ndefo UA, Moultry AM, Davis PN .
Provision of medication therapy management by pharmacists to patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus in a federally qualified health center.
P&T 2017 Oct;42(10):632-37.
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Keywords: Diabetes, Medication, Chronic Conditions, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Provider: Pharmacist
Chui MA, Stone JA, Holden RJ
Improving over-the-counter medication safety for older adults: a study protocol for a demonstration and dissemination study.
This study proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention for preventing misuse of high-risk OTC medications by older adults; and to evaluate the implementation of the intervention in community pharmacies. The primary outcome will be a comparison of proportion of older adults who misuse OTC medication from baseline to post-intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS024490.
Citation: Chui MA, Stone JA, Holden RJ .
Improving over-the-counter medication safety for older adults: a study protocol for a demonstration and dissemination study.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2017 Sep - Oct;13(5):930-37. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.11.006.
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Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Elderly, Medication: Safety, Medication, Provider: Pharmacist
Rowan CG, Flory J, Gerhard T
Agreement and validity of electronic health record prescribing data relative to pharmacy claims data: a validation study from a US electronic health record database.
The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients with linked claims and EHR data in OptumLabs Data Warehouse. Their aim was to evaluate the validity of classifying medication exposure using EHR prescribing (EHR-Rx) data. They concluded that, despite substantial variability among different medications, there was very good agreement between EHR-Rx data and PC-Rx data.
AHRQ-funded; HS023898.
Citation: Rowan CG, Flory J, Gerhard T .
Agreement and validity of electronic health record prescribing data relative to pharmacy claims data: a validation study from a US electronic health record database.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2017 Aug;26(8):963-72. doi: 10.1002/pds.4234.
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Keywords: Data, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Medication, Provider: Pharmacist
Calo WA, Gilkey MB, Shah P
Parents' willingness to get human papillomavirus vaccination for their adolescent children at a pharmacy.
The researchers sought to examine parents' willingness to get human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for their children at pharmacies. Overall, their national survey found that 29 percent of parents would be willing to get HPV vaccine for their children at a pharmacy. Parental willingness was associated with believing that pharmacists are skilled at administering vaccines.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Calo WA, Gilkey MB, Shah P .
Parents' willingness to get human papillomavirus vaccination for their adolescent children at a pharmacy.
Prev Med 2017 Jun;99:251-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.02.003.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Infectious Diseases, Provider: Pharmacist, Sexual Health, Vaccination
Roy B, Gottlieb AS
The career advising program: a strategy to achieve gender equity in academic medicine.
This paper discusses the significant gender disparities in academic rank which exist at US medical schools, even after controlling for age, time since training, specialty, and measures of productivity, and despite increasing numbers of women entering medicine over the past 30 years. They highlight the Society of General Internal Medicine’s Women and Medicine Task Force and the model they launched in 2013 to address these disparities- the Career Advising Program (CAP).
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Roy B, Gottlieb AS .
The career advising program: a strategy to achieve gender equity in academic medicine.
J Gen Intern Med 2017 Jun;32(6):601-02. doi: 10.1007/s11606-016-3969-7..
Keywords: Education: Academic, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider: Pharmacist
Schroeder SR, Salomon MM, Galanter WL
Cognitive tests predict real-world errors: the relationship between drug name confusion rates in laboratory-based memory and perception tests and corresponding error rates in large pharmacy chains.
The researchers conducted a study to assess the association between error rates in laboratory-based tests of drug name memory and perception and real-world drug name confusion error rates. They found that across two distinct pharmacy chains, there is a strong and significant association between drug name confusion error rates observed in the real world and those observed in laboratory-based tests of memory and perception.
AHRQ-funded; HS021093.
Citation: Schroeder SR, Salomon MM, Galanter WL .
Cognitive tests predict real-world errors: the relationship between drug name confusion rates in laboratory-based memory and perception tests and corresponding error rates in large pharmacy chains.
BMJ Qual Saf 2017 May;26(5):395-407. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-005099.
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Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medical Errors, Medication: Safety, Medication, Provider: Pharmacist
Green TC, Potter N, Bratberg J
Detecting naloxone prejudices in the pharmacy setting.
This survey asked pharmacists how concerned they would be about dispensing pain medications (or Suboxone) to customers who are getting or already have naloxone. Fifty-nine percent of respondents indicated no or little increased concern about dispensing either medication to a known naloxone recipient. Greater concern was reported by pharmacists when considering dispensing pain medications to a known naloxone recipient.
AHRQ-funded; Letter related to AHRQ-funded MOON project (HS024021).
Citation: Green TC, Potter N, Bratberg J .
Detecting naloxone prejudices in the pharmacy setting.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2017 Mar - Apr;57(2s):S10-s11. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2016.12.068.
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Keywords: Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Social Media, Substance Abuse
Green TC, Case P, Fiske H
Perpetuating stigma or reducing risk? Perspectives from naloxone consumers and pharmacists on pharmacy-based naloxone in 2 states.
This study examined perceptions and experiences of pharmacy naloxone from people with opioid use disorder, patients taking chronic opioids for pain, caregivers of opioid users, and pharmacists. It found that consumer groups differed in awareness of naloxone and availability at pharmacies, but all groups expressed support for the pharmacist's role and preferences for a universal offer of naloxone based on clear criteria.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Green TC, Case P, Fiske H .
Perpetuating stigma or reducing risk? Perspectives from naloxone consumers and pharmacists on pharmacy-based naloxone in 2 states.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2017 Mar - Apr;57(2s):S19-S27.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2017.01.013.
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Keywords: Opioids, Provider: Pharmacist, Social Stigma, Substance Abuse
Kernodle AR, Frail CK, Gernant SA
Patients' experiences using a brief screening tool for medication-related problems in a community pharmacy setting.
The researchers explored patient perceptions and the practical implication of using a brief 9-item scale to screen for medication-related problems in community pharmacies. After interviewing 40 patients who completed the scale and reviewed its results with their pharmacist, they concluded that it may have value in increasing patients' understanding of and confidence in their medications, enhancing pharmacist-patient relationships, and identifying problems requiring additional interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS022119.
Citation: Kernodle AR, Frail CK, Gernant SA .
Patients' experiences using a brief screening tool for medication-related problems in a community pharmacy setting.
J Pharm Pract 2017 Feb;30(1):49-57. doi: 10.1177/0897190015605015.
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Keywords: Medication, Patient Experience, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Provider: Pharmacist
Kane-Gill SL, Niznik JD, Kellum JA
Use of telemedicine to enhance pharmacist services in the nursing facility.
The researchers conducted a systematic literature review to determine what telemedicine services are provided by pharmacists and the impact of these services in the nursing facility setting. Since only three manuscripts met inclusion criteria, the researchers concluded that there is a general paucity of practice-related research to demonstrate potential benefits of pharmacists' services incorporating telemedicine.
AHRQ-funded; HS024208.
Citation: Kane-Gill SL, Niznik JD, Kellum JA .
Use of telemedicine to enhance pharmacist services in the nursing facility.
Consult Pharm 2017 Feb;32(2):93-98. doi: 10.4140/TCP.n.2017.93.
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Keywords: Telehealth, Nursing Homes, Medication, Elderly, Provider: Pharmacist