National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Adverse Events (4)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Caregiving (2)
- Children/Adolescents (8)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (1)
- Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) (3)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Critical Care (1)
- Disparities (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Elderly (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (1)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Promotion (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Hospital Discharge (2)
- (-) Hospitalization (14)
- (-) Hospitals (14)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- (-) Inpatient Care (14)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Medical Errors (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Mortality (1)
- Nursing (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (2)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (5)
- Pneumonia (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Public Health (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality Measures (2)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Sepsis (1)
- Sleep Problems (1)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- Surgery (1)
- Transitions of Care (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 14 of 14 Research Studies DisplayedHalvorson EE, Thurtle DP, Easter A
Disparities in adverse event reporting for hospitalized children.
The authors compared the adverse event (AE) rate identified by voluntary event reporting (VER) with that identified using the Global Assessment of Pediatric Patient Safety (GAPPS) between hospitalized children by weight category, race, and English proficiency. In the population studied, they identified 288 total AEs, 270 by the GAPPS and 18 by VER. They found a disparity in AE reporting for children with limited English proficiency, with fewer AEs by VER compared with no difference in AEs by GAPPS. They identified no disparities by weight category or race. They concluded that voluntary event reporting may systematically underreport AEs in hospitalized children with limited English proficiency.
AHRQ-funded; HS026038.
Citation: Halvorson EE, Thurtle DP, Easter A .
Disparities in adverse event reporting for hospitalized children.
J Patient Saf 2022 Sep 1;18(6):e928-e33. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001049..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Adverse Events, Medical Errors, Patient Safety, Hospitals, Hospitalization, Inpatient Care
Masonbrink AR, Harris M, Hall M
Safety events in children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted hospitals, potentially affecting quality and safety. The objective of this study was to compare pediatric hospitalization safety events during the pandemic versus previous years. The investigators concluded that postoperative sepsis rates increased among children hospitalized during COVID-19. They suggest that efforts are needed to improve safety of postoperative care for hospitalized children.
AHRQ-funded; HS024554; HS024592.
Citation: Masonbrink AR, Harris M, Hall M .
Safety events in children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hosp Pediatr 2021 Jun;11(6):e95-e100. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-004937..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Patient Safety, Sepsis, Adverse Events, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Infectious Diseases, Public Health
Thompson HM, Faig W, VanKim NA HM, Faig W, VanKim NA
Differences in length of stay and discharge destination among patients with substance use disorders: The effect of Substance Use Intervention Team (SUIT) consultation service.
Addiction medicine consultation services (ACS) may improve outcomes of hospitalized patients with substance use disorders (SUD). The aim of the study was to examine the difference in length of stay and the hazard ratio for a routine hospital discharge between SUD patients receiving and not receiving ACS. The authors concluded that the Substance Use Intervention Team (SUIT) consultation service was associated with a reduced length of stay and an increased hazard of a routine discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Thompson HM, Faig W, VanKim NA HM, Faig W, VanKim NA .
Differences in length of stay and discharge destination among patients with substance use disorders: The effect of Substance Use Intervention Team (SUIT) consultation service.
PLoS One 2020 Oct 9;15(10):e0239761. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239761..
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Hospitalization, Inpatient Care, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals
Feng JY, Toomey SL, Elliott MN
Factors associated with family experience in pediatric inpatient care.
Researchers assessed which aspects of pediatric inpatient experience have the strongest relationships with parents' willingness to recommend a hospital. Their cross-sectional study examined surveys completed by parents of children hospitalized at hospitals using the Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey. They found that child comfort and nurse-parent communication showed the strongest relationships with willingness to recommend, followed by preparing to leave the hospital, doctor-parent communication, and keeping parents informed. They recommended improvement efforts focusing on creating an age-appropriate environment, improving the effectiveness of provider interactions, and engaging parents to share their values and concerns.
AHRQ-funded; HS020513; HS025299.
Citation: Feng JY, Toomey SL, Elliott MN .
Factors associated with family experience in pediatric inpatient care.
Pediatrics 2020 Mar;145(3): e20191264. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-1264..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Children/Adolescents, Quality Measures, Quality of Care, Inpatient Care, Patient Experience, Hospitals, Hospitalization, Patient and Family Engagement, Clinician-Patient Communication
Hussain FS, Sosa T, Ambroggio L
Emergency transfers: an important predictor of adverse outcomes in hospitalized children.
This case-control study aimed to determine the predictive validity of an emergency transfer (ET) for outcomes in a free-standing children's hospital. Controls were matched in terms of age, hospital unit, and time of year. Patients who experienced an ET had a significantly higher likelihood of in-hospital mortality (22% vs 9%), longer ICU length of stay (4.9 vs 2.2 days), and longer posttransfer length of stay (26.4 vs 14.7 days) compared with controls (P < .03 for each).
AHRQ-funded; HS023827.
Citation: Hussain FS, Sosa T, Ambroggio L .
Emergency transfers: an important predictor of adverse outcomes in hospitalized children.
J Hosp Med 2019 Aug;14(8):482-85. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3219..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Children/Adolescents, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Adverse Events, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Inpatient Care, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery
Beck J, Wignall J, Jacob-Files E
Parent attitudes and preferences for discussing health care costs in the inpatient setting.
This study examined parent attitudes towards discussing their child’s health care costs in an inpatient setting with health care providers and others. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 42 parents of children who received care at a tertiary academic children’s hospital with and without chronic disease. Two domains for discussion were identified: factors that influence the parent’s desire to discuss health care costs in the inpatient setting and parent preference regarding the execution of cost discussions. Most parents highlighted concerns regarding physician involvement and felt that it was better explored with a financial counselor or social worker. They also felt that the discussions should be optional.
AHRQ-funded; HS024299.
Citation: Beck J, Wignall J, Jacob-Files E .
Parent attitudes and preferences for discussing health care costs in the inpatient setting.
Pediatrics 2019 Aug;144(2). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-4029..
Keywords: Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare Costs, Inpatient Care, Hospitalization, Hospitals
Glick AF, Brach C, Yin HS
AHRQ Author: Brach C
Health literacy in the inpatient setting: implications for patient care and patient safety.
This article considers how health literacy plays a part in events that lead up to children's hospitalizations both during hospital admission and after discharge. The authors discussed interventions that incorporate health-literacy-informed strategies and that target patients, families, and health care systems that should be implemented to improve patient outcomes and patient-centered and family-centered care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Glick AF, Brach C, Yin HS .
Health literacy in the inpatient setting: implications for patient care and patient safety.
Pediatr Clin North Am 2019 Aug;66(4):805-26. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2019.03.007..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Health Literacy, Hospital Discharge, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Patient Safety
Ye L, Owens RL, Dykes P
Individualized sleep promotion in acute care hospitals: Identifying factors that affect patient sleep.
The aim of this study was develop a tool that can be used to measure factors that affect patient sleep in acute care hospitals. A tool called Factors Affected Inpatient Sleep (FAIS) was developed using literature review and was validated by content validity testing. The scale was tested on 105 hospitalized patients and the most significant sleep disruptors were identified. The final FAIS scale included 14 items in three subscales. The biggest factors for sleep disruption included 1) emotional or physical impairment due to illness or hospitalization; 2) sleep disturbance due to discomfort of their care plan schedule; and 3) sleep interruption due to the hospital environment or medical care. The reliability of the scale was measured at 0.87 with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and reliability of the subscales ranged from 0.72 to 0.81.
AHRQ-funded; HS024330.
Citation: Ye L, Owens RL, Dykes P .
Individualized sleep promotion in acute care hospitals: Identifying factors that affect patient sleep.
Appl Nurs Res 2019 Aug;48:63-67. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2019.05.006..
Keywords: Health Promotion, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Sleep Problems
Desai NR, Ott LS, George EJ
Variation in and hospital characteristics associated with the value of care for Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia.
The objectives of this study were to investigate the association between hospital-level 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMRs) and 30-day risk-standardized payments (RSPs) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), and pneumonia (PNA); to characterize patterns of value in care; and to identify hospital characteristics associated with high-value care (defined by having lower than median RSMRs and RSPs).
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Desai NR, Ott LS, George EJ .
Variation in and hospital characteristics associated with the value of care for Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia.
JAMA Netw Open 2018 Oct 5;1(6):e183519. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3519..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Elderly, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Heart Disease and Health, Inpatient Care, Medicare, Mortality, Pneumonia
Al Danaf J, Chang BH, Shaear M
Surfacing and addressing hospitalized patients' needs: proactive nurse rounding as a tool.
This paper reported on rounding interventions employed at high performing hospitals, and provided three case studies on how proactive nurse rounding was successfully implemented to improve patient-centredness. The investigators concluded that proactive rounding interventions are a feasible approach to help surface and address hospitalized patients' needs in a timely manner.
AHRQ-funded; HS021921.
Citation: Al Danaf J, Chang BH, Shaear M .
Surfacing and addressing hospitalized patients' needs: proactive nurse rounding as a tool.
J Nurs Manag 2018 Jul;26(5):540-47. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12580..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Nursing, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient Experience, Quality Improvement
Sun SA, Ma X, Li G
Epidemiologic patterns of in-hospital anaphylaxis in pediatric surgical patients.
This research letter looks into epidemiologic patterns of in-hospital anaphylaxis in pediatric surgical patients. Data from the study came from the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KIDS), which is released every 3 years. The data came from the 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012 KID data sets. Children were included if they had a surgical admission for anaphylaxis which is interpreted as an in-hospital event. Overall in-hospital mortality for all children was 0.38% but for in-hospital anaphylaxis was 2.47%. The most common reason children were in the hospital before the event was hematological and myeloproliferative disorders, with the largest percentage undergoing bone marrow transplant procedures. Although the exact cause of the reaction was not known, hypersensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents and more recent mAb treatments have been identified as reasons for the in-hospital anaphylaxis.
AHRQ-funded; HS022941.
Citation: Sun SA, Ma X, Li G .
Epidemiologic patterns of in-hospital anaphylaxis in pediatric surgical patients.
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018 May;141(5):1904-05.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.11.030..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Practice Patterns, Surgery
Parast L, Bardach NS, Burkhart Q
Development of new quality measures for hospital-based care of suicidal youth.
This study researched the value of 4 new quality measures developed to assess hospital-based care for suicidal youth. The four quality measures focused on counseling caregivers about restricting access to lethal means of self-harm, and the benefits and risks of antidepressant medications. They were divided into measures for the emergency department (ED) and inpatient measures. Survey field tests were conducted with caregivers of youth who were admitted to the ED or inpatient care for suicidality at 1 of 2 children’s hospitals between July 2013 and June 2014. Most caregivers did receive counseling about restricting their child’s access to lethal means of self-harm and also reported higher rates of counseling of benefits on antidepressants both in the ED and in the inpatient setting than the risks.
AHRQ-funded; HS020506.
Citation: Parast L, Bardach NS, Burkhart Q .
Development of new quality measures for hospital-based care of suicidal youth.
Acad Pediatr 2018 Apr;18(3):248-55. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2017.09.017..
Keywords: Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Education: Patient and Caregiver, Emergency Department, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Behavioral Health, Prevention, Quality of Care, Quality Measures
Eriksson CO, Stoner RC, Eden KB
The association between hospital capacity strain and inpatient outcomes in highly developed countries: a systematic review.
This systematic literature review sought to understand whether hospital capacity strain is associated with worse health outcomes for hospitalized patients and to evaluate benefits and harms of health system interventions to improve care quality during times of hospital capacity strain. It concluded that in highly developed countries, hospital capacity strain is associated with increased mortality and worsened health outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Eriksson CO, Stoner RC, Eden KB .
The association between hospital capacity strain and inpatient outcomes in highly developed countries: a systematic review.
J Gen Intern Med 2017 Jun;32(6):686-96. doi: 10.1007/s11606-016-3936-3.
.
.
Keywords: Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Patient Safety
Kronick R, Arnold S, Brady J
AHRQ Author: Arnold S, Brady J
Improving safety for hospitalized patients: much progress but many challenges remain.
Over the past few years hospitals have made substantial progress in reducing harms. The authors review the evidence demonstrating progress and what is known about the factors contributing to progress. The authors concluded that to parallel the effort that has been made to date on hospital safety, substantial effort is needed to determine how to measure and reduce diagnostic errors and ensure that this information is integrated into practice where it will translate into meaningful benefits for patients.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kronick R, Arnold S, Brady J .
Improving safety for hospitalized patients: much progress but many challenges remain.
JAMA 2016 Aug 2;316(5):489-90. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.7887.
.
.
Keywords: Patient Safety, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care