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
- Cancer (14)
- (-) Cancer: Breast Cancer (16)
- Cancer: Cervical Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Ovarian Cancer (2)
- Case Study (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (1)
- Communication (1)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (3)
- Disparities (2)
- Elderly (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Family Health and History (2)
- Genetics (4)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (3)
- Imaging (6)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Prevention (9)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (3)
- Risk (2)
- (-) Screening (16)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (2)
- Vulnerable Populations (1)
- Women (13)
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 16 of 16 Research Studies DisplayedKnerr S, Bowles EJA, Leppig KA
Trends in BRCA test utilization in an integrated health system, 2005-2015.
The authors reported 10-year trends in BRCA testing in an integrated health-care system with long-standing access to genetic services. They found that many eligible women did not receive BRCA testing despite having insurance coverage and access to specialty genetic services, thus underscoring challenges to primary and secondary hereditary cancer prevention.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Knerr S, Bowles EJA, Leppig KA .
Trends in BRCA test utilization in an integrated health system, 2005-2015.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2019 Aug;111(8):795-802. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djz008..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Ovarian Cancer, Cancer, Genetics, Screening, Prevention, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Delivery, Women
Rotter J, Wilson L, Greiner MA
Shared-patient physician networks and their impact on the uptake of genomic testing in breast cancer.
This study examined the impact of physician networks have on the adoption of genomic testing for women with early stage breast cancer. The genomic assay discussed in this paper is Oncotype DX (ODX) which stratifies risk. The study used retrospective data from the SEER-Medicare database from 2008 to 2012. Early adoption was more likely if the oncologists shared two or more patients during that period. There was a 1.7-fold increase in providers’ adoption of ODX in 2008-2009, and a 1.5-fold increase in their patients receiving ODX in 2010-2012.
AHRQ-funded; HS022189.
Citation: Rotter J, Wilson L, Greiner MA .
Shared-patient physician networks and their impact on the uptake of genomic testing in breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019 Jul;176(2):445-51. doi: 10.1007/s10549-019-05248-2..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Genetics, Screening
Miglioretti DL, Abraham L, Lee CI
Digital breast tomosynthesis: radiologist learning curve.
This study examined if detect rates and lower recall rates occurred with the adoption of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) than for traditional breast mammography. Performance was compared before and after DBT adoption using data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium cohort. There was a small improvement in recall rates, with more improvement in women with nondense breasts. Cancer detection rates were similar.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Miglioretti DL, Abraham L, Lee CI .
Digital breast tomosynthesis: radiologist learning curve.
Radiology 2019 Apr;291(1):34-42. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2019182305..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Screening, Women
Sprague BL, Kerlikowske K, Bowles EJA
Trends in clinical breast density assessment from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
Changes to mammography practice, including revised Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) density classification guidelines and implementation of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), may impact clinical breast density assessment. In this study, the authors investigated temporal trends in clinical breast density assessment among 2 990 291 digital mammography (DM) screens and 221 063 DBT screens interpreted by 722 radiologists from 144 facilities in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Sprague BL, Kerlikowske K, Bowles EJA .
Trends in clinical breast density assessment from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2019 Jun;111(6):629-32. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djy210..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Imaging, Women
Hoover DS, Pappadis MR, Housten AJ
Preferences for communicating about breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse older women.
The purpose of this study was to examine preferences for communicating about screening mammography among racially/ethnically diverse older women. Through in-depth interviews, findings revealed that older women desire information about the benefits and harms of screening mammography and would prefer to learn this information through discussions with healthcare providers and multiple other formats. Results were consistent regardless of participants' age, race/ethnicity, or education.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Hoover DS, Pappadis MR, Housten AJ .
Preferences for communicating about breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse older women.
Health Commun 2019 Jun;34(7):702-06. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1431026..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Elderly, Women, Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Screening
Giess CS, Wang A, Ip IK
Patient, radiologist, and examination characteristics affecting screening mammography recall rates in a large academic practice.
This retrospective study examined patient, radiologist and examination characteristics affecting screening mammography recall rates. This study used 61,198 examinations from an academic center and two outpatient centers from October 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015. Radiologists’ risk aversion, stress from uncertainty, and malpractice concerns and cancer detection rates were derived from the survey. Their annual screening volumes, clinical experience, and concentration in breast imaging was calculated. About 9.3% of screening examinations were recalled. There was no association found with radiologists’ risk aversion, stress from uncertainty, malpractice concerns and cancer detection rates and high recall rates. The most variation was found with radiologists’ annual reading volume and experience.
AHRQ-funded; HS24722.
Citation: Giess CS, Wang A, Ip IK .
Patient, radiologist, and examination characteristics affecting screening mammography recall rates in a large academic practice.
J Am Coll Radiol 2019 Apr;16(4 Pt A):411-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.06.016..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Prevention, Screening, Women
Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of recently updated US-based mammography screening guidelines. Researchers developed a microsimulation model to generate the natural history of invasive breast cancer and capture how screening and treatment modified the natural course of the disease, and used the model to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening strategies. Results indicated that the hybrid screening strategy that starts annual mammography at the age of 45 years and switches to biennial screening between the ages of 55 and 75 years was the most cost-effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y .
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
Value Health 2019 Feb;22(2):185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2018.07.880..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Healthcare Costs
Highfield L, Rajan SS, Valerio MA
A non-randomized controlled stepped wedge trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-level mammography intervention in improving appointment adherence in underserved women.
This study evaluated a theoretically based, systematically designed implementation strategy to support adoption and implementation of a patient navigation-based intervention, called Peace of Mind Program (PMP), aimed at improving breast cancer screening among underserved women.. Any potential confounding or bias will be controlled in the analysis. Outcomes such as appointment adherence, patient referral to diagnostics, time to diagnostic referral, patient referral to treatment, time to treatment referral, and budget impact of the intervention will be assessed.
AHRQ-funded; HS023255.
Citation: Highfield L, Rajan SS, Valerio MA .
A non-randomized controlled stepped wedge trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-level mammography intervention in improving appointment adherence in underserved women.
Implement Sci 2015 Oct 14;10:143. doi: 10.1186/s13012-015-0334-x.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Women, Vulnerable Populations, Prevention, Imaging
Mortel M, Rauscher GH, Murphy AM
Racial and ethnic disparity in symptomatic breast cancer awareness despite a recent screen: the role of tumor biology and mammography facility characteristics.
In a racially and ethnically diverse sample of recently diagnosed urban patients with breast cancer, the researchers examined associations of patient, tumor biology, and mammography facility characteristics on the probability of symptomatic discovery of their breast cancer despite a recent prior screening mammogram. They concluded that facility resources and tumor aggressiveness explain much of the racial/ethnic disparity in symptomatic breast cancer among recently screened patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Mortel M, Rauscher GH, Murphy AM .
Racial and ethnic disparity in symptomatic breast cancer awareness despite a recent screen: the role of tumor biology and mammography facility characteristics.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015 Oct;24(10):1599-606. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-15-0305.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Disparities, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Screening, Prevention
Irvin VL, Breen N, Meissner HI
AHRQ Author: Kaplan RM
Non-normal screening mammography results, lumpectomies, and breast cancer reported by California women, 2001-2009.
This study report trends in self-reported non-normal screening mammography results, lumpectomies, and breast cancer in California women. Between 2001 and 2009, the percent of California women who reported having been diagnosed with breast cancer was relatively stable. For each of the three age groups studied, the percentage of non-normal mammography results increased and the percentages of lumpectomies decreased.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Irvin VL, Breen N, Meissner HI .
Non-normal screening mammography results, lumpectomies, and breast cancer reported by California women, 2001-2009.
AHRQ-authored..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Imaging, Women
Drake BF, Abadin SS, Lyons S
Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women use mobile mammography vans for breast cancer screening and what factors are associated with repeat visits to these vans. Women who were aged 50–65, uninsured, or African-American had higher odds of a repeat visit to the mobile mammography van compared with women who were aged 40–50, insured, or Caucasian.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Drake BF, Abadin SS, Lyons S .
Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.
BMJ Open 2015 Mar 20;5(3):e006960. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006960..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Screening, Women, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Lee K, Rossi C
AHRQ Author: Lee K
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.
L.M. is a 37-year-old nonsmoking woman who is not taking any medications and has no significant past medical problems. As breast cancer runs in her family, she is interested in genetic testing for breast cancer. This case study poses three multiple choice questions together with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and related background information.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lee K, Rossi C .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.
Am Fam Physician 2015 Jan 15;91(2):119-20.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Case Study, Family Health and History, Genetics, Prevention, Risk, Screening, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Women
Vyas A, Madhavan S, Sambamoorthi U
Association between persistence with mammography screening and stage at diagnosis among elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer.
The objective of this study is to determine the association between persistence with mammography screening and stage at breast cancer (BC) diagnosis among elderly women. It found that, as compared to women who were not persistent with mammography screening, women who were persistent with mammography screening were significantly more likely to be diagnosed at earlier stages of BC.
AHRQ-funded; HS018622.
Citation: Vyas A, Madhavan S, Sambamoorthi U .
Association between persistence with mammography screening and stage at diagnosis among elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2014 Dec;148(3):645-54. doi: 10.1007/s10549-014-3204-3..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Elderly, Prevention, Screening, Women
Thompson CA, Gomez SL, Chan A
Patient and provider characteristics associated with colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans.
The researchers performed multivariable modeling to evaluate potential predictors (at the provider- and patient-level) of screening completion among Asian patients. They concluded that language- and gender-concordant primary care providers and culturally tailored online health resources may help improve preventive cancer screening in Asian patient populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS019815.
Citation: Thompson CA, Gomez SL, Chan A .
Patient and provider characteristics associated with colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014 Nov;23(11):2208-17. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-14-0487..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Screening
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
Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
This systematic review was done in support of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated recommendation on the benefit and harms of risk assessment, genetic testing, and genetic counseling for BRCA-related cancer in women. A systematic review was done on literature from 2004 to July 30, 2013 from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment, Scopus, and reference lists. Data on the participants, study design, analysis, follow-up, and results was extracted and a second investigator confirmed key data. The studies were rated on study quality and applicability. The analysis found women with high-risk for breast cancer had decreased risk of breast cancer by 85% to 100% by having a mastectomy, and risk of mortality by 81% to 100% compared to women without surgery. There was also a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer after having salpingo-oopherectomy surgery.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710057
Citation: Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
Ann Intern Med 2014 Feb 18;160(4):255-66. doi: 10.7326/m13-1684..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Ovarian Cancer, Cancer, Genetics, Screening, Prevention, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Women, Risk, Family Health and History