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
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Events (3)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (4)
- Anxiety (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cancer (4)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (3)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Caregiving (9)
- Care Management (1)
- Children/Adolescents (12)
- Chronic Conditions (4)
- (-) Clinician-Patient Communication (42)
- Communication (30)
- Critical Care (1)
- Cultural Competence (5)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Disparities (2)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (4)
- Elderly (2)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (8)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Family Health and History (1)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (10)
- Health Literacy (4)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Hospitalization (3)
- Hospitals (1)
- Implementation (1)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Inpatient Care (3)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (3)
- Lifestyle Changes (2)
- Medical Errors (2)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (2)
- Medication (3)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- Neurological Disorders (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Opioids (2)
- Outcomes (1)
- Pain (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (6)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (4)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (12)
- Patient Experience (7)
- Patient Safety (4)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Policy (2)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (4)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (2)
- Provider (4)
- Provider: Clinician (1)
- Provider: Physician (5)
- Quality Improvement (4)
- Quality of Care (3)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Screening (1)
- Shared Decision Making (8)
- Social Media (1)
- Stress (1)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- Surgery (2)
- Tools & Toolkits (1)
- Transplantation (1)
- Vaccination (1)
- Web-Based (1)
- Women (1)
- Young Adults (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
26 to 42 of 42 Research Studies DisplayedPisu M, Schoenberger YM, Herbey I
Perspectives on conversations about costs of cancer care of breast cancer survivors and cancer center staff: a qualitative study.
Despite recommendations to discuss the cost of care (CoC) with patients with cancer, little formal guidance is available on how to conduct these sensitive conversations in ways that are acceptable to both patients and providers. The objective of this study was to explore the perspectives of patients and medical and nonmedical cancer center staff on CoC conversations.
ARHQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Pisu M, Schoenberger YM, Herbey I .
Perspectives on conversations about costs of cancer care of breast cancer survivors and cancer center staff: a qualitative study.
Ann Intern Med 2019 May 7;170(9_Supplement):S54-s61. doi: 10.7326/m18-2117..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Armstrong MJ, Rastgardani T, Gagliardi AR
Barriers and facilitators of communication about off periods in Parkinson's disease: qualitative analysis of patient, carepartner, and physician Interviews.
This article discusses barriers and facilitators of communication with Parkinson’s disease patients, care partners, and their physicians specifically during off periods. Twenty persons with Parkinson’s and their care partners, and 20 physicians participated in interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Communication barrier levels were identified as patient-level, caregiver-level, and physician-level. For patients cognitive impairment and reluctance to discuss symptoms was the largest barrier. Caregiver absence was also a barrier. For physicians barriers were distraction by technology and lack of appreciation of off period burdens. Various tools such as home diaries, questionnaires and mobile phone videos can be used to aid communication regarding off periods. Patients and their caregivers stressed the need for more formal educational materials and improved educational tools.
AHRQ-funded; HS024159.
Citation: Armstrong MJ, Rastgardani T, Gagliardi AR .
Barriers and facilitators of communication about off periods in Parkinson's disease: qualitative analysis of patient, carepartner, and physician Interviews.
PLoS One 2019 Apr 18;14(4):e0215384. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215384..
Keywords: Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication, Neurological Disorders, Caregiving, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Literacy, Patient and Family Engagement
Roche SD, Reichheld AM, Demosthenes N
Measuring the quality of inpatient specialist consultation in the intensive care unit: Nursing and family experiences of communication.
The purpose of this study was to document the receipt of communication by nurses and family members regarding consultations performed on their patient or loved one, and to quantify how this impacted their overall perceptions of the quality of specialty care. The investigators found that most ICU families and nurses had no interaction with specialist providers. They concluded that nurses' frequent exclusion from conversations about specialty care may pose safety risks and increase the likelihood of mixed messages for patients and families, most of whom desire some interaction with specialists.
AHRQ-funded; K08 HS024288.
Citation: Roche SD, Reichheld AM, Demosthenes N .
Measuring the quality of inpatient specialist consultation in the intensive care unit: Nursing and family experiences of communication.
PLoS One 2019 Apr 11;14(4):e0214918. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214918..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Quality of Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Patient Experience, Inpatient Care
Grob R, Darien G, Meyers D
AHRQ Author: Meyers D
Why physicians should trust in patients.
This viewpoint article explores shifting the patient-physician relationship from simply emphasizing patients’ adherence to cultivating patients’ ability to contribute to the development of care plans that reflect their own values and preferences.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Grob R, Darien G, Meyers D .
Why physicians should trust in patients.
JAMA 2019 Apr 9;321(14):1347-48. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.1500..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Patient and Family Engagement, Communication
Law AC, Roche S, Reichheld A
Failures in the respectful care of critically ill patients.
The emotional toll of critical illness on patients and their families can be profound and is emerging as an important target for value improvement. One source of emotional harm to patients and families may be care perceived as inadequately respectful. The prevalence and risk factors for types of emotional harms is under-studied. This prospective cohort study was conducted in nine ICUs at a tertiary care academic medical center in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS024288.
Citation: Law AC, Roche S, Reichheld A .
Failures in the respectful care of critically ill patients.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2019 Apr;45(4):276-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.05.008..
Keywords: Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Patient Experience, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Kelly MM, Thurber AS, Coller RJ
Parent perceptions of real-time access to their hospitalized child's medical records using an inpatient portal: a qualitative study.
In this study, the authors’ objectives were to identify why parents used an inpatient portal application on a tablet computer during their child's hospitalization and identify their perspectives of ways to optimize the technology. The investigators concluded that providing parents with real-time clinical information during their child's hospitalization using an inpatient portal may enhance their ability to engage in caregiving tasks critical to ensuring inpatient care quality and safety.
Citation: Kelly MM, Thurber AS, Coller RJ .
Parent perceptions of real-time access to their hospitalized child's medical records using an inpatient portal: a qualitative study.
Hosp Pediatr 2019 Apr;9(4):273-80. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2018-0166..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Hospitalization, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication
Brand McCarthy SR, Kang TI, Mack JW
Inclusion of children in the initial conversation about their cancer diagnosis: impact on parent experiences of the communication process.
The current study examined the frequency and impact of child presence during a serious medical conversation on the parent's communication experience in pediatric oncology. The investigators concluded that the parent's communication experience is not diminished by the choice to include the child. They suggest that given the bioethical imperative to include children in conversations about serious illness whenever possible, this concern should not be used to exclude children, but rather to give parents additional time of their own when needed to fully process decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Brand McCarthy SR, Kang TI, Mack JW .
Inclusion of children in the initial conversation about their cancer diagnosis: impact on parent experiences of the communication process.
Support Care Cancer 2019 Apr;27(4):1319-24. doi: 10.1007/s00520-019-4653-3..
Keywords: Cancer, Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Clinician-Patient Communication, Patient and Family Engagement
Ashcraft LE, Asato M, Houtrow AJ
Parent empowerment in pediatric healthcare settings: a systematic review of observational studies.
The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize potential antecedents and consequences of parent empowerment in healthcare settings. The authors identified six themes within consequences of empowerment: increased parent involvement in daily care, improved symptom management, enhanced informational needs and tools, increased involvement in care decisions, increased advocacy for child, and engagement in empowering others. Six themes summarizing antecedents of empowerment also emerged: parent-provider relationships.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Ashcraft LE, Asato M, Houtrow AJ .
Parent empowerment in pediatric healthcare settings: a systematic review of observational studies.
Patient 2019 Apr;12(2):199-212. doi: 10.1007/s40271-018-0336-2..
Keywords: Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Clinician-Patient Communication, Shared Decision Making, Patient and Family Engagement
Perez S, Greenzang KA
Completion of adolescent cancer treatment: excitement, guilt, and anxiety.
The completion of cancer treatment in adolescents and young adults is a time that many patients and families approach with hope and excitement but is often tinged with anxiety and fear. In this paper, the authors present a young man’s personal experience moving from treatment to survivorship as well as that of his oncologist, and together we offer recommendations for supporting children and teenagers with serious illness at the completion of therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Perez S, Greenzang KA .
Completion of adolescent cancer treatment: excitement, guilt, and anxiety.
Pediatrics 2019 Mar;143(3). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3073..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Young Adults, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Anxiety, Clinician-Patient Communication
Henderson ML, Adler JT, Van Pilsum Rasmussen SE
How should social media be used in transplantation? A survey of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
The authors investigated how social media-driven communication is perceived by providers in the field of transplantation. 299 members of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons were surveyed regarding their use of, attitudes toward, and perceptions of social media; the authors analyzed relationships between their responses and participant characteristics. The authors found that individual characteristics influence opinions about the role and clinical usefulness of social media. They concluded that increasing use of social media among transplant professionals may provide an opportunity to deliver high-quality information to patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Henderson ML, Adler JT, Van Pilsum Rasmussen SE .
How should social media be used in transplantation? A survey of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
Transplantation 2019 Mar;103(3):573-80. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002243..
Keywords: Transplantation, Social Media, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Provider: Physician
Chung CF, Wang Q, Schroeder J
Identifying and planning for individualized change: patient-provider collaboration using lightweight food diaries in healthy eating and irritable bowel syndrome.
This study examined if the use of a photo-based food diary app will help patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) help gather food and symptom data to help their doctors with disease management. The investigators designed and developed Foodprint which includes a mobile and web app and pre-visit note to go to experts which communicate an individual’s expectations and questions. A control group and a group with IBS were used to determine the effectiveness of Foodprint.
AHRQ-funded; HS023654.
Citation: Chung CF, Wang Q, Schroeder J .
Identifying and planning for individualized change: patient-provider collaboration using lightweight food diaries in healthy eating and irritable bowel syndrome.
Proc ACM Interact Mob Wearable Ubiquitous Technol 2019 Mar;3(1). doi: 10.1145/3314394..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Digestive Disease and Health, Health Information Technology (HIT), Lifestyle Changes, Nutrition, Patient Self-Management
Fisher KA, Smith KM, Gallagher TH
We want to know: patient comfort speaking up about breakdowns in care and patient experience.
The purpose of this study was to assess patient comfort speaking up about problems during hospitalisation and to identify patients at increased risk of having a problem and not feeling comfortable speaking up. The investigators suggest that creating conditions for patients to be comfortable speaking up may result in service recovery opportunities and improved patient experience. They assert that such efforts should consider the impact of health literacy and mental health on patient engagement in patient-safety activities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024596; HS022757.
Citation: Fisher KA, Smith KM, Gallagher TH .
We want to know: patient comfort speaking up about breakdowns in care and patient experience.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Mar;28(3):190-97. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2018-008159..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Hospitalization, Patient Experience, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Grob R, Schlesinger M, Barre LR
What words convey: the potential for patient narratives to inform quality improvement.
This article explored the potential of systematically elicited narratives about experiences with outpatient care to enrich quality improvement. The authors concluded that attention to patient experience and rigorously elicited narratives hold substantial promise for improving quality and patients' experiences with care by making concrete what went wrong or right in domains covered by existing surveys, and by expanding our view of what aspects of care matter to patients as articulated in their own words and thus how care can be made more patient-centered.
AHRQ-funded; HS016978; HS016980; HS021858.
Citation: Grob R, Schlesinger M, Barre LR .
What words convey: the potential for patient narratives to inform quality improvement.
Milbank Q 2019 Mar;97(1):176-227. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12374..
Keywords: Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Clinician-Patient Communication, Patient Experience, Quality Improvement
Lion KC, Kieran K, Desai A
Audio-recorded discharge instructions for limited English proficient parents: a pilot study.
Parents with limited English proficiency (LEP) demonstrate lower comprehension of discharge instructions. This study was conducted to (1) determine the feasibility of providing a greeting card with language-specific, audio-recorded discharge instructions to LEP parents; (2) describe use of and satisfaction with the cards; and (3) evaluate card effect on instruction comfort with home care and comprehension. The authors concluded that providing language-concordant, audio-recorded discharge instructions was feasible, and parents reported high satisfaction with and frequent use of the cards with multiple caregivers.
AHRQ-funded; HS024299.
Citation: Lion KC, Kieran K, Desai A .
Audio-recorded discharge instructions for limited English proficient parents: a pilot study.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2019 Feb;45(2):98-107. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.06.001..
Keywords: Hospital Discharge, Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Abelson JS, Chait A, Shen MJ
Coping strategies among colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery and the role of the surgeon in mitigating distress: a qualitative study.
This study researched the role that surgeons can play in managing stress in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Patients were interviewed in-depth using open-ended questions. While patients did not believe surgeons are responsible for helping them cope, they do believe that they can play a role in managing their distress.
AHRQ-funded; HS000066.
Citation: Abelson JS, Chait A, Shen MJ .
Coping strategies among colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery and the role of the surgeon in mitigating distress: a qualitative study.
Surgery 2019 Feb;165(2):461-68. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2018.06.005..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Clinician-Patient Communication, Provider: Physician, Stress, Surgery
Shah PD, Calo WA, Gikey MB
Questions and concerns about HPV vaccine: a communication experiment.
The purpose of this study was to identify effective responses to parents' questions and concerns about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, using a surveyed national sample of 1196 parents of children aged 9 - 17. Brief videos of a pediatrician providing messages that addressed seven HPV vaccination topics were recorded and parents viewed four videos on one randomly assigned topic, in random order, and evaluated the messages. The authors conclude that the most important principles for increasing message effectiveness are to include information on the benefits of vaccination, including cancer prevention, and to avoid expressing urgency to vaccinate when addressing parents' questions or concerns. The authors also recommend that providers need to be prepared to have longer conversations with parents who express concerns about the HPV vaccine.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Shah PD, Calo WA, Gikey MB .
Questions and concerns about HPV vaccine: a communication experiment.
Pediatrics 2019 Feb;143(2):pii: e20181872. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1872..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Shared Decision Making, Infectious Diseases, Vaccination
Son H, Nahm ES
Older adults' experience using patient portals in communities: challenges and opportunities.
The purpose of this study was to assess the perceived usability of patient portals currently used by older adults. 272 older adults were recruited from an online trial testing the effects of a 3-week Theory-Based Patient Portal eLearning Program. Self-efficacy and perceived usability of patient portals were both low; difficulties with using patient portals were primarily associated with login/access and specific portal functions. Favored features were review of medical information and eMessaging.
AHRQ-funded; HS024739.
Citation: Son H, Nahm ES .
Older adults' experience using patient portals in communities: challenges and opportunities.
Comput Inform Nurs 2019 Jan;37(1):4-10. doi: 10.1097/cin.0000000000000476..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Elderly, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Experience, Web-Based