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) (3)
- Alcohol Use (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Care Management (3)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (4)
- Comparative Effectiveness (2)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Elderly (2)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Long-Term Care (2)
- Medicaid (2)
- (-) Medication (20)
- Medication: Safety (2)
- Nursing Homes (2)
- Obesity (1)
- (-) Opioids (20)
- Orthopedics (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Pain (8)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (3)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Policy (1)
- Practice Patterns (2)
- Pregnancy (2)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- Provider: Pharmacist (1)
- Risk (1)
- Social Stigma (1)
- Substance Abuse (10)
- Surgery (4)
- Vulnerable Populations (1)
- Women (1)
- Young Adults (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 20 of 20 Research Studies DisplayedChou R, Korthuis PT, McCarty D
Management of suspected opioid overdose with naloxone in out-of-hospital settings: a systematic review.
This review synthesized evidence on 1) the effects of naloxone route of administration and dosing for suspected opioid overdose in out-of-hospital settings on mortality, reversal of overdose, and harms, and 2) the need for transport to a health care facility. It concluded that higher-concentration intranasal naloxone (2 mg/mL) seems to have efficacy similar to that of intramuscular naloxone for reversal of opioid overdose, with no difference in adverse events.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500009I.
Citation: Chou R, Korthuis PT, McCarty D .
Management of suspected opioid overdose with naloxone in out-of-hospital settings: a systematic review.
Ann Intern Med 2017 Dec 19;167(12):867-75. doi: 10.7326/m17-2224.
.
.
Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Evidence-Based Practice, Medication, Opioids, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Tedesco D, Gori D, Desai KR
Drug-free interventions to reduce pain or opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The authors systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed evidence of nonpharmacological interventions for postoperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty. The most commonly performed interventions included in the review were continuous passive motion, preoperative exercise, cryotherapy, electrotherapy, and acupuncture. In the meta-analysis, electrotherapy and acupuncture after total knee arthroplasty were associated with reduced and delayed opioid consumption.
AHRQ-funded; HS024096.
Citation: Tedesco D, Gori D, Desai KR .
Drug-free interventions to reduce pain or opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
JAMA Surg 2017 Oct 18;152(10):e172872. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.2872.
.
.
Keywords: Care Management, Medication, Opioids, Orthopedics, Pain, Surgery
Balbale SN, Trivedi I, O'Dwyer LC
Strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse among patients with gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic scoping review.
In this study, the investigators conducted a systematic scoping review to describe published scientific literature on strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and disorders. They concluded that prescription drug monitoring and self-management interventions may be promising strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse in GI care. They suggest that rigorous, empirical research is needed to evaluate the longer-term impact of these strategies.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Balbale SN, Trivedi I, O'Dwyer LC .
Strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse among patients with gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic scoping review.
Dig Dis Sci 2017 Oct;62(10):2668-85. doi: 10.1007/s10620-017-4705-9..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Chronic Conditions, Digestive Disease and Health, Medication, Medication: Safety, Opioids, Patient Self-Management, Prevention, Substance Abuse
Horton M, McDonald R, Green TC
A mapping review of take-home naloxone for people released from correctional settings.
The objective of this review is to map research into take-home naloxone (THN) for people released from correctional settings in order to identify further research needs. It concluded that the feasibility of THN in the context of release from a correctional setting has been established, but there is a need for rigorous research into health outcomes and program implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Horton M, McDonald R, Green TC .
A mapping review of take-home naloxone for people released from correctional settings.
Int J Drug Policy 2017 Aug;46:7-16. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.015.
.
.
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Carroll JJ, Marshall BDL, Rich JD
Exposure to fentanyl-contaminated heroin and overdose risk among illicit opioid users in Rhode Island: a mixed methods study.
This study describes patterns and perceptions of fentanyl exposure among opioid users in Rhode Island. It concluded that among illicit opioid users in Rhode Island, known or suspected fentanyl exposure is common, yet demand for fentanyl is low. Fentanyl-contaminated drugs are generating user interest in effective risk mitigation strategies, including treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Carroll JJ, Marshall BDL, Rich JD .
Exposure to fentanyl-contaminated heroin and overdose risk among illicit opioid users in Rhode Island: a mixed methods study.
Int J Drug Policy 2017 Aug;46:136-45. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.023.
.
.
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE)
Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Goesling J
New persistent opioid use after minor and major surgical procedures in US adults.
The authors sought to determine the incidence of new persistent opioid use after minor and major surgical procedures. They found that risk factors independently associated with new persistent opioid use included preoperative tobacco use, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and preoperative pain disorders. They concluded that new persistent opioid use after surgery is not significantly different between minor and major surgical procedures but rather associated with behavioral and pain disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Goesling J .
New persistent opioid use after minor and major surgical procedures in US adults.
JAMA Surg 2017 Jun 21;152(6):e170504. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0504.
.
.
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Surgery
Kozhimannil KB, Graves AJ, Jarlenski M
Non-medical opioid use and sources of opioids among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive-aged women.
This study characterized non-medical use (NMU) of prescription opioids among reproductive-age U.S. women, with a focus on pregnancy status. Nearly 1 percent of pregnant women and 2.3 percent of non-pregnant reproductive-age women reported opioid NMU in the past 30 days. Forty-six percent of pregnant women identified a doctor as their source compared with 27.6 percent of non-pregnant women reporting NMU.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Kozhimannil KB, Graves AJ, Jarlenski M .
Non-medical opioid use and sources of opioids among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive-aged women.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2017 May 1;174:201-08. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.003.
.
.
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Pregnancy, Substance Abuse, Women
Macmadu A, Carroll JJ, Hadland SE
Prevalence and correlates of fentanyl-contaminated heroin exposure among young adults who use prescription opioids non-medically.
Researchers examined risk factors for exposure to fentanyl-contaminated heroin (FCH) and experiences with FCH use among young adult non-medical prescription opioids (NMPO) users. Several drug use patterns and risk behaviors were associated with FCH exposure, including: regular heroin and cocaine use; diverted pharmaceutical fentanyl use in the prior six months; NMPO use to avoid withdrawal symptoms; regular injection drug use; and prior overdose.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Macmadu A, Carroll JJ, Hadland SE .
Prevalence and correlates of fentanyl-contaminated heroin exposure among young adults who use prescription opioids non-medically.
Addict Behav 2017 May;68:35-38. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.01.014.
.
.
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Risk, Substance Abuse, Young Adults
Kennedy-Hendricks A, Barry CL, Gollust SE
Social stigma toward persons with prescription opioid use disorder: associations with public support for punitive and public health-oriented policies.
This study examined social stigma toward individuals with prescription opioid use disorder and tested whether stigma was associated with support for various policy interventions. Respondents expressed high levels of stigma toward individuals with prescription opioid use disorder. Higher levels of stigma were associated with greater support for punitive policies and lower support for public health-oriented policies.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Kennedy-Hendricks A, Barry CL, Gollust SE .
Social stigma toward persons with prescription opioid use disorder: associations with public support for punitive and public health-oriented policies.
Psychiatr Serv 2017 May;68(5):462-69. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600056.
.
.
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Policy, Social Stigma, Substance Abuse
McDonald EM, Kennedy-Hendricks A, McGinty EE
Safe storage of opioid pain relievers among adults living in households with children.
The researchers sought to describe safe storage practices and beliefs among adults who have used a prescription opioid pain reliever (OPR) in the past year; to compare practices and beliefs among those living with younger (<7 years) versus older children (7-17 years). They concluded that OPRs are stored unsafely in many households with children.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: McDonald EM, Kennedy-Hendricks A, McGinty EE .
Safe storage of opioid pain relievers among adults living in households with children.
Pediatrics 2017 Mar;139(3). doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-2161.
.
.
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Children/Adolescents, Medication: Safety, Medication, Opioids
Korthuis PT, McCarty D, Weimer M
Primary care-based models for the treatment of opioid use disorder: a scoping review.
This article summarizes findings of a technical report for AHRQ describing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) models of care for opioid use disorder, based on a literature review and interviews with key informants in the field. The report describes 12 representative models of care for integrating MAT into primary care settings that could be considered for adaptation across diverse health care settings.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500009I.
Citation: Korthuis PT, McCarty D, Weimer M .
Primary care-based models for the treatment of opioid use disorder: a scoping review.
Ann Intern Med 2017 Feb 21;166(4):268-78. doi: 10.7326/m16-2149.
.
.
Keywords: Opioids, Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care, Substance Abuse, Medication
Fain KM, Alexander GC, Dore DD
Frequency and predictors of analgesic prescribing in U.S. nursing home residents with persistent pain.
The purpose of this study was to quantify prescription analgesic use of elderly nursing home (NH) residents with persistent noncancer pain and to identify individual and facility traits associated with no treatment. The investigators concluded that through 2008, pain remained undertreated in NHs, especially in certain subpopulations, including cognitively impaired and older residents. The authors suggest that changes in pain management practice and policies may be necessary to target these vulnerable residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Fain KM, Alexander GC, Dore DD .
Frequency and predictors of analgesic prescribing in U.S. nursing home residents with persistent pain.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2017 Feb;65(2):286-93. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14512..
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Opioids, Pain, Practice Patterns
Fain KM, Castillo-Salgado C, Dore DD
Inappropriate fentanyl prescribing among nursing home residents in the United States.
In this cross-sectional study, the investigators quantified transdermal fentanyl prescribing in elderly nursing home residents without prior opioid use or persistent pain, and the association of individual and facility traits with opioid-naive prescribing. The investigators concluded that most nursing home residents initiating transdermal fentanyl did not have persistent pain and many were opioid-naive. They suggest that changes in prescribing practices may be necessary to ensure Food and Drug Administration warnings are followed, particularly for vulnerable subgroups, such as the cognitively impaired.
AHRQ-funded; HS018960.
Citation: Fain KM, Castillo-Salgado C, Dore DD .
Inappropriate fentanyl prescribing among nursing home residents in the United States.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2017 Feb;18(2):138-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2016.08.015..
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Opioids, Pain, Practice Patterns
Beaudoin FL, Gutman R, Merchant RC
Persistent pain after motor vehicle collision: comparative effectiveness of opioids vs nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs prescribed from the emergency department-a propensity matched analysis.
This study evaluated the effect of opioid analgesics vs NSAIDs initiated from the ED on the presence of moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain and ongoing opioid use at 6 weeks in a large cohort of adult ED patients presenting to the ED after motor vehicle collision. No difference in risk for moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain at 6 weeks was observed between those discharged with opioid analgesics vs NSAIDs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Beaudoin FL, Gutman R, Merchant RC .
Persistent pain after motor vehicle collision: comparative effectiveness of opioids vs nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs prescribed from the emergency department-a propensity matched analysis.
Pain 2017 Feb;158(2):289-95. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000756.
.
.
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Emergency Department, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Raebel MA, Newcomer SR, Bayliss EA
Chronic opioid use emerging after bariatric surgery.
The purpose of this study was to determine opioid use the year after bariatric surgery among patients who did not use opioids chronically pre-surgery and to identify pre-surgery characteristics associated with chronic opioid use after surgery. It found that patients dispensed 60 to 119 days’ supply during the pre-surgery year were 13.23 to 14.29 times more likely to use opioids chronically post-surgery than patients without opioid use pre-surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS019912.
Citation: Raebel MA, Newcomer SR, Bayliss EA .
Chronic opioid use emerging after bariatric surgery.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2014 Dec;23(12):1247-57. doi: 10.1002/pds.3625..
Keywords: Medication, Obesity, Opioids, Pain, Substance Abuse, Surgery
Werth SR, Sachdeva N, Roberts AW
North Carolina Medicaid recipient management lock-in program: the pharmacist's perspective.
The objectives of this study were (a) evaluate pharmacists’ perceptions of the implementation of the North Carolina (NC) recipient management lock-in program (MLIP) and (b) determine how the beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists could promote or inhibit its success. It concluded that, although possible improvements were identified, the NC MLIP has strong potential for success as it utilizes pharmacists’ medication gate-keeping role, while minimizing the effort required for successful implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Werth SR, Sachdeva N, Roberts AW .
North Carolina Medicaid recipient management lock-in program: the pharmacist's perspective.
J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2014 Nov;20(11):1122-9..
Keywords: Medicaid, Medication, Opioids, Provider: Pharmacist, Substance Abuse
Hartung DM, McCarty D, Fu R
Extended-release naltrexone for alcohol and opioid dependence: a meta-analysis of healthcare utilization studies.
The authors evaluated cost and utilization outcomes between extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) and other pharmacotherapies for treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence. They found that alcohol dependent XR-NTX patients had longer medication refill persistence versus acamprosate and oral naltrexone, with healthcare utilization and costs being generally lower or as low for XR-NTX-treated patients relative to other alcohol dependence agents. Opioid dependent XR-NTX patients had lower inpatient substance abuse-related utilization versus other agents and $8170 lower total cost versus methadone.
AHRQ-funded; HS019456.
Citation: Hartung DM, McCarty D, Fu R .
Extended-release naltrexone for alcohol and opioid dependence: a meta-analysis of healthcare utilization studies.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2014 Aug;47(2):113-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.03.007.
.
.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Comparative Effectiveness, Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse
Desai RJ, Hernandez-Diaz S, Bateman BT
Increase in prescription opioid use during pregnancy among Medicaid-enrolled women.
The researchers reported the prevalence of prescription opioid use and evaluated the trends in a large cohort of Medicaid-enrolled pregnant women. They observed high and increasing number of filled prescriptions for opioids during pregnancy among Medicaid-enrolled women and recommended further safety evaluations of these drugs and their effects on the developing fetus.
AHRQ-funded; HS018533.
Citation: Desai RJ, Hernandez-Diaz S, Bateman BT .
Increase in prescription opioid use during pregnancy among Medicaid-enrolled women.
Obstet Gynecol 2014 May;123(5):997-1002. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000000208.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Medication, Opioids, Pregnancy
Kim DH, Lin Y, Goytizolo EA
Adductor canal block versus femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
In a study of pain relief for patients recovering from a total knee arthroplasty, researchers found that adductor canal block (ACB) results in less motor impairment for quadriceps muscles after surgery than femoral nerve block (FNB) and it provides a comparable level of pain relief. The prospective, randomized, controlled study included 46 patients receiving ACB and 47 receiving FNB.
AHRQ-funded; HS021734
Citation: Kim DH, Lin Y, Goytizolo EA .
Adductor canal block versus femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
Anesthesiology. 2014 Mar;120(3):540-50. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000119..
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Outcomes, Pain, Surgery
Nuckols TK, Anderson L, Popescu I
Opioid prescribing: a systematic review and critical appraisal of guidelines for chronic pain.
This review evaluated the quality and content of guidelines on the use of opioids for chronic pain. Despite limited evidence and variable development methods, it concluded that recent guidelines on chronic pain agree on several opioid risk mitigation strategies, including upper dosing thresholds; cautions with certain medications; attention to drug–drug and drug–disease interactions; and use of risk assessment tools, treatment agreements, and urine drug testing.
AHRQ-funded; HS017954.
Citation: Nuckols TK, Anderson L, Popescu I .
Opioid prescribing: a systematic review and critical appraisal of guidelines for chronic pain.
Ann Intern Med 2014 Jan 7;160(1):38-47. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-160-1-201401070-00732..
Keywords: Opioids, Pain, Guidelines, Medication, Evidence-Based Practice, Chronic Conditions