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 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedFerrari RM, Atkins DL, Wangen M
Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.
The objective of this study was to assess patient perspectives on receiving fecal immunochemical colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests through pharmacies. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with participants in North Carolina and Washington. Survey participants reported pharmacy-based CRC screening programs to be highly acceptable, citing convenience, ease of access, and avoidance of co-pays, but they also had concerns about privacy and coordination with primary care providers. The researchers concluded that CRC screening in pharmacies is potentially a good option, provided patients have privacy and their primary care providers are informed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Ferrari RM, Atkins DL, Wangen M .
Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.
Transl Behav Med 2023 Dec 15; 13(12):909-18. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibad057..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Colonoscopy, Screening, Prevention
McGee-Avila JK, Richmond J, Henry KA
Disparities in geospatial patterns of cancer care within urban counties and structural inequities in access to oncology care.
This study examined geospatial patterns of cancer care utilization across diverse populations in New Jersey-a state where most residents live in urban areas. The authors used data from the New Jersey State Cancer Registry. They examined the location of cancer treatment among patients 20-65 years of age diagnosed with breast, colorectal, or invasive cervical cancer and investigated differences in geospatial patterns of care by individual and area-level (e.g., census tract-level) characteristics. They observed significant differences in geospatial patterns of cancer treatment by race/ethnicity, insurance type, and area-level factors. They found that Black patients had a 5.6% higher likelihood of receiving care within their own residential county compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Patients living in census tracts with the highest quintile of social vulnerability were 4.6% more likely to receive treatment within their residential county and were 2.7% less likely to seek out-of-state care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: McGee-Avila JK, Richmond J, Henry KA .
Disparities in geospatial patterns of cancer care within urban counties and structural inequities in access to oncology care.
Health Serv Res 2023 Aug; 58(Suppl 2):152-64. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14182..
Keywords: Disparities, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer: Cervical Cancer
Rivard SJ, Vitous CA, Bamdad MC
"I wish there had been resources": a photo-elicitation study of rectal cancer survivorship care needs.
Prior research reveals that healthcare providers are not skilled at identifying the most relevant rectal cancer survivorship issues. As a result, survivorship care is inadequate with most rectal cancer survivors reporting at least one unmet posttherapy need. The purpose of this photo-elicitation study was to explore rectal cancer survivors’ lived experiences using participant-submitted photographs and minimally structured qualitative interviews. Twenty rectal cancer survivors from a single center submitted photographs illustrative of their life after rectal cancer therapy. The study found that rectal cancer survivors’ recommendations to improve their survivorship care fell into three primary themes: 1) informational needs; 2) continued multidisciplinary follow up care; and 3) suggestions for support services. The study concluded that rectal cancer survivors want information that is more detailed and individualized, access to multidisciplinary follow-up care over time, and resources to alleviate the challenges of daily life.
AHRQ-funded; HS026772; HS000053.
Citation: Rivard SJ, Vitous CA, Bamdad MC .
"I wish there had been resources": a photo-elicitation study of rectal cancer survivorship care needs.
Ann Surg Oncol 2023 Jun; 30(6):3530-37. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-13042-6..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Quality of Life, Patient Experience
Khoong EC, Rivadeneira NA, Pacca L
Extent of follow-up on abnormal cancer screening in multiple California public hospital systems: a retrospective review.
This report’s objective was to describes patterns of performance on follow-up of abnormal colon and breast cancer screening tests and explores the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities exist in public hospital systems. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from five California public hospital systems between July 2015 and June 2017. The authors assessed follow-up rates of colonoscopy after positive fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) and breast tissue biopsy within 21 days after a BIRADS 4/5 mammogram. Negative associations with follow-up colonoscopy were associated with older age, Medicaid insurance, lack of insurance, English language and site; while Hispanic ethnicity and Asian race were positively associated with follow-up colonoscopy. Of 1702 BIRADS 4/5 mammograms, 64% received a timely biopsy; only site was associated with timely follow-up biopsy. Site-level factors were found to have a larger, more consistent impact on follow-up rates than patient sociodemographic traits.
AHRQ-funded; HS024412.
Citation: Khoong EC, Rivadeneira NA, Pacca L .
Extent of follow-up on abnormal cancer screening in multiple California public hospital systems: a retrospective review.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Jan; 38(1):21-29. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07657-4..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Disparities, Women