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AHRQ Research Studies Date
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- Access to Care (1)
- Antibiotics (1)
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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 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedMundkur ML, Franklin J, Huybrechts KF
Changes in outpatient use of antibiotics by adults in the United States, 2006-2015.
The two goals of this observational study were to describe general trends in outpatient antibiotic use among adults from 2006 to 2015, and to identify rapid shifts in use during this time period as potential indicators for key events. Patients aged 18 years and older were selected from the Optum Clinformatics Datamart, a commercial insurance claims database; linear regression was used to identify trends in use over multiple years, and change-point regression was used to identify rapid shifts in use within individual years. Outpatient use of antibiotics from 2006 to 2015 decreased substantially among adults. Rapid shifts in use occurring in 2008 and 2013 may reflect the presence of key drivers of change.
AHRQ-funded; HS024930; 233201500020I.
Citation: Mundkur ML, Franklin J, Huybrechts KF .
Changes in outpatient use of antibiotics by adults in the United States, 2006-2015.
Drug Saf 2018 Dec;41(12):1333-42. doi: 10.1007/s40264-018-0697-4..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Healthcare Utilization, Medication, Practice Patterns
Zhou M, Oakes AH, Bridges JFP
Regional supply of medical resources and systemic overuse of health care among Medicare beneficiaries.
The goal of this study was to explore health care system factors associated with regional variation in overuse of resources, as measured by the Johns Hopkins Overuse Index (JHOI). Medicare fee-for-service claims data from beneficiaries age 65 was used to calculate the JHOI for 306 hospital referral regions in the U.S. Regions with a higher density of primary care physicians had a lower JHOI, which indicates less systemic overuse. Regional characteristics associated with higher JHOI included the number of acute care hospital beds per 1000 residents and number of hospital-based anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists. The authors conclude that regional variations in health care resources are associated with the level of systemic overuse of health care, and that the role of primary care doctors in reducing overuse deserves further attention.
AHRQ-funded; T32 HS000029.
Citation: Zhou M, Oakes AH, Bridges JFP .
Regional supply of medical resources and systemic overuse of health care among Medicare beneficiaries.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Dec;33(12):2127-31. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4638-9..
Keywords: Access to Care, Elderly, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization, Medicare, Practice Patterns
Yun BJ, Borczuk P, Zachrison KS
Utilization of head CT during injury visits to United States emergency departments: 2012-2015.
This study examined national trends in utilization of head computed tomography (CT) imaging in emergency department (ED) patients presenting with an injury-related visit. Data from the US National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2015 was used to find ED patients who had at least one head CT. Overall there was an increase (11.7-13.23%) but it was not statistically significant.
AHRQ-funded; HS024561.
Citation: Yun BJ, Borczuk P, Zachrison KS .
Utilization of head CT during injury visits to United States emergency departments: 2012-2015.
Am J Emerg Med 2018 Aug;36(8):1463-66. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.05.018..
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Emergency Department, Imaging, Injuries and Wounds, Practice Patterns
Melnick ER, O'Brien EG, Kovalerchik O
The association between physician empathy and variation in imaging use.
This paper's objective was to describe empathy in a cohort of emergency physicians and evaluate its association with CT utilization. The authors found that, on the four psychometric scales used, performance was not predictive of risk-adjusted CT utilization in the emergency department. They concluded that the underlying physician-based factors that mediate interphysician variation remain to be clearly identified.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Melnick ER, O'Brien EG, Kovalerchik O .
The association between physician empathy and variation in imaging use.
Acad Emerg Med 2016 Aug;23(8):895-904. doi: 10.1111/acem.13017.
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Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Practice Patterns
Lyu PF, Hockenberry JM, Gaydos LM
Impact of a sequential intervention on albumin utilization in critical care.
The authors evaluated the effect of a sequential multifaceted intervention on decreasing albumin use in the intensive care unit. They found that a sequential intervention achieved significant reductions in albumin use and cost savings without changes in patient outcomes, supporting the combination of financial and nonfinancial strategies to align providers with evidence-based practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Lyu PF, Hockenberry JM, Gaydos LM .
Impact of a sequential intervention on albumin utilization in critical care.
Crit Care Med 2016 Jul;44(7):1307-13. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000001638.
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Keywords: Critical Care, Healthcare Utilization, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Practice Patterns