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
- (-) Cancer (13)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (3)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Ovarian Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (4)
- Comparative Effectiveness (3)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (2)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- (-) Evidence-Based Practice (13)
- Family Health and History (1)
- Genetics (1)
- Guidelines (5)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Imaging (1)
- Medication (1)
- Men's Health (1)
- Mortality (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Outcomes (4)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (6)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (6)
- Primary Care (1)
- Quality of Life (2)
- Registries (1)
- Research Methodologies (2)
- Risk (1)
- Screening (4)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Surgery (2)
- Treatments (3)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (3)
- Women (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 13 of 13 Research Studies DisplayedChapman CH, Caram MEV, Radhakrishnan A
Association between PSA values and surveillance quality after prostate cancer surgery.
This study examined the association between PSA values and posttreatment surveillance after prostate cancer surgery. Normally the treatment cutoff rate is 0.2 ng/mL but 4.0 ng/mL may be more appropriate. Data from the US Veterans Health Administration was used to perform a retrospective longitudinal cohort study for men diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer from 2005 to 2008 who underwent radical prostatectomy. Guideline concordance was high at year 1 (95%) but decreased to 79% in year 7. After adjustment, guideline concordance was lowered for the youngest and oldest, Black, and unmarried men.
AHRQ-funded; HS018726.
Citation: Chapman CH, Caram MEV, Radhakrishnan A .
Association between PSA values and surveillance quality after prostate cancer surgery.
Cancer Med 2019 Dec;8(18):7903-12. doi: 10.1002/cam4.2663..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Screening, Guidelines, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Parsons HM, Forte ML, Abdi HI
Nutrition as prevention for improved cancer health outcomes: a systematic literature review.
This systematic review examined evidence for the effectiveness of providing nutritional interventions before or during cancer therapy to improve cancer treatment outcomes. The studies examined focused primarily on non-vitamin/mineral dietary supplements, nutrition support, and route or timing of inpatient nutrition interventions for patients with gastrointestinal or head and neck cancer; most of the studies evaluated changes in body weight, adverse events from cancer treatment, length of hospital stay, or quality of life. While studies with low- or medium risk-of-bias reported mixed results on the effect of nutritional interventions, the authors concluded that the methodological limitations impair the translation of study findings into clinical practice or guidelines.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00008.
Citation: Parsons HM, Forte ML, Abdi HI .
Nutrition as prevention for improved cancer health outcomes: a systematic literature review.
JNCI Cancer Spectr 2023 May 2; 7(3):pkad035. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkad035..
Keywords: Nutrition, Cancer, Prevention, Quality of Life, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Mullins BT, Basak R, Broughman JR
Patient-reported sexual quality of life after different types of radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy: analysis of a population-based prospective cohort.
This study compares the effects of different types of radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy on sexual function. A population-based cohort of 835 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer from 2011 through 2013 was recruited in collaboration with the Rapid Case Ascertainment system of the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry. They were enrolled prior to treatment and followed retrospectively using the validated Prostate Cancer Symptom Indices (PCSI) instrument. The sexual function scores were compared among patients who received the following treatment types: external-beam RT (EBRT), EBRT with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), brachytherapy, nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (RP), and non-nerve-sparing RP. The cohort was surveyed at 24 months post-therapy, and RT alone was found to result in the best preservation of sexual function with brachytherapy, RT with ADT, and nerve-sparing RP yielding similar outcomes. Patients treated with non-nerve-sparing RP experienced the worst sexual function outcome.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Mullins BT, Basak R, Broughman JR .
Patient-reported sexual quality of life after different types of radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy: analysis of a population-based prospective cohort.
Cancer 2019 Oct 15;125(20):3657-65. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32288..
Keywords: Quality of Life, Sexual Health, Surgery, Treatments, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Evidence-Based Practice
Nelson HD, Fu R, Zakher B
Medication use for the risk reduction of primary breast cancer in women: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this paper was to update the 2013 US Preventive Services Task Force systematic review on medications to reduce risk of primary (first diagnosis) invasive breast cancer in women. Investigators abstracted data on methods, participant characteristics, eligibility criteria, outcome ascertainment, and follow-up; individual trial results were combined using a profile likelihood random-effects model. Results showed that tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors were associated with lower risk of primary invasive breast cancer in women but also were associated with adverse effects that differed between medications. Risk stratification methods to identify patients with increased breast cancer risk demonstrated low accuracy.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500009I.
Citation: Nelson HD, Fu R, Zakher B .
Medication use for the risk reduction of primary breast cancer in women: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2019 Sep 3;322(9):868-86. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.5780..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Medication, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention, Primary Care
Niu X, Amendola LM, Hart R
Clinical exome sequencing vs. usual care for hereditary colorectal cancer diagnosis: a pilot comparative effectiveness study.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical exome sequencing (CES) compared to usual care (UC) in the diagnostic work-up of inherited colorectal cancer/polyposis (CRCP) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The investigators indicate that their results suggest that CES provides similar clinical benefits to multi-gene panels in the diagnosis of hereditary CRCP.
AHRQ-funded; HS021686.
Citation: Niu X, Amendola LM, Hart R .
Clinical exome sequencing vs. usual care for hereditary colorectal cancer diagnosis: a pilot comparative effectiveness study.
Contemp Clin Trials 2019 Sep;84:105820. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.105820..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Henrikson NB, Bowles EJ, Blasi PR
Screening for pancreatic cancer: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The authors systematically reviewed the benefits and harms of screening for pancreatic adenocarcinoma in order to inform the USPSTF. They found that imaging-based screening in groups at high familial risk can detect pancreatic adenocarcinoma with limited evidence of minimal harms. However, the effect of screening on morbidity and mortality in groups at high familial risk has not been studied, and no data are available in average-risk populations. They conclude that there is limited evidence to assess benefits or harms of surgical intervention for screen-detected pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
AHRQ-funded; 2902015000071.
Citation: Henrikson NB, Bowles EJ, Blasi PR .
Screening for pancreatic cancer: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2019 Aug 6;322(5):445-54. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.6190..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention
Yanez B, Bouchard LC, Cella D
Patient-centered engagement and symptom/toxicity monitoring in the new era of tumor next-generation sequencing and immunotherapy: the OncoTool and OncoPRO platforms.
This paper describes the development of the OncoTool and OncoPRO platforms to help patients with late-stage cancer (stages III-IV) and their providers in providing patient-centered education and remote and routine monitoring of symptoms and toxicities after tumor next-generation sequencing testing and treatment. The OncoTool is a web-based educational resource tailored for people with advanced cancer. It aims to provide patients with easy-to-understand treatment options and associated toxicities as well as evidence-based strategies for managing symptoms and improving stress management. It is fully integrated with OncoPRO which provides feedback on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to clinicians. The data from the platform can be integrated with the patient’s electronic health record (HER) and can provide an alert message. These systems are currently being tested with 4 trials – 1 for OncoTool and the other 3 for OncoPRO.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Yanez B, Bouchard LC, Cella D .
Patient-centered engagement and symptom/toxicity monitoring in the new era of tumor next-generation sequencing and immunotherapy: the OncoTool and OncoPRO platforms.
Cancer 2019 Jul 15;125(14):2338-44. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32030..
Keywords: Cancer, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Evidence-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Patient and Family Engagement
Istl AC, Ruck JM, Morris CD
Call for improved design and reporting in soft tissue sarcoma studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of chemotherapy and survival outcomes in resectable STS.
Researchers completed a meta-analysis of chemotherapy in localized STS, assessing OS, PFS, and local and distant recurrence. They found no benefit of chemotherapy over locoregional therapy alone for all-comers or site-specific STS. Recommendations to improve outcome reporting and quality indices are suggested.
AHRQ-funded; HS024736.
Citation: Istl AC, Ruck JM, Morris CD .
Call for improved design and reporting in soft tissue sarcoma studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of chemotherapy and survival outcomes in resectable STS.
J Surg Oncol 2019 Jun;119(7):824-35. doi: 10.1002/jso.25401..
Keywords: Cancer, Treatments, Evidence-Based Practice, Mortality, Outcomes, Research Methodologies
Millar MM, Kinney AY, Camp NJ
Predictors of response outcomes for research recruitment through a central cancer registry: evidence from 17 recruitment efforts for population-based studies.
The authors conducted multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression to identify case and study characteristics associated with making contact with and obtaining cooperation of Utah cancer cases. They found that characteristics associated with lower odds of contact included Hispanic ethnicity, nonwhite race, and younger age at contact. Years since diagnosis was inversely associated with making contact. Increased odds of cooperation were associated with including a questionnaire, postage stamps, and incentives. They concluded that obtaining high response is challenging, but study features identified in this analysis support better results when recruiting through central cancer registries.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Millar MM, Kinney AY, Camp NJ .
Predictors of response outcomes for research recruitment through a central cancer registry: evidence from 17 recruitment efforts for population-based studies.
Am J Epidemiol 2019 May;188(5):928-39. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwz011..
Keywords: Cancer, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Registries, Outcomes, Research Methodologies
Crawford ED, Koo PJ, Shore N
A clinician's guide to next generation imaging in patients with advanced prostate cancer (RADAR III).
This paper reports on the convening of the Radiographic Assessments for Detection of Advanced Recurrence (RADAR III) Group to offer guidance on the use of next generation imaging to stage prostate cancer based on available data and clinical experience. The RADAR III Group recommends next generation imaging techniques in select patients in whom disease progression is suspected based on biomarker values, comorbidities and symptoms.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Crawford ED, Koo PJ, Shore N .
A clinician's guide to next generation imaging in patients with advanced prostate cancer (RADAR III).
J Urol 2019 Apr;201(4):682-92. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2018.05.164..
Keywords: Men's Health, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines
Schmidt B, Eapen RS, Cowan JE
Practice patterns of primary EBRT with and without ADT in prostate cancer treatment.
This study investigated usage of external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), using data from a community-based prospective disease registry (CaPSURE). Data on 1337 men diagnosed between 1990 and 2014 with localized disease who received EBRT as primary treatment was compared. The authors conclude that use of ADT in conjunction with primary EBRT has increased in frequency and duration since 1990, and that men who received ADT have higher risk characteristics than those who receive EBRT alone.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356.
Citation: Schmidt B, Eapen RS, Cowan JE .
Practice patterns of primary EBRT with and without ADT in prostate cancer treatment.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2019 Mar;22(1):117-24. doi: 10.1038/s41391-018-0084-3..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Practice Patterns, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Outcomes, Treatments
Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of recently updated US-based mammography screening guidelines. Researchers developed a microsimulation model to generate the natural history of invasive breast cancer and capture how screening and treatment modified the natural course of the disease, and used the model to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening strategies. Results indicated that the hybrid screening strategy that starts annual mammography at the age of 45 years and switches to biennial screening between the ages of 55 and 75 years was the most cost-effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y .
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
Value Health 2019 Feb;22(2):185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2018.07.880..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Healthcare Costs
Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
This systematic review was done in support of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated recommendation on the benefit and harms of risk assessment, genetic testing, and genetic counseling for BRCA-related cancer in women. A systematic review was done on literature from 2004 to July 30, 2013 from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment, Scopus, and reference lists. Data on the participants, study design, analysis, follow-up, and results was extracted and a second investigator confirmed key data. The studies were rated on study quality and applicability. The analysis found women with high-risk for breast cancer had decreased risk of breast cancer by 85% to 100% by having a mastectomy, and risk of mortality by 81% to 100% compared to women without surgery. There was also a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer after having salpingo-oopherectomy surgery.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710057
Citation: Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
Ann Intern Med 2014 Feb 18;160(4):255-66. doi: 10.7326/m13-1684..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Ovarian Cancer, Cancer, Genetics, Screening, Prevention, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Women, Risk, Family Health and History