National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (9)
- Cancer (1)
- Care Coordination (3)
- Caregiving (1)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) (1)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (4)
- (-) Communication (16)
- Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) (1)
- Cultural Competence (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (4)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Hospital Discharge (3)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Hospitals (2)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Labor and Delivery (1)
- Maternal Care (1)
- Medical Errors (4)
- Medical Liability (1)
- Medication (3)
- Medication: Safety (2)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Nursing (1)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- (-) Patient Safety (16)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Provider (4)
- Provider: Clinician (2)
- Provider: Nurse (1)
- Provider: Physician (2)
- Simulation (1)
- Surgery (2)
- Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (1)
- Teams (2)
- TeamSTEPPS (1)
- Tools & Toolkits (1)
- Training (1)
- Transitions of Care (3)
- Trauma (1)
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (1)
- Women (1)
- Workflow (1)
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 16 of 16 Research Studies DisplayedMcCarthy DM, Curtis LM, Courtney DM
A multifaceted intervention to improve patient knowledge and safe use of opioids: results of the ED EMC(2) randomized controlled trial.
Despite increased focus on opioid prescribing, little is known about the influence of prescription opioid medication information given to patients in the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC(2)) Opioid Strategy on patients' safe use of opioids and knowledge about opioids. The study found that the EMC(2) tools improved demonstrated safe dosing, but these benefits did not translate into actual use based on medication dairies. The text-messaging intervention did result in improved patient knowledge.
AHRQ-funded; HS023459.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Curtis LM, Courtney DM .
A multifaceted intervention to improve patient knowledge and safe use of opioids: results of the ED EMC(2) randomized controlled trial.
Acad Emerg Med 2019 Dec;26(12):1311-25. doi: 10.1111/acem.13860..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Gaufberg E, Olmsted MW, Bell SK
Third things as inspiration and artifact: a multi-stakeholder qualitative approach to understand patient and family emotions after harmful events.
The authors discuss an AHRQ conference held to establish a research agenda on patient and family emotional harm after medical errors. Topics include implications for quality and safety, educational innovation, and qualitative research.
AHRQ-funded; HS024463.
Citation: Gaufberg E, Olmsted MW, Bell SK .
Third things as inspiration and artifact: a multi-stakeholder qualitative approach to understand patient and family emotions after harmful events.
J Med Humanit 2019 Dec;40(4):489-504. doi: 10.1007/s10912-019-09563-z..
Keywords: Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Patient and Family Engagement, Patient Safety
Khan A, Yin HS, Brach C
AHRQ Author: Brach C
Association between parent comfort with English and adverse events among hospitalized children.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between parents’ limited comfort with English (LCE) and adverse events in a cohort of hospitalized children. Participants included Arabic-, Chinese-, English-, and Spanish-speaking parents of patients 17 years and younger in the pediatric units of seven North American hospitals. Findings showed that hospitalized children of parents expressing LCE were twice as likely to experience harms due to medical care. Targeted strategies are needed to improve communication and safety for this vulnerable group of children.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Khan A, Yin HS, Brach C .
Association between parent comfort with English and adverse events among hospitalized children.
JAMA Pediatr 2020 Dec;174(12):e203215. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3215..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Inpatient Care, Hospitalization
Manojlovich M, Ameling JM, Forman J
Contextual barriers to communication between physicians and nurses about appropriate catheter use.
This study identified contextual barriers to communication between physicians and nurses that contribute to inappropriate use of catheters and increased risk of health care-associated infections. The researchers conducted individual and small-group semistructured interviewed with physicians and nurses in a progressive care unit of an academic hospital. Common barriers included workflow misalignment between clinicians, issues with electronic medical records and pagers, and strained relationships between clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS024385.
Citation: Manojlovich M, Ameling JM, Forman J .
Contextual barriers to communication between physicians and nurses about appropriate catheter use.
Am J Crit Care 2019 Jul;28(4):290-98. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2019372..
Keywords: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Communication, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Provider, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Physician, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Workflow
Campbell Britton M, Hodshon B, Chaudhry SI
Implementing a warm handoff between hospital and skilled nursing facility clinicians.
This study focused on increasing better communication during transfers from hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Warm handoffs between hospital and SNF physicians was implemented. Participation in warm handoffs gradually increased – starting at 15.78% in stage 1 and increasing to 46.89% in stage 3. A total of 2417 patient discharges were included in this study.
AHRQ-funded; HS023554.
Citation: Campbell Britton M, Hodshon B, Chaudhry SI .
Implementing a warm handoff between hospital and skilled nursing facility clinicians.
J Patient Saf 2019 Sep;15(3):198-204. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000529..
Keywords: Communication, Patient Safety, Hospital Discharge, Transitions of Care, Care Coordination, Hospitals, Nursing Homes
Hoonakker PLT, Wooldridge AR, Hose BZ
Information flow during pediatric trauma care transitions: things falling through the cracks.
In order to investigate information flow during pediatric trauma care transitions, researchers interviewed 18 clinicians about communication and coordination between the emergency department, operating room, and pediatric intensive care unit, then surveyed the clinicians about patient safety during these transitions. They found that, despite the fact that the many services and units involved in pediatric trauma cooperate well together during trauma cases, important patient care information is often lost when transitioning patients between units. To manage the transition of this fragile and complex population better, they recommend finding ways to manage the information flow during these transitions better by, for instance, providing technological support to ensure shared mental models.
AHRQ-funded; HS023837.
Citation: Hoonakker PLT, Wooldridge AR, Hose BZ .
Information flow during pediatric trauma care transitions: things falling through the cracks.
Intern Emerg Med 2019 Aug;14(5):797-805. doi: 10.1007/s11739-019-02110-7..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Communication, Emergency Department, Healthcare Delivery, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Patient Safety, Provider, Provider: Clinician, Surgery, Transitions of Care, Trauma
Dossett L, Miller J, Jagsi R
A modified communication and optimal resolution program for intersystem medical error discovery: protocol for an implementation study.
AHRQ’s Communication and Optimal Resolution (CANDOR) Toolkit facilitates transparent communication, error prevention, and achieving optimal resolution with patients and families; how medical errors should be addressed when they are discovered between systems-intersystem medical error discovery (IMED)-remains unclear. This study aims to develop and test implementation of a modified CANDOR process for application to IMED scenarios. Step 1 of aim 1 is currently underway. This work is expected to provide important insights into the potential utility of an implementation toolkit to improve transparent communication and optimal resolution of IMED scenarios.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Dossett L, Miller J, Jagsi R .
A modified communication and optimal resolution program for intersystem medical error discovery: protocol for an implementation study.
JMIR Res Protoc 2019 Jul 2;8(7):e13396. doi: 10.2196/13396..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication, Medical Errors, Patient Safety, Tools & Toolkits
Wyatt DL
AHRQ Author: Wyatt DL
Employing technology to make care transitions safer.
This commentary discusses the potential for errors in patient handoffs; important information about medications and instructions regarding patient care may be overlooked when the patient is referred to special care, moved to a new hospital setting, or discharged. The problem is especially acute for patients with multiple chronic conditions who often undergo frequent transitions to new care settings and healthcare providers. The author describes AHRQ’s funding opportunities for health information technology interventions that aim to improve communication and coordination during care transitions, such as location-based smartphone alerts, a patient-centered discharge toolkit, and a ‘smart pillbox’ electronic medication adherence reporting project.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Wyatt DL .
Employing technology to make care transitions safer.
J Nurs Care Qual 2019 Jul/Sep;34(3):185-88. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000417..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Care Coordination, Chronic Conditions, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Hospital Discharge, Medical Errors, Medication, Patient Safety, Transitions of Care
Umberfield E, Ghaferi AA, Krein SL
Using incident reports to assess communication failures and patient outcomes.
Communication failures pose a significant threat to the quality of care and safety of hospitalized patients. Yet little is known about the nature of communication failures. The aims of this study were to identify and describe types of communication failures in which nurses and physicians were involved and determine how different types of communication failures might affect patient outcomes. The investigators found that incident reports could identify specific types of communication failures and patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023621; HS024403; HS022305; HS024760.
Citation: Umberfield E, Ghaferi AA, Krein SL .
Using incident reports to assess communication failures and patient outcomes.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2019 Jun;45(6):406-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2019.02.006..
Keywords: Communication, Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Patient Safety
Patel MR, Friese CR, Mendelsohn-Victor K
Clinician perspectives on electronic health records, communication, and patient safety across diverse medical oncology practices.
This study examined the effects of electronic health records (EHRs) on communication and patient safety in oncology practices. The authors conducted a survey of 297 oncology nurses and prescribers in a statewide collaborative. They found there was an inverse relationship between reliance on EHRs and safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS024914.
Citation: Patel MR, Friese CR, Mendelsohn-Victor K .
Clinician perspectives on electronic health records, communication, and patient safety across diverse medical oncology practices.
J Oncol Pract 2019 Jun;15(6):e529-e36. doi: 10.1200/jop.18.00507..
Keywords: Cancer, Communication, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Safety, Provider, Provider: Clinician
Kahwati LC, Sorensen AV, Teixeira-Poit S
AHRQ Author: Mistry KB
Impact of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Safety Program for Perinatal Care.
The purpose of this study was to describe the Safety Program for Perinatal Care (SPPC) implementation experience and evaluate the short-term impact on labor and delivery (L&D) unit patient safety culture, processes, and adverse events. SPPC implementation by L&D units were supported sing a program toolkit, trainings, and technical assistance. Researchers then evaluated the program using a pre-post, mixed-methods design. Changes in safety and quality were measured using the Modified Adverse Outcome Index (MAOI) and other perinatal care indicators. Findings showed that SPPC had a favorable impact on unit patient safety culture and processes, but mixed short-term impact on maternal and neonatal adverse events.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 2902010000241.
Citation: Kahwati LC, Sorensen AV, Teixeira-Poit S .
Impact of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Safety Program for Perinatal Care.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2019 Apr;45(4):231-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.11.002..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Communication, Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), Labor and Delivery, Maternal Care, Newborns/Infants, Outcomes, Patient Safety, Pregnancy, Simulation, Surveys on Patient Safety Culture, Teams, TeamSTEPPS, Training, Women
Frasier LL, Pavuluri Quamme SR, Ma Y
Familiarity and communication in the operating room.
Researchers sought to evaluate the relationship between familiarity, communication rates, and communication ineffectiveness of health care providers in the operating room. They found that team members do not compensate for unfamiliarity by increasing their verbal communication, and dyad familiarity is not protective against ineffective communication. Cross-disciplinary communication remains vulnerable in the operating room, suggesting poor crosstalk across disciplines in the operative setting. They recommended further investigation to explore these relationships and identify effective interventions, ensuring that all team members have the necessary information to optimize their performance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022403.
Citation: Frasier LL, Pavuluri Quamme SR, Ma Y .
Familiarity and communication in the operating room.
J Surg Res 2019 Mar;235:395-403. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.09.079..
Keywords: Communication, Patient Safety, Surgery, Teams, Provider: Physician, Provider
Manojlovich M, Frankel RM, Harrod M
Formative evaluation of the video reflexive ethnography method, as applied to the physician-nurse dyad.
Poor communication between physicians and nurses continues to contributor to adverse events in the hospital setting. This article evaluates the use of video reflexive ethnography (VRE) as a means of improving communication and improving patient safety, and concludes that video-record communication between physicians and nurses during patient care rounds is feasible and acceptable.
AHRQ-funded; HS024760.
Citation: Manojlovich M, Frankel RM, Harrod M .
Formative evaluation of the video reflexive ethnography method, as applied to the physician-nurse dyad.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Feb;28(2):160-66. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2017-007728..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Communication, Hospitals, Nursing, Patient Safety
Hennessy S, Strom BL
Improving postapproval drug safety surveillance: getting better information sooner.
There are often long delays between when a drug is approved and when serious adverse drug events are identified. This article discusses ways to reduce delays in identifying drug-related risks and in providing reassurance about the absence of such risks.
AHRQ-funded; HS018372.
Citation: Hennessy S, Strom BL .
Improving postapproval drug safety surveillance: getting better information sooner.
Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2015;55:75-87. doi: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-011613-135955.
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Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Communication, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Liao JM, Roy CL, Eibensteiner K
Lost in transition: discrepancies in how physicians perceive the actionability of the results of tests pending at discharge.
Effective communication of pending hospital test results between inpatient and primary care physicians is sometimes challenging or nonexistent. This communication is essential for safe, quality transactions at discharge. Health information technology (such as email and fax) is an effective strategy for improving and reporting test-result management.
AHRQ-funded; HS018229
Citation: Liao JM, Roy CL, Eibensteiner K .
Lost in transition: discrepancies in how physicians perceive the actionability of the results of tests pending at discharge.
J Hospital Med. 2014 Jun;9(6):407-9. doi: 10.1002/jhm.2177..
Keywords: Communication, Care Coordination, Health Information Technology (HIT), Hospital Discharge, Patient Safety
Mello MM, Senecal SK, Kuznetsov Y
Implementing hospital-based communication-and-resolution programs: lessons learned in New York City.
The researchers report on the experiences of five hospitals with implementing the communications-and-resolution program (CRP) in general surgery over a twenty-two-month period. They found that all of the hospitals improved disclosure and surveillance of adverse events but were not able to fully implement the program’s compensation component. These experiences suggest that strong support from top leadership at the hospital and insurer levels, and adequate staff resources, are critical for the success of CRPs.
AHRQ-funded; HS019505.
Citation: Mello MM, Senecal SK, Kuznetsov Y .
Implementing hospital-based communication-and-resolution programs: lessons learned in New York City.
Health Aff 2014 Jan;33(1):30-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0849..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Communication, Medical Liability, Patient Safety