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
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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedNguyen JK, P P
Comparison of survival outcomes among older adults with major trauma after trauma center versus non-trauma center care in the United States.
This study’s objective was to compare level 1 and 2 trauma centers with similarly sized non-trauma centers on survival after major trauma among older adults. The authors used claims of 100% of 2012-2017 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who received hospital care after major trauma. They assessed the roles of prehospital care, hospital quality, and volume. Thirty-day mortality was higher overall at level 1 versus non-trauma centers by 2.2 percentage points (pp). Thirty-day mortality was higher at level 1 versus non-trauma centers by 2.3 pp for falls and 2.3 pp for motor vehicle crashes. Outcomes were similar at level 1 and 2 trauma centers. The difference was not explained by hospital quality and volume. There were also no statistical differences in the ambulance-transported group, after adjusting for prehospital variables.
AHRQ-funded; HS025720.
Citation: Nguyen JK, P P .
Comparison of survival outcomes among older adults with major trauma after trauma center versus non-trauma center care in the United States.
Health Serv Res 2023 Aug; 58(4):817-27. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14148..
Keywords: Elderly, Trauma, Outcomes, Injuries and Wounds, Emergency Department, Hospitals
Kaufman EJ, Khatri U, Hall EC
Law enforcement in the trauma bay: a survey of members of the American Academy for the Surgery of Trauma.
This study surveyed members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) to assess their perspectives on frequency, circumstances, and implications of law enforcement officer (LEO) presence in trauma bays nationwide. The survey was distributed electronically to AAST members in September and October 2020, with 234 responding. Of those respondents, 189 (80.7%) were attending surgeons, 169 (72.2%) identified as white, and 144 (61.5%) as male. 187 respondents (79.9%) observed LEO presence at least weekly. Respondents found LEOs helpful for public safety, followed by clinical care, and then for patients. Older respondents rated LEO presence as helpful more often than younger respondents. Respondents assessed severity of the patient's condition, the safety of emergency department staff, the safety of LEOs, and a patient's potential role as a threat to public safety when determining LEO access.
AHRQ-funded; HS026372.
Citation: Kaufman EJ, Khatri U, Hall EC .
Law enforcement in the trauma bay: a survey of members of the American Academy for the Surgery of Trauma.
Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 2023 Mar 13;8(1):e001022. doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2022-001022.
Keywords: Trauma, Emergency Department
Piantino JA, Lin A, Luther M
Simultaneous heart rate variability and electroencephalographic monitoring in children in the emergency department.
This study’s objective was to determine the clinical value of using changes in heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalographic (EEG) background in children with acute trauma seen in the Emergency Department (ED) as early predictors of outcome. A novel wireless monitoring device was piloted in 17 patients with 15 patients having EEG data rated as appropriate for clinical interpretation. This was compared to EEG and HRV data successfully collected in 167 subjects. Results showed recording early HRV and EEG is feasible in children with acute injury. This new tool may offer an early, non-invasive marker for injury stratification and prognosis in children.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Piantino JA, Lin A, Luther M .
Simultaneous heart rate variability and electroencephalographic monitoring in children in the emergency department.
J Child Adolesc Trauma 2021 Jun;14(2):165-75. doi: 10.1007/s40653-020-00313-1..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Trauma, Outcomes
Azadani EN, Townsend J, Peng J
The association between traumatic dental and brain injuries in American children.
This study examined the association between dento-alveolar trauma (DAT) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among children ages 0-18 years. The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), an HCUP dataset, was analyzed using ICD-9-CM codes for the 2010-2014 NEDS data. Out of 6,281,658 emergency department (ED) visits, DAT was recorded in 93,408 (1.5%) visits and TBI was recorded in 996,334 (15.9%) visits. Of the DAT-positive encounters, 7.5% had codes associated with TBI. Patients with DAT had 0.20 odds of having TBI compared with patients who did not DAT when all confounding variables were kept constant. Multiple injuries, being involved in motor vehicle crashes, and injuries due to assault were associated with higher odds of concomitant TBI in patients who sustained DAT.
AHRQ-funded; HS24263.
Citation: Azadani EN, Townsend J, Peng J .
The association between traumatic dental and brain injuries in American children.
Dent Traumatol 2021 Feb;37(1):114-22. doi: 10.1111/edt.12611..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Trauma, Neurological Disorders, Dental and Oral Health
Morris RS, Davis NJ, Koestner A
Redefining the trauma triage matrix: the role of emergent interventions.
In this retrospective study, researchers compared the effectiveness of the need for an emergent intervention within 6 h (NEI-6) with existing definitions. Using data from the Michigan Trauma Quality Improvement Program, they found that NEI-6 performs better than trauma triage matrix, need for trauma intervention, and secondary triage assessment tool in terms of under-triage, mortality and need for resource utilization. Other methods resulted in significantly more full-tiered trauma team activations than NEI-6 without identifying patients at risk for early mortality. They concluded that NEI-6 represents a novel tool to determine trauma activation appropriateness.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Morris RS, Davis NJ, Koestner A .
Redefining the trauma triage matrix: the role of emergent interventions.
J Surg Res 2020 Jul;251:195-201. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.11.011..
Keywords: Trauma, Emergency Department, Healthcare Delivery
Myers SR, DeSimone JD, Lorch SA
US hospital type and proximity to mass shooting events.
This study used data on mass shootings to examine the proximity of adult trauma centers, pediatric trauma centers (TCs), and non–trauma center hospitals to such events. The investigators concluded that based on the data, to ensure the success of trauma care everywhere, all hospitals regardless of TC status should expect and prepare for the eventuality of a mass-casualty event involving both adults and children. All hospitals must be ready to serve as the combat forward-field hospital.
AHRQ-funded; HS023806.
Citation: Myers SR, DeSimone JD, Lorch SA .
US hospital type and proximity to mass shooting events.
JAMA Surg 2020 May;155(5):446-7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.0095..
Keywords: Hospitals, Trauma, Emergency Department, Emergency Preparedness