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
- Access to Care (4)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (4)
- Blood Pressure (1)
- Cancer (3)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (4)
- Cancer: Cervical Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (3)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Care Management (1)
- Children/Adolescents (4)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (2)
- Communication (1)
- Community-Based Practice (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Critical Care (1)
- Cultural Competence (4)
- Data (1)
- Depression (1)
- Diabetes (4)
- Disparities (25)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (3)
- Elderly (4)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (1)
- Genetics (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (2)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (3)
- Healthcare Costs (2)
- Healthcare Utilization (3)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Health Insurance (3)
- Health Promotion (2)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Health Status (2)
- Heart Disease and Health (2)
- Hospitalization (5)
- Hospitals (2)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (5)
- Labor and Delivery (1)
- Lifestyle Changes (2)
- Long-Term Care (1)
- Low-Income (3)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (2)
- Medicare (3)
- Medication (6)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (1)
- Mortality (1)
- Obesity (3)
- Obesity: Weight Management (2)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (3)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (3)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (2)
- Primary Care (2)
- Provider: Pharmacist (1)
- Quality Improvement (2)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (3)
- Quality of Care (1)
- Quality of Life (1)
- (-) Racial and Ethnic Minorities (55)
- Registries (1)
- Risk (2)
- Screening (6)
- Sex Factors (1)
- Sleep Problems (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (6)
- Stroke (2)
- Surgery (1)
- Telehealth (1)
- Uninsured (3)
- Urban Health (3)
- Vulnerable Populations (2)
- Web-Based (2)
- Women (2)
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 50 of 55 Research Studies DisplayedLee YJ, Boden-Albala B, Larson E
Online health information seeking behaviors of Hispanics in New York City: a community-based cross-sectional study.
The authors examined factors associated with online health-information-seeking behaviors (HISBs) of the Hispanic population. This large survey identified factors meriting closer examination, such as cultural context. Health care providers and policymakers need to understand the cultural context of this population and develop informatics-based interventions to improve their health.
AHRQ-funded; HS019853; HS022961
Citation: Lee YJ, Boden-Albala B, Larson E .
Online health information seeking behaviors of Hispanics in New York City: a community-based cross-sectional study.
J Med Internet Res. 2014 Jul 22;16(7):e176. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3499..
Keywords: Education: Patient and Caregiver, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Web-Based
Zhang R, Lee JY, Jean-Jacques M
Factors influencing the increasing disparity in LDL cholesterol control between white and black patients with diabetes in a context of active quality improvement.
The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of black and white patients treated continuously between 2008 and 2010 in order to examine possible causes of an increased disparity in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol control following a multifaceted physician-directed quality improvement (QI) initiative. They found that physician-facing, general QI interventions may be insufficient to produce equity in LDL cholesterol control, and that helping patients maintain prior success controlling cholesterol appears as important in addressing this disparity as is helping uncontrolled patients achieve control.
AHRQ-funded; HS021141.
Citation: Zhang R, Lee JY, Jean-Jacques M .
Factors influencing the increasing disparity in LDL cholesterol control between white and black patients with diabetes in a context of active quality improvement.
Am J Med Qual 2014 Jul-Aug;29(4):308-14. doi: 10.1177/1062860613498112.
.
.
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Diabetes, Disparities, Quality Improvement, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Villatoro AP, Morales ES, Mays VM
Family culture in mental health help-seeking and utilization in a nationally representative sample of Latinos in the United States: the NLAAS.
This study examined the role of behavioral familismo, the level of perceived family support, in the use of mental health services of Latinos in the United States. High behavioral familismo was significantly associated with increased odds of using informal or religious services, but not specialty or medical services. Self-perceived need and social perceptions of need for care within close networks also were significant predictors of service use.
AHRQ-funded; HS000083; HS000046.
Citation: Villatoro AP, Morales ES, Mays VM .
Family culture in mental health help-seeking and utilization in a nationally representative sample of Latinos in the United States: the NLAAS.
Am J Orthopsychiatry 2014 Jul;84(4):353-63. doi: 10.1037/h0099844..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Utilization
Laws MB, Lee Y, Rogers WH
Provider-patient communication about adherence to anti-retroviral regimens differs by patient race and ethnicity.
This study directly examined differences in provider–patient communication about anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence by patient race or ethnicity. It found more ART adherence dialogue with Black and Hispanic patients than with White patients, even after controlling for indications, and a tendency for adherence dialogue to be more directive in Hispanics than in Whites.
AHRQ-funded; 290010012.
Citation: Laws MB, Lee Y, Rogers WH .
Provider-patient communication about adherence to anti-retroviral regimens differs by patient race and ethnicity.
AIDS Behav 2014 Jul;18(7):1279-87. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0697-z..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Clinician-Patient Communication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Singh JA
The impact of gout on patient's lives: a study of African-American and Caucasian men and women with gout.
The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of gout on patients’ quality of life (QOL) and explore gender and race differences in the impact of gout on patients’ QOL. Some frequently cited high-ranked concerns among the ten nominal race- and sex-stratified groups were: (1) effect of gout flare on daily activities (n = 10 groups); (2) work disability (n = 8 groups);and (3) severe pain (n = 8 groups).
AHRQ-funded; HS021110.
Citation: Singh JA .
The impact of gout on patient's lives: a study of African-American and Caucasian men and women with gout.
Arthritis Res Ther 2014 Jun 24;16(3):R132. doi: 10.1186/ar4589..
Keywords: Quality of Life, Social Determinants of Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Sorkin DH, Mavandadi S, Rook KS
AHRQ Author: Ngo-Metzger Q
Dyadic collaboration in shared health behavior change: the effects of a randomized trial to test a lifestyle intervention for high-risk Latinas.
The authors sought to evaluate the feasibility of a pilot, dyad-based lifestyle intervention, the Unidas por la Vida program, for improving weight loss and dietary intake among high-risk Mexican American mothers with Type 2 diabetes and their overweight/obese adult daughters. They found that, at 16 weeks, Unidas participants lost significantly more weight compared with the control participants, and intervention participants also were more likely to be eating foods with lower glycemic load and less saturated fat. They concluded that interventions that draw upon multiple people who share a health-risk have the potential to foster significant changes in lifestyle behaviors and in social network members' health-related involvement.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Sorkin DH, Mavandadi S, Rook KS .
Dyadic collaboration in shared health behavior change: the effects of a randomized trial to test a lifestyle intervention for high-risk Latinas.
Health Psychol 2014 Jun;33(6):566-75. doi: 10.1037/hea0000063.
.
.
Keywords: Diabetes, Lifestyle Changes, Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Obesity: Weight Management
Cobran EK, Wutoh AK, Lee E
Perceptions of prostate cancer fatalism and screening behavior between United States-born and Caribbean-born Black males.
The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of prostate cancer (CaP) fatalism and predictors of CaP screening with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing between U.S.-born and Caribbean-born African-American males. In their study of 211 U.S.-born and Caribbean-born Black males between ages 39–75, the researchers found that nativity was not a significant predictor of CaP screening with PSA testing within the last year.
AHRQ-funded; HS011673.
Citation: Cobran EK, Wutoh AK, Lee E .
Perceptions of prostate cancer fatalism and screening behavior between United States-born and Caribbean-born Black males.
J Immigr Minor Health 2014 Jun;16(3):394-400. doi: 10.1007/s10903-013-9825-5..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Screening, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer
McGarry BE, Strawderman RL, Li Y
Lower Hispanic participation in Medicare Part D may reflect program barriers.
This study found that Hispanics were 35 percent less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have Medicare Part D coverage. This difference may be driven by ethnic disparities among those eligible for the low-income Part D subsidy but not automatically enrolled in it.
AHRQ-funded; HS00044
Citation: McGarry BE, Strawderman RL, Li Y .
Lower Hispanic participation in Medicare Part D may reflect program barriers.
Health Aff. 2014 May;33(5):856-62. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0671..
Keywords: Medicare, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Low-Income, Healthcare Costs
Yaghjyan L, Wolin K, Chang SH
Racial disparities in healthy behaviors and cancer screening among breast cancer survivors and women without cancer: National Health Interview Survey 2005.
This study aimed to compare healthy behaviors and cancer screening practices among breast cancer survivors and respondents without cancer separately in Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic women. It found that most differences were suggestive and do not differ by race.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Yaghjyan L, Wolin K, Chang SH .
Racial disparities in healthy behaviors and cancer screening among breast cancer survivors and women without cancer: National Health Interview Survey 2005.
Cancer Causes Control. 2014 May;25(5):605-14. doi: 10.1007/s10552-014-0365-7..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women, Disparities, Screening
Zhang SM, McGoy SL, Dawes D
The potential for elimination of racial-ethnic disparities in HIV treatment initiation in the Medicaid population among 14 southern states.
This study explored racial/ethnic disparities in the initiation of antiretroviral treatment among HIV-infected Medicaid enrollees in 14 Southern States. It found no significant differences between blacks and non-Hispanic whites but Hispanic/Latino persons were significantly less likely to receive antiretroviral treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS022444; HS019470
Citation: Zhang SM, McGoy SL, Dawes D .
The potential for elimination of racial-ethnic disparities in HIV treatment initiation in the Medicaid population among 14 southern states.
PLoS One. 2014 Apr 25;9(4):e96148. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096148..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicaid
Boehme AK, Siegler JE, Mullen MT
Racial and gender differences in stroke severity, outcomes, and treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
This study sought to determine the association of race and gender on initial stroke severity, thrombolysis, and functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The investigators concluded that race and gender were not significantly associated with short-term outcome, although black women were significantly less likely to be treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Black women had more tPA exclusions than any other group. The primary reason for tPA exclusion in this study was not arriving within 3 hours of stroke symptom onset.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Boehme AK, Siegler JE, Mullen MT .
Racial and gender differences in stroke severity, outcomes, and treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2014 Apr;23(4):e255-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.11.003..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Outcomes, Sex Factors, Stroke
Jang Y, Chiriboga DA, Molinari V
Telecounseling for the linguistically isolated: a pilot study with older Korean immigrants.
This study explored the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a telecounseling program in the client’s native language. Participants who were native Korean language speakers living in Florida showed generally high levels of acceptance and adherence to the telecounseling program. The high retention of the participants may be due to multiple factors including brevity of the program and convenience of the location.
AHRQ-funded; HS020636
Citation: Jang Y, Chiriboga DA, Molinari V .
Telecounseling for the linguistically isolated: a pilot study with older Korean immigrants.
Gerontologist 2014 Apr;54(2):290-6. doi: 10.1093/geront/gns196..
Keywords: Depression, Elderly, Health Information Technology (HIT), Behavioral Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Telehealth
Singh JA
Facilitators and barriers to adherence to urate-lowering therapy in African-Americans with gout: a qualitative study.
The study aim was to assess the facilitators and barriers to adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in African-Americans with gout. It found that facilitators to ULT adherence included recognition of the need to take ULT regularly to prevent gout flares and the desire to have less dietary restriction. Barriers to optimal ULT adherence included doubts about effectiveness of ULT and concerns about cost and side effects.
AHRQ-funded; HS021110.
Citation: Singh JA .
Facilitators and barriers to adherence to urate-lowering therapy in African-Americans with gout: a qualitative study.
Arthritis Res Ther 2014 Mar 29;16(2):R82. doi: 10.1186/ar4524..
Keywords: Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Halbert CH, Briggs V, Bowman M
Acceptance of a community-based navigator program for cancer control among urban African Americans.
The researchers evaluated acceptance of a community-based navigator program for cancer control and identified factors having significant independent associations with navigation acceptance in an urban sample of African Americans. They found that age and perceived risk of developing cancer had a significant independent association with navigation acceptance. Participants who believed that they were at high risk for developing cancer had a lower likelihood of completing navigation.
AHRQ-funded; HS019339.
Citation: Halbert CH, Briggs V, Bowman M .
Acceptance of a community-based navigator program for cancer control among urban African Americans.
Health Educ Res 2014 Feb;29(1):97-108. doi: 10.1093/her/cyt098..
Keywords: Cancer, Care Coordination, Care Management, Community-Based Practice, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Urban Health
Cook BL, Zuvekas SH, Carson N
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Assessing racial/ethnic disparities in treatment across episodes of mental health care.
The authors investigated disparities in mental health care episodes, aligning their analyses with decisions to start or drop treatment, and choices made during treatment. Using MEPS data, they found that, compared with whites, blacks and Latinos had less initiation and adequacy of care. Black and Latino episodes were shorter and had fewer psychotropic drug fills; black episodes had a greater proportion of specialist visits and Latino episodes had a greater proportion of primary care physician visits. Blacks were more likely to have an episode with acute psychiatric care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cook BL, Zuvekas SH, Carson N .
Assessing racial/ethnic disparities in treatment across episodes of mental health care.
Health Serv Res 2014 Feb;49(1):206-29. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12095.
.
.
Keywords: Disparities, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Liu KY, Haukoos JS, Sasson C
Availability and quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation information for Spanish-speaking population on the Internet.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the availability and quality of CPR-related literature for Spanish-speaking-only individuals on the Internet. It found that only 1 in 7 websites on the Internet has quality hands-only CPR education for this population.
AHRQ-funded; HS017526.
Citation: Liu KY, Haukoos JS, Sasson C .
Availability and quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation information for Spanish-speaking population on the Internet.
Resuscitation. 2014 Jan;85(1):131-7. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.08.274..
Keywords: Education: Patient and Caregiver, Cultural Competence, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Web-Based
Moy E, Freeman W
AHRQ Author: Moy E, Freeman W
Federal investments to eliminate racial/ethnic health-care disparities.
The authors presented a model that describes the relationships among social disadvantage, health-care disparities, and health disparities. They proposed that increasing the diversity of the public health and health-care workforces is an efficient strategy for reducing disparities because it impacts both access to care and patient-provider communication.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Moy E, Freeman W .
Federal investments to eliminate racial/ethnic health-care disparities.
Public Health Rep 2014 Jan-Feb;129 Suppl 2:62-70. doi: 10.1177/00333549141291s212.
.
.
Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health, Vulnerable Populations
Schoenthaler A, Montague E, Baier Manwell L
Patient-physician racial/ethnic concordance and blood pressure control: the role of trust and medication adherence.
The researchers examined the associations between racial/ethnic concordance and blood pressure (BP) control to determine whether patient trust and medication adherence mediate these associations. They found that higher levels of trust were associated with better medication adherence and a tendency toward better BP control, irrespective of patient–physician racial/ethnic concordance.
AHRQ-funded; HS011955.
Citation: Schoenthaler A, Montague E, Baier Manwell L .
Patient-physician racial/ethnic concordance and blood pressure control: the role of trust and medication adherence.
Ethn Health 2014;19(5):565-78. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2013.857764..
Keywords: Blood Pressure, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Sorkin DH, Ngo-Metzger Q
AHRQ Author: Ngo-Metzger Q
The unique health status and health care experiences of older Asian Americans: research findings and treatment recommendations.
Asian Americans over 65 years of age are among the fastest growing minority groups in the United States. Although the health status of Asian Americans when considered as a group is remarkably good, certain Asian American groups suffer high rates of illness and disability from specific health causes. This article discusses the unique health status and health care experiences of older Asian Americans and includes research findings and treatment recommendations.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Sorkin DH, Ngo-Metzger Q .
The unique health status and health care experiences of older Asian Americans: research findings and treatment recommendations.
Clin Gerontol 2014 2014/11/06;37(1):18-32. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2013.847513..
Keywords: Elderly, Patient Experience, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Moy E, Mau MK, Raetzman S
AHRQ Author: Moy E, Andrews R
Ethnic differences in potentially preventable hospitalizations among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders: implications for reducing health care disparities.
This study aimed to produce reliable estimates of health care quality among Native Hawaiian (NH), Other Pacific Islander (PI), and Asian American (AA) small population subgroups. Results showed that, despite efforts to reduce racial/ethnic health care disparities, significant gaps remain in potentially preventable hospitalization rates.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Moy E, Mau MK, Raetzman S .
Ethnic differences in potentially preventable hospitalizations among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders: implications for reducing health care disparities.
Ethn Dis 2013 Winter;23(1):6-11.
.
.
Keywords: Disparities, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Quality Indicators (QIs), Racial and Ethnic Minorities
John DA, de Castro AB, Duran B
Nativity and occupational class disparities in uninsurance and routine preventive care use among Asian Americans.
The researchers examined how nativity and occupational class among Asian Americans may explain disparities in uninsurance and use of routine preventive healthcare services such as routine physical checkup and dental/eye exams. They found that 35 to 40 percent of workers in blue-collar and service occupations reported no physical checkup or dental/eye exams in the past year.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853
Citation: John DA, de Castro AB, Duran B .
Nativity and occupational class disparities in uninsurance and routine preventive care use among Asian Americans.
J Immigr Minor Health. 2013 Dec;15(6):1011-22. doi: 10.1007/s10903-013-9851-3..
Keywords: Disparities, Uninsured, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health, Prevention
Sarpong EM, Miller GE
AHRQ Author: Sarpong EM, Miller GE
Racial and ethnic differences in childhood asthma treatment in the United States.
The authors examined racial-ethnic differences in asthma controller medication use among insured U.S. children. They found that non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children were less likely to use controllers than non-Hispanic white children. They concluded that the large observed differences in controller use highlight the continuing challenges of ensuring that all U.S. children have access to quality asthma care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Sarpong EM, Miller GE .
Racial and ethnic differences in childhood asthma treatment in the United States.
Health Serv Res 2013 Dec;48(6 Pt 1):2014-36. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12077.
.
.
Keywords: Asthma, Children/Adolescents, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Percac-Lima S, Ashburner JM, Bond B
Decreasing disparities in breast cancer screening in refugee women using culturally tailored patient navigation.
The goal of this research was to evaluate whether a patient navigator (PN) program for refugee women decreases disparities in breast cancer screening. Results showed that linguistically and culturally tailored PN decreased disparities over time in breast cancer screening among female refugees from Somalia, the Middle East, and Bosnia.
AHRQ-funded; HS018161.
Citation: Percac-Lima S, Ashburner JM, Bond B .
Decreasing disparities in breast cancer screening in refugee women using culturally tailored patient navigation.
J Gen Intern Med 2013 Nov;28(11):1463-8. doi: 10.1007/s11606-013-2491-4.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cultural Competence, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Screening
Sentell T, Unick GJ, Ahn HJ
Illness severity and psychiatric hospitalization rates among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
This study of mental illness severity and psychiatric hospitalization among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AA/PIs) in Hawaii found that AA/PI subgroups (Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Native Hawaiians) had lower psychiatric hospitalization rates than whites, but rates varied across AA/PI subgroups.
AHRQ-funded; HS019990
Citation: Sentell T, Unick GJ, Ahn HJ .
Illness severity and psychiatric hospitalization rates among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Psychiatr Serv. 2013 Nov;64(11):1095-102. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201200408..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Hospitalization, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities
Nicholas LH, Dimick JB
Bariatric surgery in minority patients before and after implementation of a centers of excellence program.
This study compared rates of bariatric surgery for minority Medicare vs. non-Medicare patients before and after the 2006 implementation of a national coverage decision (NCD) restricting Medicare patients to centers of excellence for bariatric surgery. It found that the proportion of nonwhite Medicare patients receiving this procedure dropped from 27.5 percent before the NCD to 25.9 percent afterwards.
AHRQ-funded; HS017765
Citation: Nicholas LH, Dimick JB .
Bariatric surgery in minority patients before and after implementation of a centers of excellence program.
JAMA. 2013 Oct 2;310(13):1399-400. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.277915..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicare, Healthcare Utilization, Obesity