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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 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedCohen DJ, Sweeney SM, Miller WL
Improving smoking and blood pressure outcomes: the interplay between operational changes and local context.
This study identified conditions and operational changes linked to improvements in smoking and blood pressure (BP) outcomes in primary care using samples and interviews from a subset of 104 practices participating in EvidenceNOW, a multisite cardiovascular disease prevention initiative. The authors calculated Clinical Quality Measure improvements, with targets of 10-point or greater absolute improvements in the proportion of patients with smoking screening, and if relevant, counseling and the proportion of hypertensive patients with adequately controlled BP. Primary care staff were surveyed and interviewed. In clinician-owned practices, implementing a workflow to routinely screen and counsel patients on smoking cessation resources, or implementing a documentation change or a referral to a resource alone led to an improvement of at least 10 points in the smoking outcome. These improvements did not occur though in health- or hospital system-owned practices or in Federally Qualified Health Centers. BP outcome improved by at least 10 points among solo practices after medical assistants learned how to take an accurate BP. Among larger, clinician-owned practices, BP outcomes improvement took place when staff took a second BP measurement after the first measurement was elevated and when staff learned where to document this information in the electronic health record. For larger and health- and hospital system-owned practices, 50 or more hours of facilitation was needed to improve BP outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Cohen DJ, Sweeney SM, Miller WL .
Improving smoking and blood pressure outcomes: the interplay between operational changes and local context.
Ann Fam Med 2021 May-Jun;19(3):240-48. doi: 10.1370/afm.2668..
Keywords: Blood Pressure, Tobacco Use, Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Cardiovascular Conditions, Quality of Care, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention, Outcomes
Anderson KE, Alexander GC, Niles L
Quality of preventive and chronic illness care for insured adults with opioid use disorder.
Investigators sought to measure quality of non-opioid use disorder (OUD) preventive and chronic illness care and care coordination for individuals with OUD compared with individuals without OUD. They used deidentified data on outpatients throughout the United States from claims for commercially insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees aged 18 years or older with diagnosis codes for OUD. They found that individuals with OUD have moderately lower quality of care across preventive and chronic illness care and care coordination for non-OUD care compared with individuals without OUD. They recommended more attention to measurement and improvement of non-OUD care for these individuals.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Anderson KE, Alexander GC, Niles L .
Quality of preventive and chronic illness care for insured adults with opioid use disorder.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Apr;4(4):e214925. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.4925..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care, Behavioral Health, Chronic Conditions, Prevention
Solberg LI, Kuzel A, Parchman ML
A taxonomy for external support for practice transformation.
There is no commonly accepted comprehensive framework for describing the practical specifics of external support for practice change. In this study, the researchers’goal was to develop a taxonomy that could be used by both external groups or researchers and health care leaders. The leaders of 8 grants from Agency for Research and Quality for the EvidenceNOW study of improving cardiovascular preventive services in over 1500 primary care practices nationwide worked collaboratively over 18 months to develop descriptions of key domains that might comprehensively characterize any external support intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Solberg LI, Kuzel A, Parchman ML .
A taxonomy for external support for practice transformation.
J Am Board Fam Med 2021 Jan-Feb;34(1):32-39. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.01.200225..
Keywords: Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Quality Improvement, Practice Improvement, Quality of Care
Gaughan AA, Walker DM, DePuccio MJ
Rewarding and recognizing frontline staff for success in infection prevention.
This article discusses how managers can use reward and recognition programs as motivational tools to sustain frontline healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention. Data from interviews with hospital managers and frontline staff at 18 US hospitals were used to identify these tools.
AHRQ-funded; HS024958.
Citation: Gaughan AA, Walker DM, DePuccio MJ .
Rewarding and recognizing frontline staff for success in infection prevention.
Am J Infect Control 2021 Jan;49(1):123-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.06.208..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Arling PA, Abrahamson K, Miech EJ
Communication and effectiveness in a US nursing home quality-improvement collaborative.
The investigators explored the relationship between changes in resident health outcomes, practitioner communication patterns, and practitioner perceptions of group effectiveness within a quality-improvement collaborative of nursing home clinicians. They found that reductions in fall rates were highest in facilities where respondents experienced the highest levels of communication with collaborative members outside of scheduled meetings. Clinician and practitioner observations were discussed.
AHRQ-funded; HS018464.
Citation: Arling PA, Abrahamson K, Miech EJ .
Communication and effectiveness in a US nursing home quality-improvement collaborative.
Nurs Health Sci 2014 Sep;16(3):291-7. doi: 10.1111/nhs.12098.
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Keywords: Communication, Falls, Nursing Homes, Quality of Care, Prevention, Quality Improvement
Ant Ozok A, Wu H, Garrido M
Usability and perceived usefulness of personal health records for preventive health care: a case study focusing on patients' and primary care providers' perspectives.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a specific patient-centered information technology (Personal Health Record) in improving awareness (for the patients) and compliance with (for both patients and providers) preventive care guidelines. The results were that patients found the tailored health recommendations useful and the PHR easy to understand and use.
AHRQ-funded; HS018762
Citation: Ant Ozok A, Wu H, Garrido M .
Usability and perceived usefulness of personal health records for preventive health care: a case study focusing on patients' and primary care providers' perspectives.
Appl Ergon. 2014 May;45(3):613-28. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2013.09.005..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Quality of Care, Prevention, Primary Care, Web-Based
Battles JB, Farr SL, Weinberg DA
AHRQ Author: Battles JB
From research to nationwide implementation: the impact of AHRQ's HAI prevention program.
The authors sought to provide insight to AHRQ's healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention strategies by: first, discussing the context and structure of AHRQ's HAI research portfolio and funding decisions; secondly, describing the process of prevention practice implementation and lessons learned; and third, explaining the outcomes and national impact of the AHRQ program. Their paper described major contributions that have emerged from AHRQ-funded HAI projects.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Battles JB, Farr SL, Weinberg DA .
From research to nationwide implementation: the impact of AHRQ's HAI prevention program.
Med Care 2014 Feb;52(2 Suppl 1):S91-6. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000037.
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Keywords: Quality of Care, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Prevention