National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 3 of 3 Research Studies DisplayedHegland TA, Owens PL, Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Hegland TA, Owens PL, Selden TM
New evidence on geographic disparities in United States hospital capacity.
The purpose of this study was to describe hospital capacity across the United States. The researchers combined American Hospital Association Survey, Hospital Compare, and American Community Survey data with the 2017 near-census of U.S. hospital inpatient discharges from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). The study found that 0.11 more beds per 1000 population were supplied to zip codes where Non-Hispanic individuals live than zip codes where non-Hispanic White individuals live. However, the hospitals supplying this capacity have 0.36 fewer staff per bed and perform worse on many care quality measures. Zip codes in the most urban parts of America have the least hospital capacity (2.11 beds per 1000 persons) from across the rural-urban continuum. While more rural areas have higher capacity levels, urban areas have advantages in staff and capital per bed. The researchers did not find systematic differences in care quality between rural and urban areas. The study concluded that lower hospital care quality and resource intensity plays a key role in racial, ethnic, and income disparities in hospital care related outcomes.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hegland TA, Owens PL, Selden TM .
New evidence on geographic disparities in United States hospital capacity.
Health Serv Res 2022 Oct;57(5):1006-19. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14010..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Disparities, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Fowler FJ, Brenner PS, Cosenza C
How responding in Spanish affects CAHPS results.
The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of language and ethnicity with responses to CAHPS surveys and assess the effect of responding to CAHPS surveys in Spanish. The researchers surveyed patients who had received care at a Connecticut community health center within 6 or 12 months of being sent a CAHPS survey that asks about care experiences. Three hypotheses were tested: 1. Spanish speakers are more likely to choose extreme response options. 2. The meaning of the Spanish translation is different than the English version of the questions, with Spanish speakers providing different answers because of meaning differences. 3. Spanish speakers have different expectations regarding their health care than those who answer in English. Researchers evaluated any differences by ethnicity and language. The study found that those answering in Spanish gave significantly more positive reports than the other two groups on three of the five measures, and higher than the non-Hispanic respondents on a fourth. The study concluded that subjects answering in Spanish gave more positive reports of their medical experiences than Hispanics and non-Hispanics answering in English.
AHRQ-funded; HS016978.
Citation: Fowler FJ, Brenner PS, Cosenza C .
How responding in Spanish affects CAHPS results.
BMC Health Serv Res 2022 Jul 8;22(1):884. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08262-1..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Cultural Competence, Patient Experience, Quality of Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Fiscella K, Sanders MR
Racial and ethnic disparities in the quality of health care.
The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports document widespread and persistent racial and ethnic disparities. Recent data suggest slow progress in many areas but have documented a few notable successes in eliminating these disparities. To eliminate these disparities, continued progress will require a collective national will to ensure health care equity through expanded health insurance coverage, support for primary care, and public accountability.
AHRQ-funded; HS022440.
Citation: Fiscella K, Sanders MR .
Racial and ethnic disparities in the quality of health care.
Annu Rev Public Health 2016;37:375-94. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032315-021439.
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Keywords: Disparities, Quality of Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health