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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 31 Research Studies DisplayedMeyer AND, Singh H, Zimolzak AJ
Cancer evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study using National Veterans Affairs data.
This observational study examined the reasons why fewer cancer diagnoses have been made during the COVID-19 pandemic using electronic health record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs before (March 10, 2019-March 7, 2020) and during (March 8, 2020-March 6, 2021) the pandemic. Electronic triggers were applied to 8,021,406 veterans' electronic health records to identify follow-up delays for abnormal results warranting evaluation for 5 cancers: bladder, breast, colorectal, liver, and lung cancers. Between the prepandemic and pandemic periods, test quantities decreased by 12.6%-27.8%, and proportions of abnormal results lacking follow-up decreased for urinalyses by 0.8%, increased by 2.3% for fecal occult blood tests/fecal immunochemical test and 1.8% for chest imaging, and remained constant for the other diagnostic tests (mammograms for breast cancer and elevated alpha-fetoprotein for liver cancer). This significant decrease in diagnostic testing may have led to reduced cancer rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS027363.
Citation: Meyer AND, Singh H, Zimolzak AJ .
Cancer evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study using National Veterans Affairs data.
Am J Prev Med 2022 Dec;63(6):1026-30. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.07.004..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer, Public Health
Fletcher EH, Kalofonos I
Adaptation of a Hearing Voices group facilitation training for VA stakeholders.
The purpose of this study was to describe an adaptation of a Hearing Voices (HV) group facilitation training at the Veterans Administration hospital of Greater Los Angeles (VAGLA) and to explore training modifications, trainee perceptions and application and intervention outcomes. Researchers conducted surveys of trainees (n = 18) and collected field notes throughout the 24-hour online training. The study found that the training had high acceptability and appropriateness and high feasibility in implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS026407.
Citation: Fletcher EH, Kalofonos I .
Adaptation of a Hearing Voices group facilitation training for VA stakeholders.
Community Ment Health J 2022 Nov;58(8):1592-604. doi: 10.1007/s10597-022-00975-1..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Training
Williams PH, Gilmartin HM, Leonard C
The influence of the Rural Transitions Nurse Program for veterans on healthcare utilization costs.
This study’s objective was to examine changes from pre- to post-hospitalization in total, inpatient, and outpatient 30-day healthcare utilization costs for Veterans Affairs Healthcare System Rural Transitions Nurse Program (TNP) enrollees compared to controls. Although findings showed no difference in change in total costs between veterans enrolled in TNP and controls, TNP was associated with a smaller increase in direct inpatient medical costs and a larger increase in direct outpatient medical costs, suggesting a shifting of costs from the inpatient to outpatient setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS024569.
Citation: Williams PH, Gilmartin HM, Leonard C .
The influence of the Rural Transitions Nurse Program for veterans on healthcare utilization costs.
J Gen Intern Med 2022 Nov;37(14):3529-34. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07401-y..
Keywords: Rural Health, Nursing, Transitions of Care, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Costs
Griffith KN, Asfaw DA, Childers RG
Changes in US veterans' access to specialty care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This research letter examined changes in US veterans’ access to specialty care during the COVID-19 pandemic through October 2021. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) completed 14,516,937 internal referrals and purchased an additional 9,904,132 referrals to community-based specialists during the study period. Before the pandemic VHA specialists completed a mean 452,148 referrals each month. Volume dropped starting in March 2020 and did not fully until recover until March 2021. Peak decline was in April 2020 by 70.7% to 132,481 referrals. Community care referrals declined by 32.9% in June 2020, but rebounded thereafter and exceeded the prepandemic baseline by March 2021. Waits for VHA specialists began rising in June 2020, peaked in July 2020 and returned to prepandemic levels by spring 2021. Mean waits for community specialists peaked in June 2020 and returned to prepandemic baseline levels by August 2020.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Griffith KN, Asfaw DA, Childers RG .
Changes in US veterans' access to specialty care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Sep;5(9):e2232515. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.32515..
Keywords: COVID-19, Access to Care
McGinnis KA, Justice AC, Moore RD
Discrimination and calibration of the veterans aging cohort study index 2.0 for predicting mortality among people with human immunodeficiency virus in North America.
Using data from the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration (NA-ACCORD), the authors translated Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index 2.0 scores into validated probability estimates of mortality among people with HIV (PWH). They found that predicted and observed mortality largely overlapped in VACS and the NA-ACCORD subset, overall and within subgroups. Based on this validation, they concluded that VACS Index 2.0 can reliably estimate probability of all-cause mortality, at various follow-up times, among PWH in North America.
AHRQ-funded; 90047713.
Citation: McGinnis KA, Justice AC, Moore RD .
Discrimination and calibration of the veterans aging cohort study index 2.0 for predicting mortality among people with human immunodeficiency virus in North America.
Clin Infect Dis 2022 Aug 25;75(2):297-304. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab883..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Chronic Conditions
Feyman Y, Asfaw DA, Griffith KN
Geographic variation in appointment wait times for US military veterans.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine geographic variation in wait times experienced by veterans for primary care, mental health, and other specialties since the passage of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act in 2014 and the VA MISSION (Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks) Act in 2018. These acts allowed veterans to have access to community-based care centers. Data analysis was performed using data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Corporate Data Warehouse. Participants include a final sample of 22,632,918 million appointments for 4,846,892 unique veterans who sought medical care from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2021. The main outcomes were total appointment wait times in days for the categories of primary care, mental health, and all other specialties. VHA medical centers are organized into regions called Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISNs); wait times were aggregated to the VISN level. The study found that Among non-VHA appointments, mean VISN-level appointment wait times were 38.9 days for primary care, 43.9 days for mental health, and 41.9 days for all other specialties. Among VHA appointments, mean VISN-level appointment wait times were 29.0 days for primary care, 33.6 days for mental health, and 35.4 days for all other specialties. There was substantial geographic variation in appointment wait times. The researchers concluded that VHA wait times in a majority of VISNs were lower than those for community-based clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Feyman Y, Asfaw DA, Griffith KN .
Geographic variation in appointment wait times for US military veterans.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Aug;5(8):e2228783. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.28783..
Keywords: Access to Care
Ward MJ, Shuster JL, Mohr NM
Implementation of telehealth for psychiatric care in VA emergency departments and urgent care clinics.
The purpose of this AHRQ-funded, mixed-methods study was to evaluate an emergency telehealth intervention in emergency department (ED) and urgent care clinic (UCC) settings within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in March 2020. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was utilized to compare the 3 months preimplementation of the telehealth intervention (December 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020) with the 3 months postimplementation of the telehealth intervention (April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020), and then assess sustainability through January 31, 2021. Qualitative data from surveys and semistructured interviews were conducted and analyze. The telemental health intervention was used in 83% (319) of unscheduled mental health consultations in the postimplementation phase, with no adverse trends in length of stay, 7-day revisits, or 30-day mortality. In the sustainability phase, use of the intervention was high with 82% (n = 1,010) of all unscheduled mental health consultations performed by telemental health. The study concluded that the use of unscheduled telemental health intervention was highly acceptable and sustainable in ED and UCC settings and did not impact the safety and efficacy of mental health consultations.
AHRQ-funded; HS025753.
Citation: Ward MJ, Shuster JL, Mohr NM .
Implementation of telehealth for psychiatric care in VA emergency departments and urgent care clinics.
Telemed J E Health 2022 Jul;28(7):985-93. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2021.0263..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Behavioral Health, Emergency Department
Danan ER, Brunner J, Bergman A
The relationship between sexual assault history and cervical cancer screening completion among women veterans in the Veterans Health Administration.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a history of sexual assault in women Veterans is associated with decreased cervical cancer screening completion. The researchers analyzed data from a 2015 survey of 1049 women Veterans who accessed primary care services at 12 Veterans health administration facilities (VA’s) in nine states, and linked responses with electronic health data from the VA system. Fifty-seven percent (616) of women Veterans reported lifetime sexual assault, and those who did so had a greater likelihood of reporting a high level of distress associated with pelvic examinations and delaying a gynecologic exam due to distress. However, in the final adjusted model, there was not a significant association between lifetime sexual assault and reduced odds of cervical cancer screening completion. The study concluded that there was no significant association between sexual assault and gaps in cervical cancer screening completion.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Danan ER, Brunner J, Bergman A .
The relationship between sexual assault history and cervical cancer screening completion among women veterans in the Veterans Health Administration.
J Womens Health 2022 Jul;31(7):1040-47. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0237.AHRQ-funded; HS026379..
Keywords: Women, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Trauma
Gilmartin HM, Warsavage T, Hines A
Effectiveness of the rural transitions nurse program for veterans: a multicenter implementation study.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of the rural Transitions Nurse Program (TNP), a program to help veterans transferred from rural areas to urban VA Medical Centers for care. A case-control study was conducted from April 2017 to September 2019 with 3001 veterans enrolled in TNP and 6002 matched controls. Interventions were led by a transition nurse who assessed discharge readiness, provided postdischarge communication with primary care providers (PCPs), and called the Veteran within 72 h of discharge home to assess needs, and encouraged follow-up appointment attendance. Controls had no change to their care. Primary outcomes evaluated were PCP visits within 14 days of discharge and all-cause 30-day readmissions, with secondary outcomes 30-day emergency department (ED) visits and 30-day mortality. Patients were matched by their length of stay, prior hospitalizations and PCP visits, urban/rural status, and 32 Elixhauser comorbidities. The veterans enrolled in TNP were more likely to see their PCP within 14 days of discharge than their matched controls. TNP enrollment was not associated with reduced 30-day ED visits or readmissions but was associated with reduced 30-day mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS024569.
Citation: Gilmartin HM, Warsavage T, Hines A .
Effectiveness of the rural transitions nurse program for veterans: a multicenter implementation study.
J Hosp Med 2022 Mar;17(3):149-57. doi: 10.1002/jhm.12802..
Keywords: Rural Health, Transitions of Care, Nursing, Healthcare Delivery
Feyman Y, Auty SG, Tenso K
County-level impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess mortality among U.S. veterans: a population-based study.
This study investigated the county-level impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess mortality among U.S. veterans. The authors queried Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative data on demographics and comorbidities for 11.4 million enrollees during 2016-2020. Eight mortality prediction models at the county-level were used including Poisson, Poisson quasi-likelihood, negative binomial, and generalized estimating equations. All models demonstrated excellent agreement between observed and predicted mortality. An excess mortality rate of 13% in 2020 was found, which corresponds to 50,299 excess deaths. Despite mortality risk factors of veterans, their excess mortality rate was slightly lower than the general population.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Feyman Y, Auty SG, Tenso K .
County-level impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess mortality among U.S. veterans: a population-based study.
Lancet Reg Health Am 2022 Jan;5:100093. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2021.100093.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395..
AHRQ-funded; HS026395..
Keywords: COVID-19, Mortality
Bossick AS, Katon JG, Gray KE
Concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at hysterectomy: differences by race and menopausal status in the Veterans Affairs health care system, 2007-2014.
This study compared race and menopausal status differences in the rate of concomitant bilateral salphino-oopherectomy (BSO) at hysterectomy in the Veterans Affairs health care system from 2007-2014. The authors identified 6,785 Veterans who underwent a hysterectomy, including 2,230 with concomitant BSO. After adjustment premenopausal Black Veterans had 41% lower odds of going through BSO than their White counterparts. There was insufficient evidence in postmenopausal Veterans. Black Veterans were more likely to be single, obese, and undergo abdominal hysterectomy.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Bossick AS, Katon JG, Gray KE .
Concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at hysterectomy: differences by race and menopausal status in the Veterans Affairs health care system, 2007-2014.
J Womens Health 2020 Dec;29(12):1513-19. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8503..
Keywords: Surgery, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Brown TJ Keshvani, N Gupta, et al.
Rates of appropriate laxative prophylaxis for opioid-induced constipation in veterans with lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.
This study examined trends in the use of laxatives for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in patients prescribed opioids for cancer pain treatment. A retrospective study was conducted of lung cancer patients seen in the Veteran’s Affair system from 2003 to 2016. There were 130,990 individuals included in the analysis. The majority (87%) received no prophylaxis (75%) or received docusate alone while 5% received OIC prophylaxis with the unnecessary addition of docusate. Throughout the study period, laxative prescription significantly decreased while categories of OIC prophylaxis were unchanged. The study concluded that almost 90% received inadequate or inappropriate OIC prophylaxis.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Brown TJ Keshvani, N Gupta, et al..
Rates of appropriate laxative prophylaxis for opioid-induced constipation in veterans with lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.
Support Care Cancer 2020 Nov;28(11):5315-21. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05364-6..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Opioids, Medication, Prevention, Pain
Rogal SS, Yakovchenko V, Gonzalez R
Characterizing patient-reported outcomes in veterans with cirrhosis.
The Veterans Health Administration (VA) cares for over 80,000 Veterans with cirrhosis annually. Given the importance of understanding patient reported outcomes in this complex population, the investigators aimed to assess the associations between attitudes towards care, disease knowledge, and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in a national sample. The investigators concluded that hepatic decompensation, lower satisfaction with care, and being unsure about cirrhosis symptoms were associated with reduced QOL scores in this national cohort.
AHRQ-funded; HS019461.
Citation: Rogal SS, Yakovchenko V, Gonzalez R .
Characterizing patient-reported outcomes in veterans with cirrhosis.
PLoS One 2020 Sep 11;15(9):e0238712. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238712..
Keywords: Quality of Life, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Nayfe R, Chansard M, Hynan LS
Comparison of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system and legacy instruments in multiple domains among older veterans with chronic back pain.
This study evaluated construct (convergent and discriminant) validity and time to complete NIH's Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) as compared to legacy instruments. Results showed that, given time efficiency of using PROMIS, along with strong construct validity, PROMIS instruments are a practical choice for measuring multidimensional patient-reported outcomes in older Veterans with chronic low back pain for both research and clinical purposes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Nayfe R, Chansard M, Hynan LS .
Comparison of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system and legacy instruments in multiple domains among older veterans with chronic back pain.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Sep 8;21(1):598. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03587-6..
Keywords: Elderly, Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Research Methodologies
Katon JG, Callegari LS, Bossick AS
Association of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder with receipt of minimally invasive hysterectomy for uterine fibroids: findings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Researchers sought to examine whether depression and PTSD are associated with minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH). Studying veterans with uterine fibroids undergoing hysterectomy in the Department of Veterans Affairs between 2012 and 2014, they found that veterans with depression or PTSD were more likely that those without to have a MIH, possibly owing to smaller uterine size, suggesting that they may be undergoing hysterectomy earlier in the disease process. They recommended further research to understand whether this reflects high-quality, patient-centered care.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Katon JG, Callegari LS, Bossick AS .
Association of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder with receipt of minimally invasive hysterectomy for uterine fibroids: findings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Womens Health Issues 2020 Sep-Oct;30(5):359-65. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.06.005..
Keywords: Depression, Behavioral Health, Women
Burke RE, Canamucio A, Medvedeva E
External validation of the skilled nursing facility prognosis score for predicting mortality, hospital readmission, and community discharge in veterans.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prognosis Score’s performance in an external validation cohort. Participants were previously community-dwelling veterans who received post-acute care in a SNF; both VA and non-VA hospitals and SNFs were included. Findings showed that the SNF Prognosis Score had reasonable discrimination and calibration, and it was simple to calculate using an admission SNF assessment and a nomogram. Recommendations included future work embedding the score into practice in order to determine real-world feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness.
AHRQ-funded; HS026116.
Citation: Burke RE, Canamucio A, Medvedeva E .
External validation of the skilled nursing facility prognosis score for predicting mortality, hospital readmission, and community discharge in veterans.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Sep;68(9):2090-94. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16650..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Risk, Health Services Research (HSR)
Wyse JJ, Ono SS, Kabat M
Supporting family caregivers of Veterans: participant perceptions of a federally-mandated caregiver support program.
The objective of this study was to understand patients' and caregivers' experiences with and perceptions of a federally-mandated program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that provides educational and monetary support to family caregivers of post-9/11 Veterans. Implications and policy recommendations for programs to support family caregivers, both within the VA and in the context of the broader national movement to support family caregivers, are discussed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Wyse JJ, Ono SS, Kabat M .
Supporting family caregivers of Veterans: participant perceptions of a federally-mandated caregiver support program.
Healthc 2020 Sep;8(3):100441. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2020.100441..
Keywords: Caregiving
Rogal S, Youk A, Zhang H
Impact of alcohol use disorder treatment on clinical outcomes among patients with cirrhosis.
Despite significant medical and economic consequences of coexisting alcohol use disorder (AUD) in patients with cirrhosis, little is known about AUD treatment patterns and their impact on clinical outcomes in this population. In this study the investigators aimed to characterize the use of and outcomes associated with AUD treatment in patients with cirrhosis. This retrospective cohort study included Veterans with cirrhosis who received Veterans Health Administration (VA) care and had an index diagnosis of AUD between 2011 and 2015.
AHRQ-funded; HS019461.
Citation: Rogal S, Youk A, Zhang H .
Impact of alcohol use disorder treatment on clinical outcomes among patients with cirrhosis.
Hepatology 2020 Jun;71(6):2080-92. doi: 10.1002/hep.31042..
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Hernandez-Boussard T, Graham LA, Carroll I
Perioperative opioid use and pain-related outcomes in the Veterans Health Administration.
This study characterized perioperative exposure to morphine and its association with postoperative pain and 30-day readmissions. Utilizing nationwide Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) data on four high-volume surgical procedures, the researchers found that patients receiving high perioperative oral morphine equivalents were more likely to return to care for pain-related problems.
AHRQ-funded; HS024096.
Citation: Hernandez-Boussard T, Graham LA, Carroll I .
Perioperative opioid use and pain-related outcomes in the Veterans Health Administration.
Am J Surg 2020 Jun;219(6):969-75. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.06.022..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Pain, Substance Abuse, Surgery, Hospital Readmissions
Mahtta D, Ahmed ST, Shah NR
Facility-level variation in cardiac stress test use among patients with diabetes: findings from the Veterans Affairs national database.
The authors evaluate facility-level variation in cardiac stress test use among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) across the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Their results suggest that significant residual variation in overall stress test use exists among veterans with DM. They recommend future studies to assess system-wide appropriateness of stress testing, to assess patient-level symptom data, and to conduct qualitative analyses in order to understand individual provider-level drivers behind such variation.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Mahtta D, Ahmed ST, Shah NR .
Facility-level variation in cardiac stress test use among patients with diabetes: findings from the Veterans Affairs national database.
Diabetes Care 2020 May;43(5):e58-e60. doi: 10.2337/dc19-2160..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Diabetes, Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
Ngo-Metzger Q, Mabry-Hernandez IR
AHRQ Author: Ngo-Metzger Q, Mabry-Hernandez
Implementation of evidence-based recommendations for preventive services in the Veterans Health Administration.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States. To date, there has been scant research on how VHA adopts clinical preventive services guidelines and how U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations factor into the process. In this study, the investigators conducted semistructured interviews with eight VHA leaders to examine how they adopt, disseminate, and measure adherence to recommendations. They concluded that provision of evidence-based clinical preventive services is an important part of VHA's effort to provide high-quality care for Veterans.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ngo-Metzger Q, Mabry-Hernandez IR .
Implementation of evidence-based recommendations for preventive services in the Veterans Health Administration.
J Healthc Qual 2020 May/Jun;42(3):148-56. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000217..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Implementation
Mastarone GL, Wyse JJ, Wilbur ER
Barriers to utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs among prescribing physicians and advanced practice registered nurses at Veterans Health Administration facilities in Oregon.
The authors sought to identify barriers to using state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) among prescribing physicians and advanced practice registered nurses across a variety of Veterans Health Administration (VA) settings in Oregon. They found that physicians and advanced practice registered nurses across diverse VA settings reported that PDMPs are an important tool and contribute to patient safety, but issues regarding organizational processes and software design impede optimal use of these resources.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Mastarone GL, Wyse JJ, Wilbur ER .
Barriers to utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs among prescribing physicians and advanced practice registered nurses at Veterans Health Administration facilities in Oregon.
Pain Med 2020 Apr;21(4):695-703. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz289..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication: Safety, Medication, Patient Safety
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
Mohr NM, Wu C, Ward MJ
Potentially avoidable inter-facilit transfer from Veterans Health Administration emergency departments: a cohort study.
The objective of this study was to describe ED-based inter-facility transfer practices within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and to estimate the proportion of potentially avoidable transfers. Results showed that VHA inter-facility transfer was commonly performed for mental health and cardiac evaluation, particularly for patients in rural settings. The proportion that are potentially avoidable is small. Future work should focus on improving capabilities to provide specialty evaluation locally for these conditions, possibly using telehealth solutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025753.
Citation: Mohr NM, Wu C, Ward MJ .
Potentially avoidable inter-facilit transfer from Veterans Health Administration emergency departments: a cohort study.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Feb 12;20(1):110. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-4956-6..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery, Access to Care, Rural Health
BJ BJ, McGinnis KA, Edelman EJ
Predictors of initiation of and retention on medications for alcohol use disorder among people living with and without HIV.
Researchers examined predictors of medications for alcohol use disorder initiation and retention across HIV status. Data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study data was used to identify new alcohol use disorder diagnoses among 163,339 individuals from 1998 to 2015. The researchers found that the low frequency of retention precluded multivariable analyses for retention. They concluded that, for people living with HIV and uninfected individuals, targeted implementation strategies to expand medications for alcohol use disorder are needed, particularly for specific subpopulations.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112.
Citation: BJ BJ, McGinnis KA, Edelman EJ .
Predictors of initiation of and retention on medications for alcohol use disorder among people living with and without HIV.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2020 Feb;109:14-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.11.002..
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Medication, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)