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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 26 Research Studies DisplayedCampbell AM, Mattoni M, Yefimov MN
Improving cognitive workload in radiation therapists: a pilot EEG neurofeedback study.
The authors employed an accelerated alpha-theta neurofeedback (NF) protocol to test if 12 radiation therapy therapists (RTTs) could learn the protocol and exhibit behavior and brain performance-related benefits. Following the 3-week protocol, participants showed a decrease in subjective cognitive workload and a decrease in response time during a performance task, as well as a decrease in desynchrony of the alpha electroencephalogram band. The authors concluded that the RTTs successfully learned the protocol and improved in perceived cognitive workload following 3 weeks of neurofeedback.
AHRQ-funded; HS025597.
Citation: Campbell AM, Mattoni M, Yefimov MN .
Improving cognitive workload in radiation therapists: a pilot EEG neurofeedback study.
Front Psychol 2020 Dec 3;11:571739. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.571739..
Keywords: Provider, Burnout, Stress, Workforce
Shubeck SP, Newman EA, Vitous CA
Hiring practices of US academic surgery departments-challenges and opportunities for more inclusive hiring.
To increase workforce diversity among academic medical centers, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommends multiple inclusive strategies for evaluating and hiring candidates. The objective of this study was to determine (1) usual and inclusive hiring practices used among academic surgery departments and (2) the barriers to utilization of inclusive hiring practices. The investigators concluded that many chairs rely heavily on internal hires or trusted networks, which may limit both demographic and cognitive diversity.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Shubeck SP, Newman EA, Vitous CA .
Hiring practices of US academic surgery departments-challenges and opportunities for more inclusive hiring.
J Surg Res 2020 Oct;254:23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.03.054..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Hospitals
de Cordova PB, Jones T, Riman KA
Staffing trends in magnet and non-magnet hospitals after state legislation.
This study examined whether there was a difference in staffing of registered nurses in Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals using unit-level, publicly available data in New Jersey. This secondary analysis of longitudinal RN staffing data was conducted using 64 hospitals representing 12 nursing specialties during the time span of 2008 to 2015. There was a slight increase in staffing at Magnet hospitals compared to non-Magnet hospitals, but RN staffing improved in all hospitals. No meaningful difference in staffing for all 12 specialties was found.
AHRQ-funded; HS024339.
Citation: de Cordova PB, Jones T, Riman KA .
Staffing trends in magnet and non-magnet hospitals after state legislation.
J Nurs Care Qual 2020 Oct/Dec;35(4):323-28. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000479..
Keywords: Hospitals, Policy, Healthcare Delivery, Workforce
Womack DM, Hribar MR, Steege LM
Registered nurse strain detection using ambient data: an exploratory study of underutilized operational data streams in the hospital workplace.
Registered nurses (RNs) regularly adapt their work to ever-changing situations but routine adaptation transforms into RN strain when service demand exceeds staff capacity and patients are at risk of missed or delayed care. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of ambient workplace data, defined as time-stamped transaction records and log file data produced by non-electronic health record care delivery tools (e.g., nurse call systems, communication devices), as an information channel for automated sensing of RN strain.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Womack DM, Hribar MR, Steege LM .
Registered nurse strain detection using ambient data: an exploratory study of underutilized operational data streams in the hospital workplace.
Appl Clin Inform 2020 Aug;11(4):598-605. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1715829..
Keywords: Provider: Nurse, Provider, Health Information Technology (HIT), Workforce, Burnout
Islam N, Rogers ES, Schoenthaler EA
A cross-cutting workforce solution for implementing community-clinical linkage models.
This article discusses the use of employing community health workers (CHWs) in primary care practices to create community-clinical linkage models to address the underlying role of social determinants of health and achieve health equity. Federal initiatives such as EvidenceNOW and Million Hearts have supported a renewed focus on small, independently owned practices. These initiatives emphasize the role of practice facilitation. The authors drew from the literature and propose that small, independently owned practices strategically employ practice facilitators to help integrate CHWs into their primary care teams. These facilitators help provide a “population health management” infrastructure to develop effective partnerships. Several ways that practice facilitation can help do this is outlined in this paper.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Islam N, Rogers ES, Schoenthaler EA .
A cross-cutting workforce solution for implementing community-clinical linkage models.
Am J Public Health 2020 Jul;110(S2):S191-s93. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305692..
Keywords: Community-Based Practice, Primary Care, Workforce, Primary Care: Models of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J
Organizational support for nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes.
Lack of organizational support in healthcare settings has been linked to high levels of clinician stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Little research exists on organizational support for nurse practitioners. In this study, the researchers investigated the relationship between organizational support and nurse practitioner outcomes, including job satisfaction, intent to leave, and quality of care. The investigators concluded that nurse practitioners from primary care practices with higher levels of organizational support were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, have less intent to leave their jobs, and report better quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024758.
Citation: Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J .
Organizational support for nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes.
Nurs Res 2020 Jul/Aug;69(4):280-88. doi: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000425..
Keywords: Provider: Clinician, Provider, Primary Care, Burnout, Stress, Workforce, Organizational Change
Toledo P, Lewis CR, Lange EMS
Women and underrepresented minorities in academic anesthesiology.
The demographics of the United States is changing with 51% of the population being female, and 32% of the population identifying as an underrepresented minority (URM, ie, African American/black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander). This article provides an overview of the current status of women and URM faculty in academic anesthesiology and provides a framework for academic advancement.
AHRQ-funded; HS025267; HS026169.
Citation: Toledo P, Lewis CR, Lange EMS .
Women and underrepresented minorities in academic anesthesiology.
Anesthesiol Clin 2020 Jun;38(2):449-57. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2020.01.004..
Keywords: Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Education: Academic
Whitaker DJ, Lyons M, Weeks EA
Does adoption of an evidence-based practice lead to job turnover? Results from a randomized trial.
It is important to understand the impact of implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) on the workforce. EBP implementation can increase job demands, stress, and burnout, and may thereby exacerbate turnover. This study examined the effects of implementation of an EBP on turnover among staff at nine child welfare agencies. A total of 102 providers were randomized to either adopt an EBP, SafeCare ((c)) , or continue providing services as usual.
AHRQ-funded; HS023370.
Citation: Whitaker DJ, Lyons M, Weeks EA .
Does adoption of an evidence-based practice lead to job turnover? Results from a randomized trial.
J Community Psychol 2020 May;48(4):1258-72. doi: 10.1002/jcop.22305..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Workforce
Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Grady VM
Indicators of workplace burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
The goal of this study was to examine whether individual behaviors and attitudes towards major disruptive change has an effect on workplace burnout. Using surveys from healthcare professionals, researchers’ findings showed workplace burnout reported by 31.6% of physicians, 17.2% of advanced practice clinicians, 18.9% of clinical support staff, and 17.5% of administrative staff, with all healthcare professional groups having high levels of anxiety. Providers who experienced higher levels of anxiety and withdrawal were more than three times as likely to report burnout compared to those who experienced low levels in these domains.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Grady VM .
Indicators of workplace burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 May-Jun;33(3):378-85. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190260..
Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care, Provider, Workflow, Workforce
Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J
Physician-nurse practitioner teamwork in primary care practices in New York: a cross-sectional survey.
Primary care practices increasingly rely on the growing workforce of nurse practitioners (NPs) to meet primary care demand. Understanding teamwork between NPs and physicians in primary care practices is critically important. In this study, the investigators assessed teamwork between NPs and physicians practicing within the same primary care practice and determined how teamwork affected their job satisfaction, intent to leave their current job, and quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024758.
Citation: Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J .
Physician-nurse practitioner teamwork in primary care practices in New York: a cross-sectional survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Apr;35(4):1021-28. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05509-2..
Keywords: Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Quality of Care
Than C, Chuang E, Washington DL
Understanding gender sensitivity of the health care workforce at the Veterans Health Administration.
Gender sensitivity of providers and staff has assumed increasing importance in closing historical gender disparities in health care quality and outcomes. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented several initiatives intended to improve gender sensitivity of its health care workforce. The current study examined practice- and individual-level characteristics associated with gender sensitivity of primary care providers (PCPs) and staff.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Than C, Chuang E, Washington DL .
Understanding gender sensitivity of the health care workforce at the Veterans Health Administration.
Womens Health Issues 2020 Mar-Apr;30(2):120-27. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.01.001..
Keywords: Workforce, Provider, Primary Care, Disparities, Quality of Care
Jalali A, Martin C, Nelson RE
Provider practice competition and adoption of Medicare's Oncology Care Model.
The purpose of this study was to measure the association between regional market competition among medical oncologists with the initial adoption of the Oncology Care Model (OCM). Findings showed that practices in competitive health care markets were more likely to adopt OCM than in noncompetitive markets. Average practice size, number of practices in a hospital referral region, and the hospital bed rate were positively associated with adoption, whereas the rate of full-time equivalent hospital employees to 1000 residents was negatively associated with adoption. Recommendations included careful monitoring of market-level changes among OCM adopters to ensure that the benefits of the OCM outweigh the negative consequences of possible changes in competition.
AHRQ-funded; HS024714.
Citation: Jalali A, Martin C, Nelson RE .
Provider practice competition and adoption of Medicare's Oncology Care Model.
Med Care 2020 Feb;58(2):154-60. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001243..
Keywords: Medicare, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider
Baron AN, Hemler JR, Sweeney SM
Effects of practice turnover on primary care quality improvement implementation.
This study examined the effect primary care practice turnover has on quality improvement (QI) implementation. It often stops momentum in the improvement process, especially if key members leave. Key member turnover causes loss of institutional memory about QI purpose, processes, and long-term vision.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Baron AN, Hemler JR, Sweeney SM .
Effects of practice turnover on primary care quality improvement implementation.
Am J Med Qual 2020 Jan/Feb;35(1):16-22. doi: 10.1177/1062860619844001..
Keywords: Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Workforce, Implementation
Daniel VT, Ayturk D, Kiefe CI
The current State of the acute care surgery workforce: a boots on the ground perspective.
Acute care surgery (ACS) was proposed to address a general surgery workforce crisis; however, the ACS workforce composition is unknown. A national survey was conducted to determine the differences in the emergency general surgery (EGS) workforce between ACS and non-ACS hospitals. The investigators concluded that ACS and non-ACS hospitals differ in their surgical workforce. It is clear that ACS hospitals have more human capital, which suggests that ACS hospitals may require more dedicated resources compared to non-ACS hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS022694.
Citation: Daniel VT, Ayturk D, Kiefe CI .
The current State of the acute care surgery workforce: a boots on the ground perspective.
Am J Surg 2018 Dec;216(6):1076-81. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.08.023..
Keywords: Critical Care, Emergency Department, Hospitals, Workforce
Tabano DC, Anderson ML, Ritzwoller DP
Estimating the impact of diabetes mellitus on worker productivity using self-report, electronic health record and human resource data.
In this study, the investigators assessed the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and measures of worker productivity, direct health care costs, and costs associated with lost productivity (LP) among health care industry workers across two integrated health care systems. They concluded that the impact of DM was reflected in higher rates of LP and higher indirect costs for employers related to LP and higher health care resource use.
AHRQ-funded; HS018913.
Citation: Tabano DC, Anderson ML, Ritzwoller DP .
Estimating the impact of diabetes mellitus on worker productivity using self-report, electronic health record and human resource data.
J Occup Environ Med 2018 Nov;60(11):e569-e74. doi: 10.1097/jom.0000000000001441..
Keywords: Diabetes, Healthcare Costs, Workforce
Brimhall KC, Mor Barak ME
The critical role of workplace inclusion in fostering innovation, job satisfaction, and quality of care in a diverse human service organization.
Using a sample of 213 participants within 21 departmental units in a diverse human service organization, the authors performed multilevel path analysis to examine the critical role of workplace inclusion in fostering innovation, job satisfaction, and quality of care in a diverse human service organization.
AHRQ-funded; HS024650.
Citation: Brimhall KC, Mor Barak ME .
The critical role of workplace inclusion in fostering innovation, job satisfaction, and quality of care in a diverse human service organization.
Hum Serv Organ Manag Leadersh Gov 2018 Nov/Dec;42(5):474-92..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Workforce, Organizational Change
Mor V, Wallace P
Funding the training of future health services researchers.
This article describes the trends in funding for training health service researches in the United States. The government funds some training through grants by NIH and AHRQ through the National Research Service Award (NRSA) mechanism. However, most of the AHRQ grant programs have reduced their funding levels from 2010 to 2015 by almost half, with only the dissertation grants program (R36) experiencing an increase. Other federal mechanisms to fund training come through postdoctoral or post-MD programs with HRSA or the Veterans Administration. Private funding is also available through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Lastly, AcademyHealth started a Delivery System Science Fellowship (DSSF) program to provide a paid post-doctoral learning experience for early-career researchers. Out of 118 applicants, 25 fellows, six trained as physicians have been accepted. Twenty-one researchers have completed the fellowship, and four are current fellows. There has been a wide background in those fellows. The writers believe more stable funding sources need to be established with a close collaboration between HSR researchers and users.
AHRQ-funded; 233201600155P.
Citation: Mor V, Wallace P .
Funding the training of future health services researchers.
Health Serv Res 2018 Oct;53 Suppl 2:3976-84. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12844..
Keywords: Health Services Research (HSR), Workforce
Meyers D, LeRoy L, Bailit M
AHRQ Author: Meyers D, Zhan C
Workforce configurations to provide high-quality, comprehensive primary care: a mixed-method exploration of staffing for four types of primary care practices.
The aim of this study was to explore the team configurations and associated costs required to deliver high-quality, comprehensive primary care. The study estimates provided health care decision-makers with needed guideposts for considering primary care staffing and financing and informed broader discussions on primary care innovations and the necessary resources to provide high-quality, comprehensive primary care in the USA.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201000004I; 29032009T.
Citation: Meyers D, LeRoy L, Bailit M .
Workforce configurations to provide high-quality, comprehensive primary care: a mixed-method exploration of staffing for four types of primary care practices.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Oct;33(10):1774-79. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4530-7..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Quality of Care, Primary Care, Workforce, Teams
Costa DK, Moss M
The cost of caring: emotion, burnout, and psychological distress in critical care clinicians.
This paper comments on emotion, burnout, and psychological distress in critical care clinicians. It stresses that the current management approaches for burnout and other forms of psychological distress are insufficient and discusses possibilities for improvement.
AHRQ-funded; HS024552.
Citation: Costa DK, Moss M .
The cost of caring: emotion, burnout, and psychological distress in critical care clinicians.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018 Jul;15(7):787-90. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201804-269PS..
Keywords: Burnout, Critical Care, Provider, Workforce
Huber MT, Ham SA, Qayyum M
Association between job factors, burnout, and preference for a new job: a nationally representative physician survey.
Investigators used an experimental vignette to test associations between physician demographics, salary, and working with exemplary colleagues on the likelihood of preferring a new job among burned out and non-burned out physicians in various specialties. They found that, among burned out physicians, the opportunity for better salary and colleagues made them more likely to prefer a new job compared to non-burned out physicians, with change in salary associated with the greatest difference. They recommended focusing on improving physician-colleague relationships to improve job retention.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Huber MT, Ham SA, Qayyum M .
Association between job factors, burnout, and preference for a new job: a nationally representative physician survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Jun;33(6):789-91. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4412-z..
Keywords: Burnout, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider
Berridge C, Tyler DA, Miller SC
Staff empowerment practices and CNA retention: findings from a nationally representative nursing home culture change survey.
This article examines whether staff empowerment practices common to nursing home culture change are associated with certified nursing assistant (CNA) retention. It concluded that after adjustment for covariates, a greater staff empowerment practice score was positively associated with greater retention. Compared with the low empowerment category, nursing homes with scores in the medium category had a 44 percent greater likelihood of having higher CNA retention.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Berridge C, Tyler DA, Miller SC .
Staff empowerment practices and CNA retention: findings from a nationally representative nursing home culture change survey.
J Appl Gerontol 2018 Apr;37(4):419-34. doi: 10.1177/0733464816665204.
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Keywords: Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Provider, Provider: Health Personnel, Workforce
Snyder CR, Frogner BK, Skillman SM
Facilitating racial and ethnic diversity in the health workforce.
This study explored changes in the racial and ethnic diversity of the health workforce in the United States over the last decade, and evidence on the effectiveness of programs designed to promote racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S. health workforce. Findings suggested that although the health workforce overall is becoming more diverse, people of color are most often represented among the entry-level, lower-skilled health occupations.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Snyder CR, Frogner BK, Skillman SM .
Facilitating racial and ethnic diversity in the health workforce.
J Allied Health 2018 Spring;47(1):58-65..
Keywords: Provider, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Workforce
Leyenaar JK, Frintner MP
Graduating pediatric residents entering the hospital medicine workforce, 2006-2015.
This study analyzed the population of graduating pediatric residents entering the new subspecialty – pediatric hospital medicine (PHM). Data was analyzed from the American Academic of Pediatrics Annual Survey of Graduating Residents, 2006-2015. A total of 5969 graduates completed the survey, and 10.3% reported that they were entering PHM and 33.9% were reporting subspecialty fellowships. A multivariable analysis was done of the demographics, and a higher rate of residents entering PHM were female, to have children, to report that family factors limited their job selection, and to have higher levels of student debt than residents entering fellowships.
AHRQ-funded; HS024133.
Citation: Leyenaar JK, Frintner MP .
Graduating pediatric residents entering the hospital medicine workforce, 2006-2015.
Acad Pediatr 2018 Mar;18(2):200-07. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2017.05.001..
Keywords: Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Workforce
Kim LY, Rose DE, Soban LM
Primary care tasks associated with provider burnout: findings from a Veterans Health Administration survey.
The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) the extent to which primary care providers (PCPs) share responsibility for 14 discrete primary care tasks with other team members, and (2) which, if any, of the primary care tasks performed by the PCPs (without reliance on team members) are associated with PCP burnout.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Kim LY, Rose DE, Soban LM .
Primary care tasks associated with provider burnout: findings from a Veterans Health Administration survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Jan;33(1):50-56. doi: 10.1007/s11606-017-4188-6..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR), Patient-Centered Healthcare, Primary Care, Provider, Workforce
Biener A, Cawley J, Meyerhoefer C
AHRQ Author: Biener A
The impact of obesity on medical care costs and labor market outcomes in the US.
The economic consequences of obesity are not well understood. Researchers analyzed data for 2001-2015 and estimated the percentage of healthcare costs that were associated with adult obesity. They found that a substantial and rising percentage of healthcare costs are associated with obesity. This is true for the US, for individual states, for each category of expenditure, and for each type of payer.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener A, Cawley J, Meyerhoefer C .
The impact of obesity on medical care costs and labor market outcomes in the US.
Clin Chem 2018 Jan;64(1):108-17. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2017.272450.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Obesity, Workforce