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 (1)
- Antibiotics (1)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (1)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) (3)
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) (4)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Communication (1)
- Dialysis (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Guidelines (2)
- (-) Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (18)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Hospitals (2)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (1)
- Labor and Delivery (1)
- Long-Term Care (2)
- Maternal Care (1)
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (3)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (1)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Organizational Change (1)
- Outcomes (3)
- (-) Patient Safety (18)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Pressure Ulcers (1)
- Prevention (10)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Health Personnel (2)
- Quality Measures (1)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Risk (1)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (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 18 of 18 Research Studies DisplayedMetersky ML, Wang Y, Klompas M
Trend in ventilator-associated pneumonia rates between 2005 and 2013.
This study found that, from 2005 through 2013, Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System (MPSMS) ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates remained stable and substantial, affecting approximately 10 percent of ventilated patients. Persistently high VAP rates bolster concerns that most interventions purported to reduce VAP are supported by limited evidence.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201200003C.
Citation: Metersky ML, Wang Y, Klompas M .
Trend in ventilator-associated pneumonia rates between 2005 and 2013.
JAMA 2016 Dec 13;316(22):2427-29. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.16226.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Evidence-Based Practice
Cohen B, Murray M, Jia H
Is hand hygiene frequency associated with the onset of outbreaks in pediatric long-term care?
The authors studied the possibility of a correlation between hand hygiene and viral outbreak reduction in pediatric long-term care facilities. Contrary to findings in adult long-term care facilities, they found no association between hand hygiene frequency and subsequent outbreak onset in pediatric long-term care facilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS021470.
Citation: Cohen B, Murray M, Jia H .
Is hand hygiene frequency associated with the onset of outbreaks in pediatric long-term care?
Am J Infect Control 2016 Dec;44(12):1492-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.06.022.
.
.
Keywords: Prevention, Children/Adolescents, Long-Term Care, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Children/Adolescents
Peterson LR, Boehm S, Beaumont JL
Reduction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in long-term care is possible while maintaining patient socialization: a prospective randomized clinical trial.
The researchers sought to demonstrate that a novel, minimally invasive program not interfering with activities of daily living or socialization could lower methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) disease in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). They found that the MRSA infection rate decreased 65% between baseline and year 2, with a significant reduction observed at each of the three participating LTCFs. They concluded that on-site MRSA surveillance with targeted decolonization resulted in a significant decrease in clinical MRSA infection among LTCF residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS019968.
Citation: Peterson LR, Boehm S, Beaumont JL .
Reduction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in long-term care is possible while maintaining patient socialization: a prospective randomized clinical trial.
Am J Infect Control 2016 Dec;44(12):1622-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.251.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Long-Term Care, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Patient Safety, Prevention
Musuuza JS, Hundt AS, Zimbric M
Standardizing direct observation for assessing compliance to a daily chlorhexidine bathing protocol among hospitalized patients.
This paper describes the authors' experience training observers to conduct chlorhexidine gluconate bathing observations, and they present findings from pilot observations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024039.
Citation: Musuuza JS, Hundt AS, Zimbric M .
Standardizing direct observation for assessing compliance to a daily chlorhexidine bathing protocol among hospitalized patients.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016 Dec;37(12):1516-18. doi: 10.1017/ice.2016.214.
.
.
Keywords: Guidelines, Quality of Care, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
Mimoz O, Chopra V, Widmer A
What's new in skin antisepsis for short-term intravascular catheters: new data to address old problems?
Catheter-related infections remain a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in ICUs and the most preventable HAI. The authors discussed skin antiseptic solutions and included a table of practical recommendations for skin antisepsis before insertion of a short-term vascular catheter.
AHRQ-funded; HS022835.
Citation: Mimoz O, Chopra V, Widmer A .
What's new in skin antisepsis for short-term intravascular catheters: new data to address old problems?
Intensive Care Med 2016 Dec;42(12):2043-45. doi: 10.1007/s00134-016-4490-5.
.
.
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
Pogorzelska-Maziarz M, Nembhard IM, Schnall R
Psychometric evaluation of an instrument for measuring organizational climate for quality: evidence from a national sample of infection preventionists.
This study tested the psychometric properties of the Leading a Culture of Quality for Infection Prevention (LCQ-IP) instrument measuring the infection prevention climate in a sample of 972 infection preventionists from acute care hospitals. An exploratory principal component analysis showed that the instrument had structural validity and captured 4 factors related to the climate for infection prevention: Psychological Safety, Prioritization of Quality, Supportive Work Environment, and Improvement Orientation.
AHRQ-funded; HS018987.
Citation: Pogorzelska-Maziarz M, Nembhard IM, Schnall R .
Psychometric evaluation of an instrument for measuring organizational climate for quality: evidence from a national sample of infection preventionists.
Am J Med Qual 2016 Sep;31(5):441-7. doi: 10.1177/1062860615587322.
.
.
Keywords: Quality of Care, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
McAlearney AS, Hefner JL
Getting to zero: goal commitment to reduce blood stream infections.
The researchers examined goal-setting as a factor contributing to program outcomes in eight hospitals focused on preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). They conducted qualitative case studies to compare higher- and lower-performing hospitals, and explored differences in contextual factors that might contribute to performance variation. Finally, they present a goal commitment framework that characterizes factors associated with successful CLABSI program outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; 290200600022.
Citation: McAlearney AS, Hefner JL .
Getting to zero: goal commitment to reduce blood stream infections.
Med Care Res Rev 2016 Aug;73(4):458-77. doi: 10.1177/1077558715616028.
.
.
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Outcomes, Patient Safety, Prevention
Dicks KV, Lofgren E, Lewis SS
A multicenter pragmatic interrupted time series analysis of chlorhexidine gluconate bathing in community hospital intensive care units.
This study sought to determine whether daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing of intensive care unit (ICU) patients leads to a decrease in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), particularly infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). It concluded that hospitals that implemented CHG bathing attained a decrease in ICU central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), ICU primary BSIs, and VRE central-line-associated bloodstream infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS023866.
Citation: Dicks KV, Lofgren E, Lewis SS .
A multicenter pragmatic interrupted time series analysis of chlorhexidine gluconate bathing in community hospital intensive care units.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016 Jul;37(7):791-7. doi: 10.1017/ice.2016.23.
.
.
Keywords: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Prevention, Patient Safety, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Reich PJ, Boyle MG, Hogan PG
Emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in the neonatal intensive care unit: an infection prevention and patient safety challenge.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The researchers characterized the clinical and molecular epidemiology of MRSA strains colonizing NICU patients. They found that community-acquired MRSA strains are prominent in the NICU and associated with distinct risk factors.
AHRQ-funded; HS021736; HS024269.
Citation: Reich PJ, Boyle MG, Hogan PG .
Emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in the neonatal intensive care unit: an infection prevention and patient safety challenge.
Clin Microbiol Infect 2016 Jul;22(7):645.e1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2016.04.013.
.
.
Keywords: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Patient Safety, Prevention, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Newborns/Infants, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Musuuza JS, Barker A, Ngam C
Assessment of fidelity in interventions to improve hand hygiene of healthcare workers: a systematic review.
The researchers examined fidelity reporting in interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance and assessed 5 measures of intervention fidelity. They found that participant responsiveness and adherence to the intervention were the most frequently unreported fidelity measures, while quality of the delivery was the most frequently reported measure. To facilitate replication and effective implementation, the authors recommended that reporting fidelity should be standard practice when describing results of complex behavioral interventions such as hand hygiene.
AHRQ-funded; HS024039.
Citation: Musuuza JS, Barker A, Ngam C .
Assessment of fidelity in interventions to improve hand hygiene of healthcare workers: a systematic review.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016 May;37(5):567-75. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.341.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Provider: Health Personnel, Patient Safety, Prevention
Tischendorf J, de Avila RA, Safdar N
Risk of infection following colonization with carbapenem-resistant Enterobactericeae: a systematic review.
The authors examined the risk of developing infection among those colonized with carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE). They found an overall 16.5% risk of infection with CRE, with the most common site of infection being the lung. They concluded that, given the high mortality rate observed with CRE infection and the difficulty in treating these infections, research to investigate and develop strategies to eliminate the colonization state are needed.
AHRQ-funded; HS023791; HS024039.
Citation: Tischendorf J, de Avila RA, Safdar N .
Risk of infection following colonization with carbapenem-resistant Enterobactericeae: a systematic review.
Am J Infect Control 2016 May;44(5):539-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.12.005.
.
.
Keywords: Antibiotics, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Risk, Risk
Chopra V, Smith S, Swaminathan L
Variations in peripherally inserted central catheter use and outcomes in Michigan hospitals.
The researchers examined the use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) by conducting a prospective study at 10 hospitals through the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium. Their multicenter study found substantial variation in PICC indications, patterns of use, and outcomes at the 10 Michigan hospitals included in the study.
AHRQ-funded; HS022835.
Citation: Chopra V, Smith S, Swaminathan L .
Variations in peripherally inserted central catheter use and outcomes in Michigan hospitals.
JAMA Intern Med 2016 Apr;176(4):548-51. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.8402.
.
.
Keywords: Patient Safety, Practice Patterns, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Outcomes, Adverse Events
Safdar N, Codispoti N, Purvis S
Patient perspectives on indwelling urinary catheter use in the hospital.
The researchers assessed patient perspectives of indwelling urinary catheters. They recommended implementing educational programs incorporating patient preferences for both health care workers and patients in order to increase the involvement of patients in decision-making regarding urinary catheters, which may lead to a decline in catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS023791.
Citation: Safdar N, Codispoti N, Purvis S .
Patient perspectives on indwelling urinary catheter use in the hospital.
Am J Infect Control 2016 Mar;44(3):e23-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.10.011.
.
.
Keywords: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Education: Patient and Caregiver, Shared Decision Making, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety
Davis KK, Harris KG, Mahishi V
Perceptions of culture of safety in hemodialysis centers.
Staff members, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants from a sample of hemodialysis facilities completed a 10-item assessment with modified questions from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, with an emphasis on safety culture related to vascular access infections. Overall, scores were high, indicating a positive patient safety culture.
AHRQ-funded; 2902010000251.
Citation: Davis KK, Harris KG, Mahishi V .
Perceptions of culture of safety in hemodialysis centers.
Nephrol Nurs J 2016 Mar-Apr;43(2):119-26, 82; quiz 27.
.
.
Keywords: Surveys on Patient Safety Culture, Patient Safety, Dialysis, Kidney Disease and Health, Organizational Change, Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Provider
Creehan S, Cuddigan J, Gonzales D
The VCU pressure ulcer summit-developing centers of pressure ulcer prevention excellence: a framework for sustainability.
The purpose of this paper is to present a framework describing the proposed Magnet-designated Centers of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Excellence resulting from a national summit convened at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in March 2014. The authors discussed the structures, processes, and outcome measures necessary to become a proposed Center of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Excellence.
AHRQ-funded; HS023710.
Citation: Creehan S, Cuddigan J, Gonzales D .
The VCU pressure ulcer summit-developing centers of pressure ulcer prevention excellence: a framework for sustainability.
J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 2016 Mar-Apr;43(2):121-8. doi: 10.1097/won.0000000000000203.
.
.
Keywords: Guidelines, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Outcomes, Patient Safety, Pressure Ulcers
Rock C, Thom KA, Harris AD
A multicenter longitudinal study of hospital-onset bacteremia: time for a new quality outcome measure?
This study evaluates hospital-onset bacteremia (HOB) as a healthcare-associated infection-related outcome measure by assessing the association between HOB and central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates and comparing the power of each to discriminate quality among intensive care units (ICUs). The researchers found that change in HOB rate is strongly associated with change in CLABSI rate and has greater power to discriminate between ICU performances.
AHRQ-funded; HS022291.
Citation: Rock C, Thom KA, Harris AD .
A multicenter longitudinal study of hospital-onset bacteremia: time for a new quality outcome measure?
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016 Feb;37(2):143-8. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.261.
.
.
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Quality Measures, Quality Measures
Szymczak JE
Infections and interaction rituals in the organisation: clinician accounts of speaking up or remaining silent in the face of threats to patient safety.
The author examined how clinicians talk about speaking up or not in the face of breaches in infection prevention technique. Mutual focus of attention, interactional path dependence, and the presence of an audience are reasons found that influence the decision to speak up in a clinical setting. This decision is dynamic, highly context-dependent, embedded in the interaction rituals that suffuse everyday work, and constrained by organizational dynamics.
AHRQ-funded; HS020760.
Citation: Szymczak JE .
Infections and interaction rituals in the organisation: clinician accounts of speaking up or remaining silent in the face of threats to patient safety.
Sociol Health Illn 2016 Feb;38(2):325-39. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.12371.
.
.
Keywords: Communication, Provider: Health Personnel, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
Parriott AM, Arah OA
Patient volumes and pre- and postdischarge postpartum infection: a retrospective cohort study.
The researchers examined the association between hospital and clinician obstetric volume and postpartum infection risk in the pre- and postdischarge periods. They found that hospital obstetric volume is positively associated with predischarge postpartum infections, whereas clinician volume may be negatively associated with those predischarge infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Parriott AM, Arah OA .
Patient volumes and pre- and postdischarge postpartum infection: a retrospective cohort study.
Am J Infect Control 2016 Jan;44(1):30-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.08.018.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospital Discharge, Labor and Delivery, Maternal Care, Patient Safety