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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.
Results
1 to 14 of 14 Research Studies DisplayedBossick AS, Painter I, Williams EC
Development of a composite risk index of reproductive autonomy using state laws: association with maternal and neonatal outcomes.
This study investigated whether greater reproductive autonomy would be associated with lower rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), pregnancy-related mortality (PRM), preterm birth (PTB), and low birthweight. It was hypothesized that greater reproductive autonomy would lower the risks of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. The authors developed a composite index to quantify state legislation, which was used to examine the association with maternal and neonatal outcomes. A Delphi panel was used to inform index development, and restrictive policies were assigned values of -1 and enabling policies +1. Publicly available data was used to conduct a cross-sectional study of all live births in the 50 US states for people ages 15 to 44 from 2016 to 2018 to examine the association between the risk index and PRM, SMM, PTB, and low birthweight. There were 11,530,785 births, 2,846 pregnancy-related deaths, and 154,384 cases of SMM from 2016 to 2018. The Delphi panel found a summed state measure of 106 laws in 8 categories that could affect reproductive anatomy. In adjusted analyses, states in the most enabling reproductive autonomy quartile had a 44.7 per 10,000 higher rate of SMM compared with the most restrictive quartile. However, the most enabling quartile was associated with a 9.87 per 100,000 lower rate of PRM and 0.67 per 100 lower rate of PTB compared with the most restrictive quartile.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Bossick AS, Painter I, Williams EC .
Development of a composite risk index of reproductive autonomy using state laws: association with maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Womens Health Issues 2023 Jul-Aug; 33(4):359-66. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2023.03.008..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Sexual Health, Women, Newborns/Infants, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Balk EM, Danilack VA, Bhuma MR
Reduced compared with traditional schedules for routine antenatal visits: a systematic review.
This systematic review’s objective was to assess differences in maternal and child outcomes in studies comparing reduced routine antenatal visit schedules with traditional schedules. The search was conducted in multiple databases searching for antenatal (prenatal) care, pregnancy, obstetrics, telemedicine, remote care, smartphones, telemonitoring, and related terms. Abstrackr was used for double independent screening for studies comparing televisits and in person routine antenatal care visits for maternal, child, health care utilization, and harm outcomes. The authors found five randomized controlled trials and five nonrandomized comparative studies that compared reduced routine antenatal visit schedules with traditional schedules. The studies did not find differences between schedules in gestational age at birth, likelihood of being small for gestational age, likelihood of a low Apgar score, likelihood of neonatal intensive care unit admission, maternal anxiety, likelihood of preterm birth, and likelihood of low birth weight. There was also insufficient evidence for numerous prioritized outcomes of interest, including completion of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists-recommended services and patient experience measures.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00001.
Citation: Balk EM, Danilack VA, Bhuma MR .
Reduced compared with traditional schedules for routine antenatal visits: a systematic review.
Obstet Gynecol 2023 Jul 1; 142(1):8-18. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005193..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Newborns/Infants, Women, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice
Saldanha IJ, Adam GP, Kanaan G
Health insurance coverage and postpartum outcomes in the US: a systematic review.
The objective of this evidence review was to assess whether extension of health insurance coverage or improvements in health care access are associated with postpartum health care utilization and maternal outcomes. Findings with moderate strength of evidence suggested that more comprehensive association was likely to be related to greater postpartum visit attendance; findings with low strength of evidence indicated a possible association between more comprehensive insurance, fewer preventable readmissions, and emergency department visits. The authors concluded that these findings suggested that evidence evaluating insurance coverage and postpartum visit attendance and unplanned care utilization is, at best, of moderate strength of evidence. They recommended that future research should evaluate clinical outcomes associated with more comprehensive insurance coverage.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00001.
Citation: Saldanha IJ, Adam GP, Kanaan G .
Health insurance coverage and postpartum outcomes in the US: a systematic review.
JAMA Netw Open 2023 Jun; 6(6):e2316536. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.16536..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Maternal Care, Women, Outcomes, Medicaid, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Dominici LS, Rosenberg SM
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): the importance of patient-reported outcomes (PRO).
This review summarizes patient-reported outcomes (PROs) frequently assessed in the setting of a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosis. Findings indicated that PROs provide critical information regarding the experiences of women following a DCIS diagnosis. Continued inclusion of PROs in clinical trials is warranted, further informing treatment decisions and adequately preparing patients for what to expect following treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS023680.
Citation: Dominici LS, Rosenberg SM .
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): the importance of patient-reported outcomes (PRO).
Curr Breast Cancer Rep 2020 Jun;12(2):90-97. doi: 10.1007/s12609-020-00363-2..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice, Women, Quality of Life
Wallace K, Zhang S, Thomas L
Comparative effectiveness of hysterectomy versus myomectomy on one-year health-related quality of life in women with uterine fibroids.
The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to compare long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) 1 year after hysterectomy or myomectomy for treatment of uterine fibroids (UFs) and to determine whether route of procedure, race, or age affected improvements in HRQOL. The investigators concluded that HRQOL improved in all women 1 year after hysterectomy or myomectomy.
AHRQ-funded; HS023418.
Citation: Wallace K, Zhang S, Thomas L .
Comparative effectiveness of hysterectomy versus myomectomy on one-year health-related quality of life in women with uterine fibroids.
Fertil Steril 2020 Mar;113(3):618-26. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.028..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Women, Quality of Life, Surgery, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Purnell TS, Luo X, Crews DC
Neighborhood poverty and sex differences in live donor kidney transplant outcomes in the United States.
Neighborhood poverty has been associated with worse outcomes after live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), and prior work suggests that women with kidney disease may be more susceptible to the negative influence of poverty than men. As such, our goal was to examine whether poverty differentially affects women in influencing LDKT outcomes. The investigators concluded that given their findings that poverty was more strongly associated with graft loss in women, targeted efforts are needed to specifically address mechanisms driving these disparities in LDKT outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Purnell TS, Luo X, Crews DC .
Neighborhood poverty and sex differences in live donor kidney transplant outcomes in the United States.
Transplantation 2019 Oct;103(10):2183-89. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002654.
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Keywords: Transplantation, Kidney Disease and Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Disparities, Women, Sex Factors, Low-Income, Outcomes
Nicholson WK, Wegienka G, Zhang S
Short-term health-related quality of life after hysterectomy compared with myomectomy for symptomatic leiomyomas.
The objective of this study was to compare short-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) 6-12 weeks after hysterectomy or myomectomy for the treatment of symptomatic leiomyomas. The investigators conducted a prospective comparative effectiveness analysis of data. They concluded that both hysterectomy and myomectomy were associated with substantial improvement in HRQOL at short-term follow-up, with small but statistically significant differences in symptom severity and certain subscales.
AHRQ-funded; HS023418.
Citation: Nicholson WK, Wegienka G, Zhang S .
Short-term health-related quality of life after hysterectomy compared with myomectomy for symptomatic leiomyomas.
Obstet Gynecol 2019 Aug;134(2):261-69. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000003354..
Keywords: Quality of Life, Surgery, Women, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Burnett-Zeigler I, Hong S, Waldron EM
A mindfulness-based intervention for low-income African American women with depressive symptoms delivered by an experienced instructor versus a novice instructor.
The authors piloted a streamlined mindfulness teacher training protocol for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) staff. They also examined the distribution and variability of psychologic outcomes for participants in groups led by an experienced instructor compared to a FQHC staff instructor who received the streamlined training. They concluded that preliminary data indicate that health care staff who receive streamlined training to deliver mindfulness-based interventions have comparable outcomes as experienced instructors.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Burnett-Zeigler I, Hong S, Waldron EM .
A mindfulness-based intervention for low-income African American women with depressive symptoms delivered by an experienced instructor versus a novice instructor.
J Altern Complement Med 2019 Jul;25(7):699-708. doi: 10.1089/acm.2018.0393..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Comparative Effectiveness, Depression, Low-Income, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Vulnerable Populations, Training, Women
Balk EM, Rofeberg VN, Adam GP
Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of clinical outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions to improve or cure stress, urgency, or mixed UI in nonpregnant women. The investigators concluded that most nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions were more likely than no treatment to improve UI outcomes. They also concluded that behavioral therapy, alone or in combination with other interventions, was generally more effective than pharmacologic therapies alone in treating both stress and urgency UI.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500002I.
Citation: Balk EM, Rofeberg VN, Adam GP .
Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of clinical outcomes.
Ann Intern Med 2019 Apr 2;170(7):465-79. doi: 10.7326/m18-3227..
Keywords: Care Management, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Medication, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Women
Yanez BR, Buitrago D, Buscemi J
Study design and protocol for My Guide: an e-health intervention to improve patient-centered outcomes among Hispanic breast cancer survivors.
This article describes a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a Smartphone application intended to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Hispanic breast cancer survivors. Participants are randomized to receive either the intervention application My Guide, or the health education control condition application My Health for six weeks, and also receive weekly telecoaching to enhance adherence to both applications. The study's outcomes are measured prior to intervention, immediately after, and eight weeks following initial application use.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Yanez BR, Buitrago D, Buscemi J .
Study design and protocol for My Guide: an e-health intervention to improve patient-centered outcomes among Hispanic breast cancer survivors.
Contemp Clin Trials 2018 Feb;65:61-68. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.11.018..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Health Information Technology (HIT), Outcomes, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Life, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women
Borah BJ, Yao X, Laughlin-Tommaso SK
Comparative effectiveness of uterine leiomyoma procedures using a large insurance claims database.
The objective of this retrospective analysis of administrative claims from a large U.S. commercial insurance database, was to compare risk of reintervention, long-term clinical outcomes, and health care utilization among women who have bulk symptoms from leiomyoma and who underwent the following procedures: hysterectomy, myomectomy, uterine artery embolization, and magnetic resonance-guided, focused ultrasound surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS023418.
Citation: Borah BJ, Yao X, Laughlin-Tommaso SK .
Comparative effectiveness of uterine leiomyoma procedures using a large insurance claims database.
Obstet Gynecol 2017 Nov;130(5):1047-56. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002331..
Keywords: Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Health Insurance, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Surgery, Women
Ehrlich SF, Hedderson MM, Brown SD
Moderate intensity sports and exercise is associated with glycaemic control in women with gestational diabetes.
The aim of the study was to assess the association of regular, unsupervised sports and exercise during pregnancy, by intensity level, with glycaemic control in women with gestational diabetes (GDM). The study concluded that higher volumes of moderate intensity sports and exercise, reported shortly after GDM diagnosis, were significantly associated with increased odds of achieving glycaemic control.
AHRQ-funded; HS019367.
Citation: Ehrlich SF, Hedderson MM, Brown SD .
Moderate intensity sports and exercise is associated with glycaemic control in women with gestational diabetes.
Diabetes Metab 2017 Oct;43(5):416-23. doi: 10.1016/j.diabet.2017.01.006..
Keywords: Diabetes, Lifestyle Changes, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Pregnancy, Women
Ehrlich SF, Sternfeld B, Krefman AE
Moderate and vigorous intensity exercise during pregnancy and gestational weight gain in women with gestational diabetes.
The researchers estimated the associations of exercise intensity during pregnancy with the rate of gestational weight gain (GWG) from gestational diabetes (GDM) diagnosis to delivery. Upon stratification by prepregnancy overweight/obesity, they found that significant associations were only observed for BMI greater than or equal to 25.0. There were no associations observed for moderate intensity exercise.
AHRQ-funded; HS019367.
Citation: Ehrlich SF, Sternfeld B, Krefman AE .
Moderate and vigorous intensity exercise during pregnancy and gestational weight gain in women with gestational diabetes.
Matern Child Health J 2016 Jun;20(6):1247-57. doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-1926-z.
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Keywords: Diabetes, Lifestyle Changes, Obesity, Obesity: Weight Management, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Pregnancy, Women
Suskind AM, Clemens JQ, Dunn RL
Effectiveness of mesh compared with nonmesh sling surgery in Medicare beneficiaries.
This study assessed the effectiveness of mesh compared to nonmesh slings in the surgical treatment of female incontinence. It found that overall rates of complications were similar for patients undergoing either mesh or nonmesh sling procedures. However, patients undergoing the nonmesh procedure were more likely to require a subsequent intervention for bladder outlet obstruction.
AHRQ-funded; HS018726.
Citation: Suskind AM, Clemens JQ, Dunn RL .
Effectiveness of mesh compared with nonmesh sling surgery in Medicare beneficiaries.
Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Sep;122(3):546-52. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31829e8543..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Elderly, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Surgery, Women, Outcomes, Medicare, Evidence-Based Practice