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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.
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1 to 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedLundsberg LS, Main EK, Lee HC
Low-interventional approaches to intrapartum care: hospital variation in practice and associated factors.
This study compared hospitals in California with low and high-interventional practices for labor and delivery. A total of 185 California hospitals completed a survey of intrapartum care, including questions on low- versus high-interventional practices. They identified 2 distinct groups of hospitals that tended to use low- or high-interventional practices. Hospitals that used low-interventional practices tended to have midwife-led or physician-midwife collaborative labor management or were in rural locations. High-interventional practice hospitals had a higher proportion of women covered by Medicaid or other safety-net programs as well as hospitals located in counties with higher liability insurance premiums. Both sets of hospitals had comparable morbidity rates but low-intervention hospitals had lower rates of cesarean birth and episiotomies. Only one-quarter of hospitals were found to use low-interventional practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS023801.
Citation: Lundsberg LS, Main EK, Lee HC .
Low-interventional approaches to intrapartum care: hospital variation in practice and associated factors.
J Midwifery Womens Health 2020 Jan;65(1):33-44. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13017..
Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Women, Maternal Care, Hospitals, Quality of Care
Triebwasser JE, Kamdar NS, Langen ES
Hospital contribution to variation in rates of vaginal birth after cesarean.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the influence of delivery hospital on the rate of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Claims data were obtained from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and included women with a prior cesarean and a singleton live birth. Hospital-specific risk-standardized VBAC rates and the median odds ratio as a measure of variation were calculated. From their results, the authors conclude that the individual delivery hospital contributes to the significant variation in rates of VBAC, after adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465.
Citation: Triebwasser JE, Kamdar NS, Langen ES .
Hospital contribution to variation in rates of vaginal birth after cesarean.
J Perinatol 2019 Jul;39(7):904-10. doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0373-2..
Keywords: Hospitals, Labor and Delivery, Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women
Vanderlaan J, Rochat R, Williams B
Associations between hospital maternal service level and delivery outcomes.
This study explored the associations between delivery hospital self-reported level of maternal service, as defined by the American Hospital Association, and both maternal and neonatal outcomes among women at high maternal risk, as defined by the Obstetric Comorbidity Index. The investigators concluded that for the group of pregnant women in need of maternal transfer, delivery hospital self-reported level of maternal care was not associated with the odds of poor maternal or neonatal outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024655.
Citation: Vanderlaan J, Rochat R, Williams B .
Associations between hospital maternal service level and delivery outcomes.
Womens Health Issues 2019 May - Jun;29(3):252-58. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2019.02.004..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Women, Outcomes, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Newborns/Infants, Mortality
Milla C, Guo M, Chang A
Patient perspectives in comparing hospitals for childbirth: insights from Hawai'i.
Childbirth is a national priority area for healthcare quality improvement. Patient perspectives are increasingly valued in healthcare, yet Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) perspectives of healthcare quality are often understudied, particularly from individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). In this study, the goal was to understand factors that consumers in Hawai'i, including AAPI and those with LEP, used to compare patient care in hospitals, especially for childbirth.
AHRQ-funded; HS021903.
Citation: Milla C, Guo M, Chang A .
Patient perspectives in comparing hospitals for childbirth: insights from Hawai'i.
Hawaii J Med Public Health 2019 Mar;78(3):89-97..
Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Cultural Competence, Women
Gourevitch RA, Mehrotra A, Galvin G
Does comparing cesarean delivery rates influence women's choice of obstetric hospital?
This study examined whether pregnant women who use cesarean delivery rate data from hospitals influences their choice of obstetric hospital. A randomized controlled trial of 18,293 users of the Ovia Health mobile app from 2016-2017 was conducted. Enrollees were given an explanation of the cesarean rate data and were randomized to an intervention group who also were given an interactive tool to display data for the 10 closest hospitals with obstetric services. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in their hospital selection.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Gourevitch RA, Mehrotra A, Galvin G .
Does comparing cesarean delivery rates influence women's choice of obstetric hospital?
Am J Manag Care 2019 Feb;25(2):e33-e38..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Women, Hospitals, Maternal Care, Labor and Delivery
Xu X, Lee HC, Lin H
Hospital variation in cost of childbirth and contributing factors: a cross-sectional study.
The purpose of this study was to examine hospital variation in cost of childbirth hospitalizations and identify factors that contribute to the variation. The study concluded that cost of childbirth hospitalizations varied widely among hospitals in California. Institutional characteristics significantly contributed to this variation. Higher-cost hospitals did not have better outcomes, suggesting potential opportunities to enhance value in care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023801.
Citation: Xu X, Lee HC, Lin H .
Hospital variation in cost of childbirth and contributing factors: a cross-sectional study.
BJOG 2018 Jun;125(7):829-39. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.15007..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR), Hospitals, Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy
Lorch SA, Martin AE, Ranade R
Lessons for providers and hospitals from Philadelphia's obstetric services closures and consolidations, 1997-2012.
The researchers examined the experience of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, where thirteen of nineteen hospital obstetric units closed between 1997 and 2012, and they conducted interviews at eleven hospitals whose obstetric units remained open. Interviewees reported sharp surges in delivery volume and an increase in the proportion of patients with public insurance or no insurance. The authors concluded that their study supports the need for policy makers to anticipate reductions in supply and monitor patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS018661.
Citation: Lorch SA, Martin AE, Ranade R .
Lessons for providers and hospitals from Philadelphia's obstetric services closures and consolidations, 1997-2012.
Health Aff 2014 Dec;33(12):2162-9. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0136.
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Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Hospitals