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) (1)
- Adverse Events (2)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (3)
- Brain Injury (1)
- Cancer (3)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Care Coordination (3)
- (-) Caregiving (45)
- Children/Adolescents (12)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (2)
- Communication (3)
- Community-Based Practice (1)
- Decision Making (2)
- Dementia (5)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Disabilities (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (2)
- Elderly (11)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Falls (1)
- Family Health and History (3)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- Healthcare Costs (4)
- Healthcare Delivery (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (9)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Home Healthcare (2)
- Hospital Discharge (2)
- Hospitalization (2)
- Hospital Readmissions (2)
- Hospitals (1)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Long-Term Care (2)
- Low-Income (1)
- Medical Devices (1)
- Medical Errors (2)
- Medicare (1)
- Medication (1)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (1)
- Neurological Disorders (2)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Obesity (1)
- Palliative Care (5)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (3)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (10)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (6)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Quality of Life (4)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Rehabilitation (1)
- Risk (1)
- Sleep Problems (2)
- Stress (3)
- Stroke (1)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- Telehealth (2)
- Tools & Toolkits (2)
- Transitions of Care (1)
- Transplantation (1)
- Trauma (1)
- Web-Based (4)
- Workflow (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 25 of 45 Research Studies DisplayedCox ED, Hansen K, Rajamanickam VP
Are parents who feel the need to watch over their children's care better patient safety partners?
In this study, the investigators assessed whether needing to watch over care predicted parent performance of recommended safety behaviors to reduce medication errors and health care-associated infections. The researchers concluded that parents who reported the need to watch over care were more likely to perform behaviors specific to safe medication use (but not hand hygiene) compared with those not reporting this need.
AHRQ-funded; HS018680.
Citation: Cox ED, Hansen K, Rajamanickam VP .
Are parents who feel the need to watch over their children's care better patient safety partners?
Hosp Pediatr 2017 Dec;7(12):716-22. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2017-0036..
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Medical Errors, Medication, Patient Safety
Aslakson R, Dy SM, Wilson RF
Patient and caregiver-reported assessment tools for palliative care: summary of the 2017 AHRQ Technical Brief.
This paper summarizes palliative care assessment tools completed by or with patients or caregivers, and identifies needs for future tool development and evaluation. It concluded that few to no tools address the spiritual, ethical, or cultural domains or patient-reported experience with end of life care. While some data exists on psychometric properties of tools, the responsiveness of different tools to change and/or comparisons between tools have not been evaluated.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500006I.
Citation: Aslakson R, Dy SM, Wilson RF .
Patient and caregiver-reported assessment tools for palliative care: summary of the 2017 AHRQ Technical Brief.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2017 Dec;54(6):961-72.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.04.022.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Evidence-Based Practice, Palliative Care, Patient Experience, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Albrecht JS, O'Hara LM, Moser KA
Perception of barriers to the diagnosis and receipt of treatment for neuropsychiatric disturbances after traumatic brain injury.
This study explored perceptions of barriers and facilitators to the diagnosis and receipt of treatment for neuropsychiatric disturbances (NPDs) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using semistructured interviews and focus groups, it found that barriers included poor provider education on TBI NPDs and limited access to care due to lack of insurance, transportation, and income. Facilitators included patient education on TBI NPDs and strong caregiver support.
AHRQ-funded; HS024560.
Citation: Albrecht JS, O'Hara LM, Moser KA .
Perception of barriers to the diagnosis and receipt of treatment for neuropsychiatric disturbances after traumatic brain injury.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2017 Dec;98(12):2548-52. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2017.06.007.
.
.
Keywords: Brain Injury, Caregiving, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Behavioral Health, Trauma
Ganapathy D, Acharya C, Lachar J
The patient buddy app can potentially prevent hepatic encephalopathy-related readmissions.
The researchers aimed to define the feasibility of using the Patient Buddy App and its impact on 30-day readmissions by engaging and educating cirrhotic inpatients and caregivers in a pilot study. In their proof-of-concept trial, the use of Patient Buddy is feasible in recently discharged patients with cirrhosis and their caregivers. Eight hepatic encephalopathy-related readmissions were potentially avoided after the use of the App.
AHRQ-funded; HS024004.
Citation: Ganapathy D, Acharya C, Lachar J .
The patient buddy app can potentially prevent hepatic encephalopathy-related readmissions.
Liver Int 2017 Dec;37(12):1843-51. doi: 10.1111/liv.13494.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Chronic Conditions, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Hospital Readmissions
Gustafson DH, DuBenske LL, Atwood AK
Reducing symptom distress in patients with advanced cancer using an e-alert system for caregivers: Pooled analysis of two randomized clinical trials.
The aim of this paper was to assess the effects on cancer patient symptom distress of an eHealth system that alerts clinicians to significant changes in the patient's symptoms, as reported by a family caregiver. It found that when severe caregiver-reported symptoms were shared with clinicians, the symptoms were more likely to be subsequently reported as improved than when the symptoms were not shared with clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS019917.
Citation: Gustafson DH, DuBenske LL, Atwood AK .
Reducing symptom distress in patients with advanced cancer using an e-alert system for caregivers: Pooled analysis of two randomized clinical trials.
J Med Internet Res 2017 Nov 14;19(11):e354. doi: 10.2196/jmir.7466.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Caregiving, Communication, Telehealth, Web-Based
Walker J, Crotty BH, O'Brien J
Addressing the challenges of aging: how elders and their care partners seek information.
Elders in retirement communities face many challenges concerning information and communication. The purpose of this study was to gain insights into how these elders and their families manage health information and communication. The study suggests that elders in senior living communities, and their families, piece together information primarily from word of mouth communication. It asserts that electronic social and collaborative technologies may make information gathering easier.
AHRQ-funded; HS021495.
Citation: Walker J, Crotty BH, O'Brien J .
Addressing the challenges of aging: how elders and their care partners seek information.
Gerontologist 2017 Oct 1;57(5):955-62. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw060..
Keywords: Elderly, Caregiving, Communication, Care Coordination, Patient and Family Engagement, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Jutkowitz E, Kane RL, Gaugler JE
Societal and family lifetime cost of dementia: implications for policy.
This study estimated the cost of dementia and the extra cost of caring for someone with dementia over the cost of caring for someone without dementia. It found that the discounted total lifetime cost of care for a person with dementia was $321,780. Costs for a person with dementia over a lifetime were $184,500 greater (86% incurred by families) than for someone without dementia.
AHRQ-funded; HS024165.
Citation: Jutkowitz E, Kane RL, Gaugler JE .
Societal and family lifetime cost of dementia: implications for policy.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2017 Oct;85(10):2169-75. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15043.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Dementia, Elderly, Caregiving
Wong MS, Jones-Smith JC, Colantuoni E
The longitudinal association between early childhood obesity and fathers' involvement in caregiving and decision-making.
This study assessed the longitudinal association between changes in obesity among children aged 2 to 4 years and changes in fathers' involvement with raising children. Children whose fathers increased their frequency of taking children outside and involvement with physical childcare experienced a decrease in their odds of obesity from age 2 to age 4.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Wong MS, Jones-Smith JC, Colantuoni E .
The longitudinal association between early childhood obesity and fathers' involvement in caregiving and decision-making.
Obesity 2017 Oct;25(10):1754-61. doi: 10.1002/oby.21902.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Family Health and History, Obesity, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Khan A, Furtak SL, Melvin P
Parent-provider miscommunications in hospitalized children.
The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine characteristics of parent-provider miscommunications about hospitalized children; (2) describe associations among parent-provider miscommunications, parent-reported errors, and hospital experience; and (3) compare parent and attending physician reports of parent-provider miscommunications. The investigators found that parent-provider miscommunications were associated with parent-reported errors and suboptimal hospital experience. Parents reported parent-provider miscommunications more often than attending physicians did.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986; HS000063.
Citation: Khan A, Furtak SL, Melvin P .
Parent-provider miscommunications in hospitalized children.
Hosp Pediatr 2017 Sep;7(9):505-15. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2016-0190..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Medical Errors, Patient Safety
Keller SC, Gurses AP, Werner N
Older adults and management of medical devices in the home: five requirements for appropriate use.
This study concerns a qualitative evaluation of barriers and facilitators of appropriate use, and outcomes of inappropriate use, among older adults at the transition from hospital to home with skilled home health care (SHHC). Five requirements for the appropriate use of home medical devices were identified. A systems approach integrating the hospital with the SHHC agency is needed to make the use of home medical devices safer.
AHRQ-funded; HS022916.
Citation: Keller SC, Gurses AP, Werner N .
Older adults and management of medical devices in the home: five requirements for appropriate use.
Popul Health Manag 2017 Aug;20(4):278-86. doi: 10.1089/pop.2016.0070.
.
.
Keywords: Elderly, Caregiving, Home Healthcare, Medical Devices, Patient Safety
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
Jutkowitz E, Kuntz KM, Dowd B
Effects of cognition, function, and behavioral and psychological symptoms on out-of-pocket medical and nursing home expenditures and time spent caregiving for persons with dementia.
This study used cross-sectional data (Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study) to estimate probabilities of experiencing outcomes by clinical features. It found that no clinical feature predicted the probability of having out-of-pocket medical expenditures. For those with medical expenditures, higher cognition and poorer function were associated with more spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS024165.
Citation: Jutkowitz E, Kuntz KM, Dowd B .
Effects of cognition, function, and behavioral and psychological symptoms on out-of-pocket medical and nursing home expenditures and time spent caregiving for persons with dementia.
Alzheimers Dement 2017 Jul;13(7):801-09. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.12.011.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Dementia, Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Long-Term Care, Neurological Disorders, Nursing Homes
Moss DK
AHRQ Author: Moss DK
Getting it right at the end of life.
With the help of a palliative care team, the author's terminally ill mother dies on her own terms.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Moss DK .
Getting it right at the end of life.
Health Aff 2017 Jul;36(7):1336-39. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1279.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Palliative Care
Krishnan S, Pappadis MR, Weller SC
Needs of stroke survivors as perceived by their caregivers: a scoping review.
Caregivers usually are not involved while planning the stroke survivor's medical and rehabilitation goals and interventions. This review aimed to identify the needs of stroke survivors as perceived by their caregivers. The data synthesis from 66 studies produced the following three metathemes: (a) body functional needs, (b) activity and participatory needs, and (c) environmental needs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134; HS024711.
Citation: Krishnan S, Pappadis MR, Weller SC .
Needs of stroke survivors as perceived by their caregivers: a scoping review.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2017 Jul;96(7):487-505. doi: 10.1097/phm.0000000000000717.
.
.
Keywords: Stroke, Caregiving, Rehabilitation, Cardiovascular Conditions
Runaas L, Hanauer D, Maher M
BMT roadmap: a user-centered design health information technology tool to promote patient-centered care in pediatric HCT.
“BMT Roadmap" is a web-based application that integrates patient-specific information and includes several domains. In this study, BMT Roadmap was provided to 10 caregivers of patients undergoing first-time hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) . Caregivers found the tool useful and easy-to-use, leading them to want even greater access to information. BMT Roadmap was feasible, with no disruption to inpatient care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023613.
Citation: Runaas L, Hanauer D, Maher M .
BMT roadmap: a user-centered design health information technology tool to promote patient-centered care in pediatric HCT.
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2017 May;23(5):813-19. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.01.080.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Children/Adolescents, Web-Based
Jolles MP, Flick JAJ, Wells R
Caregiver involvement in behavioural health services in the context of child welfare service referrals: a qualitative study.
This study presents findings from a qualitative study of caregivers involved with child welfare agencies who were referred to behavioral health services. Findings suggest that when deciding to engage in services, caregivers weigh not only their individual and family behavioral health needs but also potential agency intervention, including loss of child custody.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Jolles MP, Flick JAJ, Wells R .
Caregiver involvement in behavioural health services in the context of child welfare service referrals: a qualitative study.
Child Fam Soc Work 2017 May;22(2):648-59. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12279.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Behavioral Health, Family Health and History
Holroyd LE, Anders S, Robinson JR
This study examined the relationships among Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scores, information-seeking behaviors, and health-related needs in 71 pregnant women and 29 caregivers.
This study examined the relationships among Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scores, information-seeking behaviors, and health-related needs in 71 pregnant women and 29 caregivers.
AHRQ-funded; HS021496.
Citation: Holroyd LE, Anders S, Robinson JR .
This study examined the relationships among Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scores, information-seeking behaviors, and health-related needs in 71 pregnant women and 29 caregivers.
AMIA Annu Symp Proc 2017 Apr 16;2017:902-11..
Keywords: Caregiving, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Information Technology (HIT), Pregnancy, Web-Based
duRivage N, Ross M, Mayne SL
Asthma Control Test.
In this study, the investigators compared results of a modified version of the Asthma Control Test using parent proxy report (PP-ACT) with results reported by children and parents using the validated Childhood-Asthma Control Test (C-ACT). ). The investigators indicate that that while the PP-ACT missed few children with uncontrolled asthma and may simplify reporting of asthma control in circumstances when child report is not feasible or creates barriers to survey receipt, limitations of proxy reporting should be considered.
AHRQ-funded; HS022689.
Citation: duRivage N, Ross M, Mayne SL .
Asthma Control Test.
Clin Pediatr 2017 Apr;56(4):341-47. doi: 10.1177/0009922816675013..
Keywords: Asthma, Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Chronic Conditions, Patient Self-Management
Krishnan S, York MK, Backus D
Coping with caregiver burnout when caring for a person with neurodegenerative disease: a guide for caregivers.
It is important for you to know if you have caregiver burnout, or the common triggers that may cause your burnout. By recognizing and addressing these factors, you will be able to take healthy and manageable control over your caregiver duties. The authors offer a number of specific recommendations to relieve caregiver stress and burden.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Krishnan S, York MK, Backus D .
Coping with caregiver burnout when caring for a person with neurodegenerative disease: a guide for caregivers.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2017 Apr;98(4):805-07. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.11.002.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Neurological Disorders, Stress
Duckworth M, Leung E, Fuller T
Nurse, patient, and care partner perceptions of a personalized safety plan screensaver.
A patient safety plan dashboard was developed that captures disparate data from the electronic health record that is then displayed as a personalized bedside screensaver. End user perceptions of the content and interface of the personalized safety plan screensavers were identified and strategies to overcome the barriers to use for future iterations were defined. Differences emerged stemming from each group of end users' role on the care team.
AHRQ-funded; HS023535.
Citation: Duckworth M, Leung E, Fuller T .
Nurse, patient, and care partner perceptions of a personalized safety plan screensaver.
J Gerontol Nurs 2017 Apr;43(4):15-22. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20170313-05.
.
.
Keywords: Elderly, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Caregiving, Patient Safety, Patient and Family Engagement, Care Coordination
Hoffman GJ, Hays RD, Wallace SP
Receipt of caregiving and fall risk in US community-dwelling older adults.
The researchers examined whether receipt of low (0-13 weekly hours) and high levels (>/=14 weekly hours) of informal care or any formal care is associated with lower risk of falls and fall-related injuries (FRI) among community-dwelling older adults. They found that among individuals with >/=3 activities of daily living, fall risks were reduced by 21 percent for those receiving high levels of informal care.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Hoffman GJ, Hays RD, Wallace SP .
Receipt of caregiving and fall risk in US community-dwelling older adults.
Med Care 2017 Apr;55(4):371-78. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000677.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Elderly, Falls, Risk, Patient Safety
Cornelius T, Earnshaw VA, Menino D
Treatment motivation among caregivers and adolescents with substance use disorders.
The researchers used self-determination theory to examine intersecting motivational narratives among caregivers and adolescents in substance use disorder treatment. Relationships between motivation, interpretation of caregiver pressures, adolescent autonomy, and relatedness were also explored. Their results suggest the importance of intrinsically motivated treatment, and highlight autonomy support and relatedness as mechanisms that might facilitate treatment engagement.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Cornelius T, Earnshaw VA, Menino D .
Treatment motivation among caregivers and adolescents with substance use disorders.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2017 Apr;75:10-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2017.01.003.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Patient and Family Engagement, Substance Abuse
Berridge C
Active subjects of passive monitoring: responses to a passive monitoring system in low-income independent living.
The researchers examined the range of ways older adults relate to passive monitoring in low-income independent-living residences is presented. They found that assumptions built into the technology about how older adults live presented a problem for many users who experience unwanted disruptions and threats to their behavioral autonomy. Also, the resident responses challenged the dominant image of residents as passive subjects of a passive monitoring system.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Berridge C .
Active subjects of passive monitoring: responses to a passive monitoring system in low-income independent living.
Ageing Soc 2017 Mar;37(3):537-60. doi: 10.1017/s0144686x15001269.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Elderly, Health Information Technology (HIT), Low-Income
Jolles MP, Wells R
Does caregiver participation in decision making within child welfare agencies influence children's primary and mental health care service use?
This study uses a national sample of children involved with child welfare to compare their health service use between those children served through a participatory decision making (PDM) practice and those who did not experience it. It concluded that lower-risk families were more likely to be served through PDM which was positively associated with child use of primary health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Jolles MP, Wells R .
Does caregiver participation in decision making within child welfare agencies influence children's primary and mental health care service use?
Child Care Health Dev 2017 Mar;43(2):192-201. doi: 10.1111/cch.12384.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Decision Making, Health Services Research (HSR), Patient and Family Engagement
Boss EF, Links AR, Saxton R
Parent experience of care and decision making for children who snore.
The researchers identified factors associated with parental experience and decision making in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and adenotonsillectomy (AT) surgery. They found that while clinical factors were influential for decision making, interpersonal factors helped parents feel comfortable and influenced their overall experience
AHRQ-funded; HS022932.
Citation: Boss EF, Links AR, Saxton R .
Parent experience of care and decision making for children who snore.
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017 Mar;143(3):218-25. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2016.2400.
.
.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Sleep Problems, Caregiving, Patient Experience, Decision Making, Clinician-Patient Communication