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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Adverse Events (2)
- Decision Making (1)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
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- Education: Patient and Caregiver (3)
- (-) Health Literacy (7)
- Kidney Disease and Health (1)
- Mortality (1)
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- (-) Surgery (7)
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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 DisplayedLucy AT, Rakestraw SL, Stringer C
Readability of patient education materials for bariatric surgery.
This paper examined readability and reading level of online bariatric surgery and standardized perioperative electronic medical record (EMR) patient education materials (PEM). National organizations recommend that PEM not exceed a sixth grade reading level. One institution was used to assess readability of PEM. Text readability was assessed by seven validated instruments and mean readability scores calculated with standard deviations and compared using unpaired t-tests. A total of 32 webpages and seven EMR education documents were assessed. Web pages were overall assessed as "difficult to read" compared to "standard/average" readability EMR materials. All web pages were at or above high school reading levels, with the highest reading levels being pages with nutrition information and the lowest reading level patient testimonials. EMR materials were found to be at sixth to ninth grade reading level.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Lucy AT, Rakestraw SL, Stringer C .
Readability of patient education materials for bariatric surgery.
Surg Endosc 2023 Aug; 37(8):6519-25. doi: 10.1007/s00464-023-10153-3..
Keywords: Surgery, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Obesity: Weight Management, Obesity, Health Literacy
Theiss LM, Wood T, McLeod MC
The association of health literacy and postoperative complications after colorectal surgery: a cohort study.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery between 2015 and 2020 was to describe the association between health literacy, a determinant of health, and surgical outcomes. The outcomes of the study included: postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), readmissions, and mortality. The study found that of 552 patients, 8.3% (46) had limited health literacy. Patients with limited health literacy had higher rates of overall complications, especially surgical site infections, and longer LOS. Readmission and mortality rates did not differ between limited and non-limited patients. The researchers concluded that limited health literacy is related to an increased likelihood of post-surgical complications in elective colorectal surgery patients.
Citation: Theiss LM, Wood T, McLeod MC .
The association of health literacy and postoperative complications after colorectal surgery: a cohort study.
Am J Surg 2022 Jun;223(6):1047-52. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.10.024..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Surgery, Adverse Events
Dos Santos Marques IC, Herbey II, Theiss LM
Understanding the surgical experience for Black and White patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): the importance of health literacy.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the surgical experience for Black and White inflammatory bowel disease patients. Same race, semi-structured qualitative interviews with patients with IBD who had undergone surgery were conducted to explore barriers and facilitators to a positive or negative surgical experience. The study reported that 6 focus groups were conducted with 10 Black and 17 White IBD participants with a mean age of 44.8 years, 52% of whom were male and 65% of whom had Crohn’s disease. Four themes were identified that most characterized the surgical experience: the impact of the IBD diagnosis, the quality of the information that was provided, disease management, and the surgery. Within these theme groupings, identified barriers to a positive surgical experience included inadequate personal knowledge of IBD, ineffective written and verbal communication, lack of a support system and complications after surgery. Both groups indicated that information was provided inconsistently which led to unclear expectations of surgical outcomes. The study concluded that surgical experiences vary between Black and White patients, but both groups emphasized the need for understandable, accurate, and trustworthy health information.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009; HS013852.
Citation: Dos Santos Marques IC, Herbey II, Theiss LM .
Understanding the surgical experience for Black and White patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): the importance of health literacy.
Am J Surg 2022 Feb;223(2):303-11. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.06.003..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Surgery, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Digestive Disease and Health, Patient Experience
Dos Santos Marques IC, Herbey II, Theiss LM
Understanding the surgical experience for African-Americans and Caucasians with enhanced recovery.
The purpose of this study was to use qualitative methods to better understand the surgical experience for African-American and Caucasian patients in the setting of an enhanced recovery program (ERP). Findings showed that African-American and Caucasian surgical patients have varied surgical experiences even under an ERP. All patients, however, valued the ability to obtain, process, and understand health information during the surgical process. These elements define "health literacy" and suggest the importance of providing health literacy-sensitive care in surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Dos Santos Marques IC, Herbey II, Theiss LM .
Understanding the surgical experience for African-Americans and Caucasians with enhanced recovery.
J Surg Res 2020 Jun;250:12-22. doi: //10.1016/j.jss.2019.12.034..
Keywords: Surgery, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Patient Experience, Disparities, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Chang ME, Baker SJ, Dos Santos Marques IC, ME, Baker SJ, Dos Santos Marques IC
Health literacy in surgery.
Health literacy has not been well-studied in surgery but likely plays an important role. In this article, the authors reviewed current research on health literacy in surgery to help understand where we are now and where we need to go. They found that low health literacy is common and there need to be more ways to address it in surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Chang ME, Baker SJ, Dos Santos Marques IC, ME, Baker SJ, Dos Santos Marques IC .
Health literacy in surgery.
Health Lit Res Pract 2020 Feb 11;4(1):e46-e65. doi: 10.3928/24748307-20191121-01..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Surgery
Warsame F, Haugen CE, Ying H
Limited health literacy and adverse outcomes among kidney transplant candidates.
More than one-third of US adults have limited health literacy, putting them at risk of adverse clinical outcomes. In this study the investigators evaluated the prevalence of limited health literacy among 1578 adult kidney transplant (KT) candidates (May 2014-November 2017) and examined its association with listing for transplant and waitlist mortality in this pilot study. The investigators concluded that limited health literacy may be a salient mechanism in access to KT; programs to aid candidates with limited health literacy may improve outcomes and reduce disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Warsame F, Haugen CE, Ying H .
Limited health literacy and adverse outcomes among kidney transplant candidates.
Am J Transplant 2019 Feb;19(2):457-65. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14994..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Transplantation, Adverse Events, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Surgery, Mortality, Kidney Disease and Health
De Oliveira GS, Errea M, Bialek J
The impact of health literacy on shared decision making before elective surgery: a propensity matched case control analysis.
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate a possible association between health literacy and decision conflict in surgical patients. Patients undergoing a diverse number of elective surgeries were enrolled in the study. Health literacy was measured using the Newest Vital Sign instrument and decision conflict using the low literacy version of the Decision Conflict Scale. The investigators found that poor health literacy is associated with greater decision conflict in patients undergoing elective surgical procedures.
AHRQ-funded; HS024158.
Citation: De Oliveira GS, Errea M, Bialek J .
The impact of health literacy on shared decision making before elective surgery: a propensity matched case control analysis.
BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Dec 12;18(1):958. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3755-9..
Keywords: Decision Making, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Literacy, Surgery