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 Drug Events (ADE) (2)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Arthritis (2)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Blood Pressure (1)
- Cancer (9)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (3)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (2)
- Caregiving (4)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) (1)
- Children/Adolescents (4)
- Chronic Conditions (5)
- Communication (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (5)
- Dental and Oral Health (2)
- Depression (2)
- Diabetes (3)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Disabilities (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Elderly (5)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Eye Disease and Health (1)
- Healthcare Costs (6)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Promotion (4)
- Health Status (7)
- Heart Disease and Health (6)
- Hospital Discharge (2)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Hospital Readmissions (2)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (2)
- Imaging (1)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (2)
- Lifestyle Changes (1)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Medication (3)
- Mortality (1)
- Neurological Disorders (2)
- Nursing (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Osteoporosis (1)
- Outcomes (4)
- Pain (1)
- Palliative Care (5)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (15)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient Experience (3)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Quality Measures (2)
- (-) Quality of Life (55)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Registries (1)
- Risk (1)
- Screening (2)
- Sex Factors (1)
- Sexual Health (3)
- Shared Decision Making (2)
- Sickle Cell Disease (1)
- Skin Conditions (4)
- Sleep Problems (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (2)
- Social Stigma (1)
- Stroke (1)
- Surgery (2)
- Telehealth (1)
- Transitions of Care (2)
- Treatments (3)
- 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
1 to 25 of 55 Research Studies DisplayedLi Z, Frost HR, Tosteson TD
A semiparametric joint model for terminal trend of quality of life and survival in palliative care research.
A unique feature of palliative care clinical trials is that patients will experience decreasing quality of life (QOL) during the trial despite potentially beneficial treatment. Often longitudinal QOL and survival data are highly correlated which, in the face of censoring, makes it challenging to properly analyze and interpret terminal QOL trend. To address these issues, the authors of this study proposed a novel semiparametric statistical approach to jointly model the terminal trend of QOL and survival data.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Li Z, Frost HR, Tosteson TD .
A semiparametric joint model for terminal trend of quality of life and survival in palliative care research.
Stat Med 2017 Dec 20;36(29):4692-704. doi: 10.1002/sim.7445..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Quality of Life
Vakharia PP, Chopra R, Sacotte R
Burden of skin pain in atopic dermatitis.
This study sought to characterize the patient burden of skin pain in AD. It found that twenty-four (16.8 percent) patients thought the skin pain was part of their itch, 16 (11.2 percent) from scratching, and 77 (72.0 percent) from both. Patients with skin pain were more likely to describe their itch using terms that resembled neuropathic pain.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Vakharia PP, Chopra R, Sacotte R .
Burden of skin pain in atopic dermatitis.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2017 Dec;119(6):548-52.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.09.076.
.
.
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Pain, Quality of Life, Skin Conditions
Adam SS, Flahiff CM, Kamble S
Depression, quality of life, and medical resource utilization in sickle cell disease.
Researchers performed an analytic epidemiologic prospective study to determine the prevalence of depression in adult patients with sickle cell disease and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and medical resource utilization. They found that depression was associated with worse physical and mental HRQoL scores and during the 6 months following diagnosis, mean total health care costs were significantly higher in depressed patients than in nondepressed patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS017645.
Citation: Adam SS, Flahiff CM, Kamble S .
Depression, quality of life, and medical resource utilization in sickle cell disease.
Blood Adv 2017 Oct 12;1(23):1983-92. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017006940.
.
.
Keywords: Depression, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Quality of Life, Sickle Cell Disease
Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Weinberger M
Early head start, pediatric dental use, and oral health-related quality of life.
The objective of the study was to examine the mediating effect of child dental use on the effectiveness of North Carolina Early Head Start (EHS) in improving oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). It concluded that EHS increases child dental use, which worsens family OHRQoL. However, EHS is associated with improved OHRQoL overall.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Weinberger M .
Early head start, pediatric dental use, and oral health-related quality of life.
JDR Clin Trans Res 2017 Oct;2(4):353-62. doi: 10.1177/2380084417709758.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Quality of Life, Children/Adolescents
Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Weinberger M
Enrollment in early head start and oral health-related quality of life.
Researchers examined the effect of enrollment in North Carolina Early Head Start (EHS) - a federally funded early education program for children under three years of age and their families - on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Their study is the first to demonstrate that families of young children enrolled in EHS report improved OHRQoL compared to their non-enrolled peers.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Weinberger M .
Enrollment in early head start and oral health-related quality of life.
Qual Life Res 2017 Oct;26(10):2607-18. doi: 10.1007/s11136-017-1584-7.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Quality of Life
Rhoten BA
Conceptual issues surrounding body image for oncology nurses.
This paper discusses conceptual issues surrounding cancer survivors’ body image. It targets oncology nurses so they may have a better understanding of the historic overview of body image conceptualization, as well as a more contemporary, cancer-specific approach to understanding how this population of patients may be particularly affected.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Rhoten BA .
Conceptual issues surrounding body image for oncology nurses.
Oncol Nurs Forum 2017 Sep 1;44(5):534-36. doi: 10.1188/17.onf.534-536..
Keywords: Cancer, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Provider, Quality of Life
Thomas HN, Hamm M, Hess R
Patient-centered outcomes and treatment preferences regarding sexual problems: a qualitative study among midlife women.
This study sought a better understanding of the sexual function outcomes that were most important to sexually active women 45 to 60 years old and the types of treatments they would prefer from individual interviews and focus groups. It found that many midlife women in the sample expressed a preference for behavioral approaches over pharmaceutical approaches for the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Thomas HN, Hamm M, Hess R .
Patient-centered outcomes and treatment preferences regarding sexual problems: a qualitative study among midlife women.
J Sex Med 2017 Aug;14(8):1011-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.05.014..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Women, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Life
Roydhouse JK, Wilson IB
Systematic review of caregiver responses for patient health-related quality of life in adult cancer care.
The aim of this review is to help cancer researchers select a validated health-related quality of life tool if they anticipate using proxy-reported data. It concluded that the evidence base is strongest for the EORTC (disease-specific tools), COOP/WONCA (generic tools), and MQOL (end-of-life-specific tools).
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Roydhouse JK, Wilson IB .
Systematic review of caregiver responses for patient health-related quality of life in adult cancer care.
Qual Life Res 2017 Aug;26(8):1925-54. doi: 10.1007/s11136-017-1540-6.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Caregiving, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Life
Lin C, Lee J, Chatterjee N
Predicting domain-specific health-related quality of life using acute infarct volume.
This study evaluated whether acute infarct volume predicts domain-specific Neuro-Quality of Life scores at 3 months after stroke. It found that acute infarct volume is a poor predictor of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) domains after ischemic stroke, with the exception of the cognitive domain. Overall, clinical and imaging variables explained less than 50 percent of the variance in HRQOL outcomes at 3 months.
AHRQ-funded; HS023437.
Citation: Lin C, Lee J, Chatterjee N .
Predicting domain-specific health-related quality of life using acute infarct volume.
Stroke 2017 Jul;48(7):1925-31. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.117.017094.
.
.
Keywords: Quality of Life, Stroke, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Silverberg JI
Selected comorbidities of atopic dermatitis: atopy, neuropsychiatric, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease with substantial morbidity and quality of life impairment. This review summarizes recent developments in the atopic and neuropsychiatric comorbidities of AD. For example, it concludes that persons with AD appear to be at higher risk for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, speech disorders in childhood, headaches, and seizures.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Silverberg JI .
Selected comorbidities of atopic dermatitis: atopy, neuropsychiatric, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Clin Dermatol 2017 Jul - Aug;35(4):360-66. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2017.03.008.
.
.
Keywords: Skin Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Behavioral Health, Quality of Life, Children/Adolescents
Pisu M, Demark-Wahnefried W, Kenzik KM
A dance intervention for cancer survivors and their partners (RHYTHM).
The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a ballroom dance intervention on improving quality of life (QOL) and relationship outcomes in cancer survivors and their partners. It found that survivors saw this light-intensity physical activity as easing them into becoming more physically active. Light intensity ballroom dancing has the potential to improve cancer survivors' QOL.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Pisu M, Demark-Wahnefried W, Kenzik KM .
A dance intervention for cancer survivors and their partners (RHYTHM).
J Cancer Surviv 2017 Jun;11(3):350-59. doi: 10.1007/s11764-016-0593-9.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Health Promotion, Quality of Life
Waldfogel JM, Nesbit SA, Dy SM
Pharmacotherapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain and quality of life: a systematic review.
This review systematically assessed the effect of pharmacologic treatments of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) on pain and quality of life. It concluded that for reducing pain, duloxetine and venlafaxine, pregabalin and oxcarbazepine, tricyclic antidepressants, atypical opioids, and botulinum toxin were more effective than placebo. However, quality of life was poorly reported, studies were short-term, drugs had substantial dropout rates, and opioids have significant risks.
AHRQ-funded; 2902015000061.
Citation: Waldfogel JM, Nesbit SA, Dy SM .
Pharmacotherapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain and quality of life: a systematic review.
Neurology 2017 May 16;88(20):1958-67. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000003882.
.
.
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Medication, Quality of Life, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Cho H, Iribarren S, Schnall R
Technology-mediated interventions and quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS. A systematic review.
The aim of this review was to assess the impact of technology-mediated interventions on quality of life (QoL) and to identify the instruments used to measure the QoL of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). It identified four types of technology-mediated interventions and two types of QoL instruments used to examine the impact of technology-mediated interventions on PLWH. However, the evidence to support the improvement of QoL using technology-mediated interventions was insufficient.
AHRQ-funded; HS023963.
Citation: Cho H, Iribarren S, Schnall R .
Technology-mediated interventions and quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS. A systematic review.
Appl Clin Inform 2017 Apr 12;8(2):348-68. doi: 10.4338/aci-2016-10-r-0175.
.
.
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Life
Fogelberg DJ, Leland NE, Blanchard J
Qualitative experience of sleep in individuals with spinal cord injury.
The objective of this study was to examine the experience of sleep among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Sleep-related data were found in transcripts for 90 percent of the sample. Participants described diminished sleep duration and irregular sleep patterns. Several factors contributing to poor sleep were identified, including SCI-related circumstances and sleep environment. Participants also discussed how poor sleep affected occupational engagement.
AHRQ-funded; HS022907.
Citation: Fogelberg DJ, Leland NE, Blanchard J .
Qualitative experience of sleep in individuals with spinal cord injury.
OTJR 2017 Apr;37(2):89-97. doi: 10.1177/1539449217691978.
.
.
Keywords: Sleep Problems, Quality of Life, Injuries and Wounds
Chen RC, Basak R, Meyer AM
Association between choice of radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or active surveillance and patient-reported quality of life among men with localized prostate cancer.
This study compared quality of life after radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, and brachytherapy vs active surveillance. By 24 months, mean scores between treatment groups vs active surveillance were not significantly different in most domains. However, each treatment strategy was associated with distinct patterns of adverse effects over 2 years.
AHRQ-funded; AHRQ contract (no number given).
Citation: Chen RC, Basak R, Meyer AM .
Association between choice of radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or active surveillance and patient-reported quality of life among men with localized prostate cancer.
JAMA 2017 Mar 21;317(11):1141-50. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.1652.
.
.
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Surgery, Quality of Life
DunnGalvin A, Koman E, Raver E
An examination of the food allergy quality of life questionnaire performance in a countrywide american sample of children: cross-cultural differences in age and impact in the United States and Europe.
The primary aim of the present study was to examine the performance of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) in a countrywide American sample of children with food allergy. The FAQLQ-PF has high convergent validity and discriminant validity, internal consistency was excellent. US health-related quality of life was worse than European health-related quality of life, as indicated by higher FAQLQ-PF scores in US samples.
AHRQ-funded; HS024599.
Citation: DunnGalvin A, Koman E, Raver E .
An examination of the food allergy quality of life questionnaire performance in a countrywide american sample of children: cross-cultural differences in age and impact in the United States and Europe.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2017 Mar - Apr;5(2):363-68.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2016.09.049.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Nutrition, Quality of Life
Sisic M, Kirby JS, Boyal S
Development of a quality-of-life measure for hidradenitis suppurativa.
The objective of this study was to develop a QoL instrument for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS-QoL) in accordance with recommended standards. : Concept elicitation interviews with patients with HS generated 12 themes. Most frequently reported were impacts on daily activities and symptoms due to HS. These themes, along with literature review and input from clinical experts, informed development of the HS-QoL-v1.
AHRQ-funded; HS024585.
Citation: Sisic M, Kirby JS, Boyal S .
Development of a quality-of-life measure for hidradenitis suppurativa.
J Cutan Med Surg 2017 Mar/Apr;21(2):152-55. doi: 10.1177/1203475416677721.
.
.
Keywords: Patient Experience, Quality Measures, Quality of Life, Skin Conditions
Krakovitz PR, Boss EF
Intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy-more complex than cost alone.
This brief invited commentary discussed intraoperative nerve monitoring and surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS022932.
Citation: Krakovitz PR, Boss EF .
Intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy-more complex than cost alone.
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016 Dec;142(12):1206-07. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2016.3116.
.
.
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Healthcare Costs, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Life, Surgery
Silverberg JI, Hinami K, Trick WE
Itch in the general internal medicine setting: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and quality-of-life effects.
The researchers sought to determine the prevalence and impact of itch on quality of life (QOL) in the general internal medicine setting. They found that the patient burden of itch was similar to those of pain, constipation, sexual dysfunction, cough, and weight loss. They concluded that itch occurs commonly in the primary care setting and is associated with poor QOL.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Silverberg JI, Hinami K, Trick WE .
Itch in the general internal medicine setting: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and quality-of-life effects.
Am J Clin Dermatol 2016 Dec;17(6):681-90. doi: 10.1007/s40257-016-0215-3.
.
.
Keywords: Quality of Life, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Bachmann JM, Goggins KM, Nwosu SK
Perceived health competence predicts health behavior and health-related quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease.
The authors sought to evaluate the effect of perceived health competence on health behavior and health-related quality of life. They found that perceived health competence was highly associated with health behaviors and health-related quality of life, while low perceived health competence was associated with a decrease in health-related quality of life between hospitalization and 90 days after discharge. They concluded that perceived health competence predicts health behavior and health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized with cardiovascular disease as well as change in health-related quality of life after discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Bachmann JM, Goggins KM, Nwosu SK .
Perceived health competence predicts health behavior and health-related quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Patient Educ Couns 2016 Dec;99(12):2071-79. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.07.020.
.
.
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Health Literacy, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Quality of Life
Earnshaw VA, Rosenthal L, Lang SM
Stigma, activism, and well-being among people living with HIV.
The researchers examined associations between experiences of HIV stigma and HIV activism, and test whether HIV activists benefit from greater well-being than non-activists. Their results suggest that HIV activists reported greater social network integration, greater social well-being, greater engagement in active coping with discrimination, and greater meaning in life than non-activists.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Earnshaw VA, Rosenthal L, Lang SM .
Stigma, activism, and well-being among people living with HIV.
AIDS Care 2016;28(6):717-21. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2015.1124978.
.
.
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Quality of Life, Depression, Social Determinants of Health, Social Stigma
Ware JE, Jr., Gandek B, Allison J
The validity of disease-specific quality of life attributions among adults with multiple chronic conditions.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity of QOL attributions to specific diseases among adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). It concluded that, collectively, convergent and discriminant test results support the construct validity of disease-specific QOL impact attributions across MCC within the eight pre-identified conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS023117.
Citation: Ware JE, Jr., Gandek B, Allison J .
The validity of disease-specific quality of life attributions among adults with multiple chronic conditions.
Int J Stat Med Res 2016;5(1):17-40..
Keywords: Quality of Life, Chronic Conditions, Arthritis, Kidney Disease and Health, Heart Disease and Health
Kavalieratos D, Corbelli J, Zhang D
Association between palliative care and patient and caregiver outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This review sought to determine the association of palliative care with quality of life (QOL), symptom burden, survival, and other outcomes for people with life-limiting illness and for their caregivers. It concluded that the association between palliative care and QOL was attenuated but remained statistically significant whereas the association with symptom burden was not statistically significant . There was no association between palliative care and survival.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Kavalieratos D, Corbelli J, Zhang D .
Association between palliative care and patient and caregiver outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
JAMA 2016 Nov 22;316(20):2104-14. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.16840.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Palliative Care, Quality of Life, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Hochman MJ, Kamal AH, Wolf SP
Anticholinergic drug burden in noncancer versus cancer patients near the end of life.
This article's objective is to determine anticholinergic load (ACL) and its impact in noncancer versus cancer palliative care patients. The authors concluded that ACL is associated with worse fatigue and quality of life and may not differ significantly between cancer and noncancer patients nearing end of life. Symptom management drugs are more responsible for ACL in cancer and noncancer patients, although disease management drugs contribute significantly to ACL in the latter group. They recommend more attention to reducing anticholinergic use in all patients with life-limiting illness.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Hochman MJ, Kamal AH, Wolf SP .
Anticholinergic drug burden in noncancer versus cancer patients near the end of life.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2016 Nov;52(5):737-43.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.03.020.
.
.
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Cancer, Medication, Palliative Care, Quality of Life
Kantor R, Dalal P, Cella D
Research letter: Impact of pruritus on quality of life-a systematic review.
This systematic review was designed to identify all review articles and qualitative or mixed methods studies pertaining to the impact of pruritus on quality of life. It concluded that the lack of concordance between qualitative studies and review articles suggests there are practice gaps with how pruritus is evaluated and managed.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Kantor R, Dalal P, Cella D .
Research letter: Impact of pruritus on quality of life-a systematic review.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Nov;75(5):885-86.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.016.
.
.
Keywords: Quality of Life, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Shared Decision Making