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 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedEllsworth BL, Metz AK, Mott MM
Review of cancer-specific quality measures promoting the avoidance of low-value care.
The purpose of this study was to explore cancer quality measures to identify and describe those that encourage the avoidance of caner overtreatment and low-value care. The study also aimed to identify gaps that could direct the future development of cancer-specific quality measures. The researchers collected, reviewed, and identified 313 quality measures encouraging the avoidance of low-value cancer care, from six leading quality measures organizations. Of the 313 quality measures identified, 55 (18%) focused on avoidance of low-value care. Quality measure most likely to focus on low-value care included: 13 end-of-life care measures (50%); 12 breast cancer care measures (18%); 9 lung cancer care measures (31%); 8 colon cancer care measures (20%); 5 prostate cancer care measures (38%); and 4 general cancer care measures (3%). The study concluded that the majority of cancer quality measures are not aimed at avoiding cancer over-treatment and low value care, and existing recommendations have not been incorporated in the field.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Ellsworth BL, Metz AK, Mott MM .
Review of cancer-specific quality measures promoting the avoidance of low-value care.
Ann Surg Oncol 2022 Jun;39(6):3750-62. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-11303-4..
Keywords: Cancer, Quality Measures, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care
Rauscher GH, Tossas-Milligan K, Macarol T
Trends in attaining mammography quality benchmarks with repeated participation in a quality measurement program: going beyond the mammography quality standards act to address breast cancer disparities.
The Mammography Quality Standards Act requires that mammography facilities conduct audits, but there are no specifications on the metrics to be measured. In this study, the authors present trends from the first 5 years of data collection to examine whether continued participation in this quality improvement program was associated with an increase in the number of benchmarks met for breast cancer screening.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Rauscher GH, Tossas-Milligan K, Macarol T .
Trends in attaining mammography quality benchmarks with repeated participation in a quality measurement program: going beyond the mammography quality standards act to address breast cancer disparities.
J Am Coll Radiol 2020 Nov;17(11):1420-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.07.019..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Screening, Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Jin B, Nembhard IM
Voluntary hospital reporting of performance in cancer care: does volume make a difference?
The authors hypothesized that patient volume is positively associated with both reporting and performance in cancer care. Studying 72 Pennsylvania hospitals accredited by the Commission on Cancer, they found that hospitals that publicly reported their performance had higher patient volumes than hospitals that did not release performance. Among reporting hospitals, no association was found between patient volume and performance on process of care metrics, suggesting that volume is not a predictor of performance for reporting hospitals. They recommended further research to identify other factors that differentiate performance within and across reporting and nonreporting hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Jin B, Nembhard IM .
Voluntary hospital reporting of performance in cancer care: does volume make a difference?
J Healthc Qual 2020 Nov/Dec;42(6):e75-e82. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000225..
Keywords: Cancer, Provider Performance, Hospitals, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality of Care
Schlick CJR, Khorfan R, Odell DD
Adequate lymphadenectomy as a quality measure in esophageal cancer: is there an association with treatment approach?
In this study, the authors’ objectives were to (1) explore trends in adequate lymphadenectomy rates over time; (2) evaluate unadjusted lymphadenectomy yield by treatment characteristics; and (3) identify independent factors associated with adequate lymphadenectomy. The investigators found that despite increases over time, only 50% of patients underwent adequate lymphadenectomy during esophageal cancer resection. They also found that adequate lymphadenectomy was not associated with neoadjuvant therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Schlick CJR, Khorfan R, Odell DD .
Adequate lymphadenectomy as a quality measure in esophageal cancer: is there an association with treatment approach?
Ann Surg Oncol 2020 Oct;27(11):4443-56. doi: 10.1245/s10434-020-08578-4..
Keywords: Cancer, Surgery, Quality Measures, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement