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
Topics
- (-) Cancer (5)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Health Systems (1)
- Hospitals (2)
- Nursing (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Provider Performance (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- (-) Quality Indicators (QIs) (5)
- Quality Measures (2)
- Quality of Care (4)
- Research Methodologies (1)
- Risk (1)
- Surgery (1)
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 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedSullivan CE, Day SW, Ivankova N
Establishing nursing-sensitive quality indicators for pediatric oncology: an international mixed methods Delphi study.
The purpose of this study was to create an initial core set of Nursing-sensitive indicators (NSIs) for international pediatric oncology nursing that would be important, actionable, and feasible to measure across different resource settings and countries. The researchers utilized purposive snowball sampling to identify 122 expert pediatric oncology nurses from 43 countries for participation. In round 1, the panelists identified five potential NSIs and constructs. These results were applied to round 2 in which panelists chose their top 10 NSIs and constructs and ranked them according to importance to patient care quality. Those results were then applied to round 3, in which panelists ranked the top 10 NSIs and constructs by order of importance for the particular population, then rated each NSI/Construct for actionability and feasibility of measurement. The study identified the preliminary core set of NSIs and constructs identified by the expert panel, and ranked them in the following order of importance: safe chemotherapy administration and handling, infection prevention/control, pediatric oncology nursing orientation program, early warning score system/recognition of patient deterioration, chemotherapy/biotherapy education/course, pain assessment/management, symptom assessment/management, patient and family education, palliative/end of life care, and continuing nursing education/competency. The study reported that all NSIs and constructs were rated as actionable; all constructs except palliative/end of life care were rated as feasible to measure. The researchers concluded that initial core NSIs and constructs offer improved insight into typical features of international pediatric oncology nursing practice that are important, actionable, and feasible for quality measurement.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Sullivan CE, Day SW, Ivankova N .
Establishing nursing-sensitive quality indicators for pediatric oncology: an international mixed methods Delphi study.
J Nurs Scholarsh 2023 Jan; 55(1):388-400. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12798..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care, Nursing, Cancer
Ellsworth BL, Metz AK, Mott MM
Review of cancer-specific quality measures promoting the avoidance of low-value care.
The purpose of this study was to explore cancer quality measures to identify and describe those that encourage the avoidance of caner overtreatment and low-value care. The study also aimed to identify gaps that could direct the future development of cancer-specific quality measures. The researchers collected, reviewed, and identified 313 quality measures encouraging the avoidance of low-value cancer care, from six leading quality measures organizations. Of the 313 quality measures identified, 55 (18%) focused on avoidance of low-value care. Quality measure most likely to focus on low-value care included: 13 end-of-life care measures (50%); 12 breast cancer care measures (18%); 9 lung cancer care measures (31%); 8 colon cancer care measures (20%); 5 prostate cancer care measures (38%); and 4 general cancer care measures (3%). The study concluded that the majority of cancer quality measures are not aimed at avoiding cancer over-treatment and low value care, and existing recommendations have not been incorporated in the field.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Ellsworth BL, Metz AK, Mott MM .
Review of cancer-specific quality measures promoting the avoidance of low-value care.
Ann Surg Oncol 2022 Jun;39(6):3750-62. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-11303-4..
Keywords: Cancer, Quality Measures, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care
Jin B, Nembhard IM
Voluntary hospital reporting of performance in cancer care: does volume make a difference?
The authors hypothesized that patient volume is positively associated with both reporting and performance in cancer care. Studying 72 Pennsylvania hospitals accredited by the Commission on Cancer, they found that hospitals that publicly reported their performance had higher patient volumes than hospitals that did not release performance. Among reporting hospitals, no association was found between patient volume and performance on process of care metrics, suggesting that volume is not a predictor of performance for reporting hospitals. They recommended further research to identify other factors that differentiate performance within and across reporting and nonreporting hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Jin B, Nembhard IM .
Voluntary hospital reporting of performance in cancer care: does volume make a difference?
J Healthc Qual 2020 Nov/Dec;42(6):e75-e82. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000225..
Keywords: Cancer, Provider Performance, Hospitals, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality of Care
Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Nathan H
Centralization of high-risk cancer surgery within existing hospital systems.
Centralization is often proposed as a strategy to improve the quality of certain high-risk health care services. In this study, the investigators evaluated the extent to which existing hospital systems centralize high-risk cancer surgery and whether centralization is associated with short-term clinical outcomes. The investigators concluded that greater centralization of complex cancer surgery within existing hospital systems was associated with better outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023597.
Citation: Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Nathan H .
Centralization of high-risk cancer surgery within existing hospital systems.
J Clin Oncol 2019 Dec 1;37(34):3234-42. doi: 10.1200/jco.18.02035..
Keywords: Surgery, Cancer, Risk, Hospitals, Health Systems, Quality Improvement, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care, Outcomes
Patel HD, Iyoha E, Pierorazio PM
A systematic review of research gaps in the evaluation and management of localized renal masses.
The authors conducted a systematic review to summarize research gaps for the evaluation of composite models for predicting malignancy; use of percutaneous renal sampling for diagnosis; and comparative effectiveness of surgery, thermal ablation, and active surveillance. They recommended incorporation of emerging biomarkers into validated composite models, standardization of biopsy protocols, standard reporting of clinical stage, and performance of prospective studies with objective selection criteria.
AHRQ-funded; 290201200007I.
Citation: Patel HD, Iyoha E, Pierorazio PM .
A systematic review of research gaps in the evaluation and management of localized renal masses.
Urology 2016 Dec;98:14-20. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2016.08.013.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Indicators (QIs), Research Methodologies