National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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
76 to 98 of 98 Research Studies DisplayedHicks CW, Hashmi ZG, Hui X
Explaining the paradoxical age-based racial disparities in survival after trauma: The role of the treating facility.
This study sought to determine if differences in outcomes at treating facilities can help explain age-based racial disparities in survival after trauma. For example, among patients older than 65 years, blacks had decreased odds of mortality compared with whites. It found that facility-based differences do not seem to explain this paradoxical age-based racial disparity after trauma observed in the older population.
AHRQ-funded; HS017952.
Citation: Hicks CW, Hashmi ZG, Hui X .
Explaining the paradoxical age-based racial disparities in survival after trauma: The role of the treating facility.
AHRQ-funded; HS017952..
Keywords: Disparities, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
The authors explored individual-, psychosocial-, and community-level predictors of oral health status in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin Oral Health Screening project. Their results suggested that costs were a primary predictor of access to care and poor oral health status, underscoring the role that primary care, in conjunction with dental health care providers, could play in promoting oral health care, particularly in reducing barriers and promoting preventive health behaviors.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M .
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
Am J Public Health 2015 Jul;105 Suppl 3:S466-74. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302338.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Bhave PD, Lu X, Girotra S
Race- and sex-related differences in care for patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
The researchers sought to determine whether significant race and sex differences exist in the treatment of newly diagnosed AF in Medicare beneficiaries. They found that there were statistically significant differences in the use of AF-related services by both race and sex, with white patients and male patients receiving the most care.
AHRQ-funded; HS021992.
Citation: Bhave PD, Lu X, Girotra S .
Race- and sex-related differences in care for patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Heart Rhythm 2015 Jul;12(7):1406-12. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.03.031..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sex Factors, Disparities
Jack B, Bickmore T, Hempstead M
Reducing preconception risks among African American women with conversational agent technology.
The researchers developed and tested “Gabby,” an online preconception conversational agent system, in a 6-month randomized controlled trial of non-pregnant African American women, most in college, to determine how well Gabby works and to identify additional areas for improvement. They found that Gabby was significantly associated with preconception risk reduction.
AHRQ-funded; 290200600012I.
Citation: Jack B, Bickmore T, Hempstead M .
Reducing preconception risks among African American women with conversational agent technology.
J Am Board Fam Med 2015 Jul-Aug;28(4):441-51. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2015.04.140327..
Keywords: Disparities, Health Promotion, Risk, Pregnancy
Sims M, Redmond N, Khodneva Y
Depressive symptoms are associated with incident coronary heart disease or revascularization among blacks but not among whites in the Reasons for Geographical and Racial Differences in Stroke study.
The authors examined the association of depressive symptoms with coronary heart disease (CHD) end points by race and income. They found that high depressive symptoms were associated with higher risk of CHD or revascularization for blacks but not whites.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Sims M, Redmond N, Khodneva Y .
Depressive symptoms are associated with incident coronary heart disease or revascularization among blacks but not among whites in the Reasons for Geographical and Racial Differences in Stroke study.
Ann Epidemiol 2015 Jun;25(6):426-32. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2015.03.014.
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Keywords: Depression, Disparities, Heart Disease and Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Stroke
Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K, Beilstein-Wedel E
Disparities in dental care associated with disability and race and ethnicity.
The purpose of this study was to determine how the combination of disability and race and ethnicity is associated with dental examinations, delays in receiving needed care, and inability to obtain needed care among noninstitutionalized working-age adults in the United States. It found that, compared with non-Hispanic whites, other racial and ethnic groups were less likely to receive annual dental examinations.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K, Beilstein-Wedel E .
Disparities in dental care associated with disability and race and ethnicity.
J Am Dent Assoc 2015 Jun;146(6):366-74. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2015.01.024..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Dental and Oral Health, Disparities
Haywood C, Lanzkron S, Hughes M
The association of clinician characteristics with their attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease: secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial.
The researchers explore the extent to which clinician characteristics such as race, sex, professional discipline, and amount of exposure to sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in pain may be associated with attitudes toward SCD patients generally. They concluded that clinician attitudes toward sickle cell patients vary notably by the demographic and clinical experiences of the clinician.
AHRQ-funded; HS013903.
Citation: Haywood C, Lanzkron S, Hughes M .
The association of clinician characteristics with their attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease: secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial.
J Natl Med Assoc 2015 Jun;107(2):89-96..
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Pain, Disparities
Zhu J, Weingart SN, Ritter GA
Racial/Ethnic disparities in patient experience with communication in hospitals: real differences or measurement errors?
This study examined assumptions about the degree of commonality across racial/ethnic groups in their perceptions and investigated the validity of racial/ethnic differences in communication quality. Its results provide strongest support for racial/ethnic comparisons on communication with nurses and doctors, and reason to caution against comparisons on communication about medicines due to significant differences in model parameters across groups.
AHRQ-funded; 290010003.
Citation: Zhu J, Weingart SN, Ritter GA .
Racial/Ethnic disparities in patient experience with communication in hospitals: real differences or measurement errors?
Med Care 2015 May;53(5):446-54. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000350..
Keywords: Disparities, Clinician-Patient Communication, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Quality of Care
Pisu M, Kenzik KM, Oster RA
Economic hardship of minority and non-minority cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis: another long-term effect of cancer?
The authors investigated economic hardships experienced by racial/ethnic minority cancer survivors compared to whites. They found that economic hardship was evident in almost 1 in 2 cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis, especially African Americans. They recommended that future research evaluate and address risk factors and their impact on survival and survivorship outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Pisu M, Kenzik KM, Oster RA .
Economic hardship of minority and non-minority cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis: another long-term effect of cancer?
Cancer 2015 Apr 15;121(8):1257-64. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29206.
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Keywords: Cancer, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
D'Onofrio G, Safdar B, Lichtman JH
Sex differences in reperfusion in young patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: results from the VIRGO study.
Sex disparities in reperfusion therapy for patients with acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction have been documented. The authors tested these patterns in the comparison of young women with men.They found that young women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction are less likely to receive reperfusion therapy and more likely to have reperfusion delays than similarly aged men.
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: D'Onofrio G, Safdar B, Lichtman JH .
Sex differences in reperfusion in young patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: results from the VIRGO study.
Circulation 2015 Apr 14;131(15):1324-32. doi: 10.1161/circulationaha.114.012293.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Disparities, Heart Disease and Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Sex Factors
Ringwalt C, Roberts AW, Gugelmann H
Racial disparities across provider specialties in opioid prescriptions dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences across providers’ specialties in prescriptions filled by white and black Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). It found that race-based differences in beneficiaries’ dispensed opioid prescriptions were more prominent among patients of specialists in obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine, as well as general practitioners/family medicine physicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Ringwalt C, Roberts AW, Gugelmann H .
Racial disparities across provider specialties in opioid prescriptions dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain.
Pain Med 2015 Apr;16(4):633-40. doi: 10.1111/pme.12555..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Disparities, Medicaid, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Walsh T, Bertozzi-Villa C, Schneider JA
Systematic review of racial disparities in human papillomavirus-associated anal dysplasia and anal cancer among men who have sex with men.
The researchers systematically reviewed the literature on anal human papillomavirus (HPV)infection, dysplasia, and cancer among Black and White men who have sex with men (MSM) to determine if a racial disparity exists. They determined that studies involving Black MSM are nearly absent from the literature. Of 25 eligible studies, 2 stratified by race and sexual behavior. Both reported an elevated rate of abnormal anal outcomes among Black MSM.
AHRQ-funded; HS023050.
Citation: Walsh T, Bertozzi-Villa C, Schneider JA .
Systematic review of racial disparities in human papillomavirus-associated anal dysplasia and anal cancer among men who have sex with men.
Am J Public Health 2015 Apr;105(4):e34-45. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302469..
Keywords: Disparities, Sexual Health, Risk
Cook BL, Liu Z, Lessios AS
The costs and benefits of reducing racial-ethnic disparities in mental health care.
The investigators examined whether reducing racial-ethnic disparities in mental health care offsets costs of care. They found that, for blacks and Latinos, the potential savings from eliminating disparities in inpatient general medical expenditures are substantial, as much as $1 billion nationwide, suggesting that financial and equity considerations can be aligned when planning disparity reduction programs.
AHRQ-funded; HS021486.
Citation: Cook BL, Liu Z, Lessios AS .
The costs and benefits of reducing racial-ethnic disparities in mental health care.
Psychiatr Serv 2015 Apr;66(4):389-96. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400070.
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Keywords: Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health
Adams AS, Soumerai SB, Zhang F
Effects of eliminating drug caps on racial differences in antidepressant use among dual enrollees with diabetes and depression.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of removing a significant financial barrier to prescription medications (drug caps) on existing black-white disparities in antidepressant treatment rates among patients with diabetes and comorbid depression. It found that policies that remove financial barriers to medications may increase depression treatment rates among patients with diabetes overall while exacerbating treatment disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS018577; HS018072.
Citation: Adams AS, Soumerai SB, Zhang F .
Effects of eliminating drug caps on racial differences in antidepressant use among dual enrollees with diabetes and depression.
Clin Ther 2015 Mar;37(3):597-609. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2014.12.011..
Keywords: Medication, Disparities, Depression, Diabetes, Healthcare Costs
Govindarajan P, Friedman BT, Delgadillo JQ
Race and sex disparities in prehospital recognition of acute stroke.
The investigators examined prehospital provider recognition of stroke by race and sex. They found that correct prehospital recognition of stroke was lower among Hispanic patients, Asians, and others, when compared with non-Hispanic whites, and also in women compared with men. They concluded that significant disparities exist in prehospital stroke recognition.
AHRQ-funded; HS017965.
Citation: Govindarajan P, Friedman BT, Delgadillo JQ .
Race and sex disparities in prehospital recognition of acute stroke.
Acad Emerg Med 2015 Mar;22(3):264-72. doi: 10.1111/acem.12595.
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Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sex Factors, Stroke
Meagher AD, Beadles CA, Doorey J
Racial and ethnic disparities in discharge to rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury.
The authors investigate racial disparities in discharge destination (inpatient rehabilitation vs skilled nursing facility vs home health vs home) following traumatic brain injury. They found that Hispanic and black patients were significantly less likely to be discharged to a higher level of rehabilitation than similarly matched non-Hispanic white patients. This disparity persisted in the subgroup examination of older adults with uniform Medicare coverage.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Meagher AD, Beadles CA, Doorey J .
Racial and ethnic disparities in discharge to rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury.
J Neurosurg 2015 Mar;122(3):595-601. doi: 10.3171/2014.10.jns14187..
Keywords: Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Brain Injury
Wang G, Gold M, Siegel J
AHRQ Author: Siegel J
Deliberation: obtaining informed input from a diverse public.
The Deliberative Methods Demonstration was a randomized controlled experiment comparing four deliberation methods and a reading materials control group. After surveying 907 participants before and after deliberation, the researchers found that changes in knowledge about using medical evidence in decisionmaking were not associated with race, ethnicity, or education.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Wang G, Gold M, Siegel J .
Deliberation: obtaining informed input from a diverse public.
J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2015 Feb;26(1):223-42. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2015.0021..
Keywords: Disparities, Quality of Care, Shared Decision Making, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Thorpe RJ, Jr., Bell CN, Kennedy-Hendricks A
Disentangling race and social context in understanding disparities in chronic conditions among men.
This study compared survey data collected in 2003 from black and white men with similar incomes living in a racially integrated neighborhood of Baltimore to data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey. The researchers found no race disparities in chronic conditions among low-income, urban men living in the same social environment, and they recommended that policies and interventions aiming to reduce disparities in chronic conditions focus on modifying social aspects of the environment.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Thorpe RJ, Jr., Bell CN, Kennedy-Hendricks A .
Disentangling race and social context in understanding disparities in chronic conditions among men.
J Urban Health 2015 Feb;92(1):83-92. doi: 10.1007/s11524-014-9900-9.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Disparities, Health Status, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Koroukian SM
Dual-eligibility status: a marker of vulnerability and cancer-related disparities.
This editorial discusses a study by Warren et al that highlights important differences in receipt of chemotherapy across subgroups of the Medicare population according to type of supplemental insurance. It explores the important questions raised by the findings, especially the individual factors that may have contributed to the observed disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS023113.
Citation: Koroukian SM .
Dual-eligibility status: a marker of vulnerability and cancer-related disparities.
J Clin Oncol 2015 Feb 1;33(4):297-8. doi: 10.1200/jco.2014.59.1933..
Keywords: Medicare, Cancer, Health Insurance, Treatments, Disparities
Spittel ML, Riley WT, Kaplan RM
AHRQ Author: Kaplan RM
Educational attainment and life expectancy: a perspective from the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.
This article is the introduction to a special issue of papers on the subject of educational attainment and life expectancy. The significance of this collection of research papers is that the findings offer new insights into the complex processes underlying the widely known, but poorly understood, association between higher educational attainment and better health status together with greater life expectancy.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Spittel ML, Riley WT, Kaplan RM .
Educational attainment and life expectancy: a perspective from the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.
Soc Sci Med. 2015 Feb;127:203-5. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.017..
Keywords: Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Status, Social Determinants of Health
Chang E, Chan KS, Han HR
Effect of acculturation on variations in having a usual source of care among Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites in California.
This study explored factors influencing the disparity between Asian American and non-Hispanic whites in having a usual source of care (USC). The researchers found that the disparity in having a USC to be statistically nonsignificant after adding acculturation factors such as English proficiency and length of residence. Increasing levels of education and insurance were not associated with better access among Asian Americans.
AHRQ-funded; HS021684
Citation: Chang E, Chan KS, Han HR .
Effect of acculturation on variations in having a usual source of care among Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites in California.
Am J Pub Health. 2015 Feb;105(2):398-407. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2014.301950..
Keywords: Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Access to Care
Chang E, Chan KS, Han HR
Effect of acculturation on variations in having a usual source of care among Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites in California.
This study examined variations in having a usual source of care among non-Hispanic White and Asian American adults in California. It found that, after adding in acculturation factors, there was no statistically significant racial disparity between the two groups. However, higher education was not associated with better access among Asian Americans.
AHRQ-funded; HS021684
Citation: Chang E, Chan KS, Han HR .
Effect of acculturation on variations in having a usual source of care among Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites in California.
Am J Public Health 2015 Feb;105(2):398-407. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301950..
Keywords: Primary Care, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Dy CY, Marx RG, Ghomrawi HM
The potential influence of regionalization strategies on delivery of care for elective total joint arthroplasty.
Regionalization of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) to high volume hospitals (HVHs) may affect access to care and complication risk. Using administrative data, the authors found that the complication risk was higher if patients went to a local low volume hospital. Black and Medicaid patients were more likely to utilize the local low volume hospital than a local HVH. Utilizing a local HVH is associated with lower complication risks, but patients from vulnerable groups were less likely to utilize these patterns.
AHRQ-funded; HS016075.
Citation: Dy CY, Marx RG, Ghomrawi HM .
The potential influence of regionalization strategies on delivery of care for elective total joint arthroplasty.
J Arthroplasty 2015 Jan;30(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2014.08.017.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Healthcare Delivery, Orthopedics, Surgery