National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 25 Research Studies DisplayedHsuan C, Ryan-Ibarra S, DeBurgh K
Association of paid sick leave laws with foodborne illness rates
This mixed-methods study examined whether laws requiring employers to provide paid sick leave (PSL) are associated with decreased foodborne illness rates, particularly laws that are more supportive of employees taking leave. The study concluded that although the results suggest an association between more supportive PSL laws and decreased foodborne illness rates, they should be interpreted cautiously because the trend is driven by campylobacteriosis, which has low person-to-person transmission.
AHRQ-funded; HS024247.
Citation: Hsuan C, Ryan-Ibarra S, DeBurgh K .
Association of paid sick leave laws with foodborne illness rates
Am J Prev Med 2017 Nov;53(5):609-15. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.06.029..
Keywords: Policy, Prevention, Policy, Public Health
Markowitz S, Adams EK, Lewitt MJ
Competitive effects of scope of practice restrictions: public health or public harm?
This paper examined the case of scope of practice (SOP) restrictions for certified nurse midwives and evaluated the effects of changes in states' SOP laws on markets for CNMs and on maternal and infant outcomes. The authors found that SOP laws are neither helpful nor harmful in regards to health outcomes but states that have no SOP-based barriers have lower rates of induced labor and Cesarean section births.
AHRQ-funded; HS024530.
Citation: Markowitz S, Adams EK, Lewitt MJ .
Competitive effects of scope of practice restrictions: public health or public harm?
J Health Econ 2017 Sep;55:201-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2017.07.004..
Keywords: Health Services Research (HSR), Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Public Health, Policy
Dixon BE, Zhang Z, Lai PTS
Completeness and timeliness of notifiable disease reporting: a comparison of laboratory and provider reports submitted to a large county health department.
This study analyzed patterns of reporting as well as data completeness and timeliness for traditional, passive reporting of notifiable disease by two distinct sources of information: hospital and clinic staff versus clinical laboratory staff. Laboratory reports were received, on average, 2.2 days after diagnosis versus a week for provider reports.
AHRQ-funded; HS020909.
Citation: Dixon BE, Zhang Z, Lai PTS .
Completeness and timeliness of notifiable disease reporting: a comparison of laboratory and provider reports submitted to a large county health department.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2017 Jun 23;17(1):87. doi: 10.1186/s12911-017-0491-8.
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Keywords: Public Health, Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Information Exchange (HIE), Provider
Revere D, Hills RH, Dixon BE
Notifiable condition reporting practices: implications for public health agency participation in a health information exchange.
The researchers sought to better understand the barriers to and burden of notifiable condition reporting from the perspectives of clinic physicians, interviews with clinic reporters, and interviews with public health workers involved in reporting workflow. A strong recommendation generated by their findings is that, given their central role in reporting, clinic reporters are a significant target audience for public health outreach and education that aims to alleviate perceived reporting burden and improve reporting knowledge.
AHRQ-funded; HS020909.
Citation: Revere D, Hills RH, Dixon BE .
Notifiable condition reporting practices: implications for public health agency participation in a health information exchange.
BMC Public Health 2017 Mar 11;17(1):247. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4156-4.
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Keywords: Health Information Exchange (HIE), Public Health, Infectious Diseases, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Payan DD, Lewis LB, Cousineau MR
Advocacy coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate: exploring coalition structure, policy beliefs, resources, and strategies.
Researchers used a qualitative research approach to identify coalition members and explore their expressed beliefs and policy arguments, resources, and strategies. The structure and composition of each coalition varied. Public health (PH) coalition leadership and membership notably increased compared to the industry coalition. The PH coalition promoted a clear and consistent message around informed decision making. The industry coalition, led by a state restaurant association, responded with cost and implementation arguments.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Payan DD, Lewis LB, Cousineau MR .
Advocacy coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate: exploring coalition structure, policy beliefs, resources, and strategies.
Soc Sci Med 2017 Mar;177:78-86. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.036.
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Keywords: Policy, Nutrition, Policy, Public Health
Nikolopoulos GK, Pavlitina E, Muth SQ
A network intervention that locates and intervenes with recently HIV-infected persons: the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP).
The Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) evaluated a network intervention to detect individuals infected with HIV within the past 6 months. Results indicated that strategic network tracing that starts with recently infected persons could support public health efforts to find and treat people early in their HIV infection.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Nikolopoulos GK, Pavlitina E, Muth SQ .
A network intervention that locates and intervenes with recently HIV-infected persons: the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP).
Sci Rep 2016 Dec 5;6:38100. doi: 10.1038/srep38100.
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Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Prevention, Public Health
Khatibzadeh S, Saheb Kashaf M, Micha R
A global database of food and nutrient consumption.
The authors conducted an empirical assessment of dietary intakes in order for evidence-based policy-making to address global health challenges. They derived The Global Dietary Database, which combines broad global coverage with estimates of food and nutrient consumption by age, sex and time. They believe that these data provide an empirical basis for global dietary surveillance, policy-making and priority setting to address diet-related burdens of disease.
AHRQ-funded; HS000062.
Citation: Khatibzadeh S, Saheb Kashaf M, Micha R .
A global database of food and nutrient consumption.
Bull World Health Organ 2016 Dec;94(12):931-34. doi: 10.2471/blt.15.156323.
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Keywords: Data, Evidence-Based Practice, Nutrition, Policy, Public Health
Bishai D, Sherry M, Pereira CC
Development and usefulness of a district health systems tool for performance improvement in essential public health functions in Botswana and Mozambique.
This study describes the development of a self-audit tool for public health and the associated methodology for implementing a district health system self-audit tool that can provide quantitative data on how district governments perceive their performance of the essential public health functions. It found that instant feedback from the audit was a feature that 100 percent of pilot respondents found most useful.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Bishai D, Sherry M, Pereira CC .
Development and usefulness of a district health systems tool for performance improvement in essential public health functions in Botswana and Mozambique.
J Public Health Manag Pract 2016 Nov-Dec;22(6):586-96. doi: 10.1097/phh.0000000000000407.
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Keywords: Health Systems, Public Health, Quality Improvement
Fraze T, Lewis VA, Rodriguez HP
Housing, transportation, and food: how ACOs seek to improve population health by addressing nonmedical needs of patients.
The authors examined how accountable care organizations (ACOs) addressed the nonmedical needs of their patients. They found that ACOs most commonly addressed the need for transportation, housing, and food insecurity, which they identified through the primary care visit or care transformation programs. They concluded that their findings offer insights into how health care organizations such as ACOs integrate themselves with nonmedical organizations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024792.
Citation: Fraze T, Lewis VA, Rodriguez HP .
Housing, transportation, and food: how ACOs seek to improve population health by addressing nonmedical needs of patients.
Health Aff 2016 Nov;35(11):2109-15. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0727.
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Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Health Insurance, Healthcare Delivery, Primary Care, Public Health
Riehle-Colarusso TJ, Bergersen L, Broberg CS
AHRQ Author: Gray DT
Databases for congenital heart defect public health studies across the lifespan.
Key experts and stakeholders have identified public health knowledge gaps about congenital heart defects (CHDs). These gaps, and strategies to address them, formed the basis of a CHD public health science agenda. The strategies included leveraging information in existing databases to examine the epidemiology, health outcomes, and health service utilization of the CHD population. The authors discuss this complex constellation of databases, their relative characteristics and possible linkages.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Riehle-Colarusso TJ, Bergersen L, Broberg CS .
Databases for congenital heart defect public health studies across the lifespan.
J Am Heart Assoc 2016 Oct 26;5(11). doi: 10.1161/jaha.116.004148.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Public Health, Data
McGinty EE, Samples H, Bandara SN
The emerging public discourse on state legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the US: analysis of news media coverage, 2010-2014.
The authors assessed the volume and content of US news media coverage on recreational marijuana policy. In the news outlets studies, they found that 53% of news stories mentioned pro-legalization arguments and 47% mentioned anti-legalization arguments. They concluded that it is critical for the public health community to develop communication strategies to convey accurately the rapidly evolving research evidence regarding recreational marijuana policy.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: McGinty EE, Samples H, Bandara SN .
The emerging public discourse on state legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the US: analysis of news media coverage, 2010-2014.
Prev Med 2016 Sep;90:114-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.06.040.
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Keywords: Communication, Policy, Policy, Public Health
Calabrese SK, Underhill K, Earnshaw VA
Framing HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for the general public: How inclusive messaging may prevent prejudice from diminishing public support.
The authors examined how public attitudes toward HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) differed based on the social group PrEP was described as benefiting and the moderating effect of prejudice. They found a disparity in support that was stronger among participants reporting greater prejudice and concluded that inclusive framing of PrEP in public discourse may prevent prejudice from undermining implementation efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Calabrese SK, Underhill K, Earnshaw VA .
Framing HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for the general public: How inclusive messaging may prevent prejudice from diminishing public support.
AIDS Behav 2016 Jul;20(7):1499-513. doi: 10.1007/s10461-016-1318-9.
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Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Prevention, Public Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Stigma
Bishai D, Xu J, Sherry M
Strengthening the efferent arm in public health.
The purpose of the efferent arm in public health is to convene, coordinate, and shepherd the energy and resources of a community into collectively addressing shared health problems. The authors argue that the secret of an effective efferent arm is to focus on convening and communicating clearly the public health burdens and threats as widely as possible and to speak with authority about the evidence base of proven approaches.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Bishai D, Xu J, Sherry M .
Strengthening the efferent arm in public health.
Am J Public Health 2016 Jul;106(7):1196-7. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303216.
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Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Health Services Research (HSR), Public Health
Roosan D, Del Fiol G, Butler J
Feasibility of population health analytics and data visualization for decision support in the infectious diseases domain: a pilot study.
The objectives of this study were: 1) to explore the feasibility of extracting and displaying population-based information from an actual clinical population's database records, 2) to explore specific design features for improving population display, 3) to explore perceptions of population information displays, and 4) to explore the impact of population information display on cognitive outcomes. It concluded that a population database has great potential for reducing complexity and uncertainty in medicine to improve clinical care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023349.
Citation: Roosan D, Del Fiol G, Butler J .
Feasibility of population health analytics and data visualization for decision support in the infectious diseases domain: a pilot study.
Appl Clin Inform 2016 Jun 29;7(2):604-23. doi: 10.4338/aci-2015-12-ra-0182.
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Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Data, Decision Making, Infectious Diseases, Public Health
Huesch MD, Galstyan A, Ong MK
Using social media, online social networks, and internet search as platforms for public health interventions: a pilot study.
The researchers analyzed public health interventions aimed at women potentially interested in maternity care via campaigns on social media (Twitter), social networks (Facebook), and online search engines (Google Search). They found that the campaigns reached a little more than 140,000 consumers each day across the three platforms, with a little more than 400 engagements each day. Facebook and Google search had broader reach, better engagement rates, and lower costs than Twitter.
AHRQ-funded; HS021868.
Citation: Huesch MD, Galstyan A, Ong MK .
Using social media, online social networks, and internet search as platforms for public health interventions: a pilot study.
Health Serv Res 2016 Jun;51 Suppl 2:1273-90. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12496.
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Keywords: Social Media, Web-Based, Public Health, Maternal Care, Women
Bradley EH, Canavan M, Rogan E
Variation in health outcomes: the role of spending on social services, public health, and health care, 2000-09.
This study found that states with a higher ratio of social to health spending (calculated as the sum of social service spending and public health spending divided by the sum of Medicare spending and Medicaid spending) had significantly better subsequent health outcomes for the following seven measures: adult obesity; asthma; mentally unhealthy days; days with activity limitations; and mortality rates for lung cancer, acute myocardial infarction, and type 2 diabetes.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Bradley EH, Canavan M, Rogan E .
Variation in health outcomes: the role of spending on social services, public health, and health care, 2000-09.
Health Aff 2016 May;35(5):760-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0814.
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Keywords: Outcomes, Social Determinants of Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Status, Public Health
Bartsch SM, Lopman BA, Ozawa S
Global economic burden of norovirus gastroenteritis.
The researchers developed a computational simulation model to estimate the economic burden of norovirus in every country/area stratified by WHO region and globally, from the health ystem and societal perspectives. They found that globally, orovirus resulted in a total of $4.2 billion in direct health system costs and $60.3 billion in societal costs per year.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Bartsch SM, Lopman BA, Ozawa S .
Global economic burden of norovirus gastroenteritis.
PLoS One 2016 Apr 26;11(4):e0151219. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151219.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Public Health, Policy
Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Wong KF
The potential trajectory of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, an emerging threat to health-care facilities, and the impact of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Toolkit.
The researchers simulated the spread of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), throughout Orange County health-care facilities under 3 scenarios. Their model suggests that without increased infection control approaches, CRE would become endemic in nearly all Orange County health-care facilities within 10 years. While implementing the interventions in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CRE toolkit would not completely stop the spread of CRE, it would cut its spread substantially, by half.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Wong KF .
The potential trajectory of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, an emerging threat to health-care facilities, and the impact of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Toolkit.
Am J Epidemiol 2016 Mar 1;183(5):471-9. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwv299.
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Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitalization, Public Health
Saville AW, Gurfinkel D, Sevick C
Provider preferences and experiences with a countywide centralized collaborative reminder/recall for childhood immunizations.
The researchers assessed among providers in Colorado where a collaborative centralized reminder/recall (CC-R/R) using the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) was performed: 1) preferences about CC-R/R conducted by the public health department (PHD); and 2) experiences with including their name on CC-R/R notices. Most practices are accepting of the PHD centrally conducting R/R, but most prefer collaboration that includes their name.
AHRQ-funded; HS021138.
Citation: Saville AW, Gurfinkel D, Sevick C .
Provider preferences and experiences with a countywide centralized collaborative reminder/recall for childhood immunizations.
Acad Pediatr 2016 Jan-Feb;16(1):50-6. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2015.09.002.
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Keywords: Public Health, Vaccination, Health Information Technology (HIT), Children/Adolescents, Practice Patterns
Klann JG, Buck MD, Brown J
Query Health: standards-based, cross-platform population health surveillance.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Query Health Initiative is a collaboration to develop a national architecture for distributed, population-level health queries across diverse clinical systems with disparate data models. The authors review Query Health activities, including a standards-based methodology, an open-source reference implementation, and three pilot projects.
AHRQ-funded; HS019912.
Citation: Klann JG, Buck MD, Brown J .
Query Health: standards-based, cross-platform population health surveillance.
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2014 Jul-Aug;21(4):650-6. doi: 10.1136/amiajnl-2014-002707..
Keywords: Public Health, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Dixon BE, Vreeman DJ, Grannis SJ
The long road to semantic interoperability in support of public health: experiences from two states.
This article illustrates the current state of semantic interoperability using a case example drawn from public health and discusses three policy strategies for strengthening interoperability. It also presents recommendations for improving the use of clinical data and information for public health, including disease surveillance, community assessment and measurement of care quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS020909
Citation: Dixon BE, Vreeman DJ, Grannis SJ .
The long road to semantic interoperability in support of public health: experiences from two states.
J Biomed Inform. 2014 Jun;49:3-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2014.03.011..
Keywords: Public Health, Data, Quality of Care
Khazeni N, Hutton DW, Collins CI
Health and economic benefits of early vaccination and nonpharmaceutical interventions for a human influenza A (H7N9) pandemic: a modeling study.
In order to determine how quickly vaccination should be completed to reduce infections, deaths, and health care costs in a severe influenza pandemic in a large metropolitan area, researchers used a dynamic transmission model. They found that vaccination in an influenza-A (H7N9) pandemic would need to be completed much faster than in the 2009 pandemic to substantially reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS019816
Citation: Khazeni N, Hutton DW, Collins CI .
Health and economic benefits of early vaccination and nonpharmaceutical interventions for a human influenza A (H7N9) pandemic: a modeling study.
Ann Intern Med. 2014 May 20;160(10):684-94. doi: 10.7326/M13-2071..
Keywords: Vaccination, Influenza, Mortality, Healthcare Costs, Public Health
Greer SL, Lillvis DF
Beyond leadership: political strategies for coordination in health policies.
The objective of this article is to utilize the political science and public administration literatures to document the problems that serve as obstacles to intersectoral governance– and therefore, the implementation of a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach–as well as solutions to overcome these obstacles.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Greer SL, Lillvis DF .
Beyond leadership: political strategies for coordination in health policies.
Health Policy 2014 May;116(1):12-7. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2014.01.019..
Keywords: Policy, Public Health, Policy
Hsuan C, Rodriguez HP
The adoption and discontinuation of clinical services by local health departments.
The researchers identified factors associated with local health department (LHD) adoption and discontinuation of clinical services. They found that most LHDs are discontinuing clinical services over time. Those that cover a wide range of core public health functions are less likely to discontinue services when residents lack care access.
AHRQ-funded; AHRQ Predoctoral Traineeship.
Citation: Hsuan C, Rodriguez HP .
The adoption and discontinuation of clinical services by local health departments.
Am J Public Health 2014 Jan;104(1):124-33. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301426..
Keywords: Public Health, Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR)
Leeman J, Teal R, Jernigan J
What evidence and support do state-level public health practitioners need to address obesity prevention.
This study describes interview and survey findings that detail how public health practitioners characterize the obesity prevention task, the types of evidence and support they find most helpful, and their needs for additional evidence and support. The researchers conducted 10 in-depth interviews with public health practitioners and project officers followed by an online survey completed by 62 practitioners.
AHRQ-funded; HS019468.
Citation: Leeman J, Teal R, Jernigan J .
What evidence and support do state-level public health practitioners need to address obesity prevention.
Am J Health Promot 2014 Jan-Feb;28(3):189-96. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.120518-QUAL-266..
Keywords: Obesity, Prevention, Public Health