National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (3)
- Antibiotics (3)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (2)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Care Management (3)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Decision Making (2)
- Dental and Oral Health (1)
- Diabetes (1)
- Elderly (2)
- Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing) (1)
- Emergency Department (3)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Guidelines (3)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Hospitalization (2)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Inpatient Care (2)
- (-) Medication (20)
- Medication: Safety (3)
- Opioids (7)
- Orthopedics (1)
- Pain (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Pneumonia (1)
- Policy (1)
- Practice Patterns (14)
- Primary Care (5)
- Provider (13)
- Provider: Clinician (5)
- Provider: Nurse (2)
- Provider: Pharmacist (1)
- (-) Provider: Physician (20)
- Provider: Physician Assistant (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Sepsis (1)
- Skin Conditions (1)
- Surgery (2)
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 20 of 20 Research Studies DisplayedVarady NH, Worsham CM, Chen AF
Inappropriate prescribing of opioids for patients undergoing surgery.
This study examined inappropriate prescribing of opioids for patients undergoing surgery, in this instance prescribing them to a patient’s spouse. Among 450,125 opioid-naïve couples with commercial insurance studied, for patients who did not fill perioperative opioid prescriptions themselves, the rate of spousal fills on the day of surgery (DOS) was 2.39 fills per 1,000 surgeries compared with 0.44 fills on all other perioperative days. Increases in spousal fills were not present for patients that filled opioid prescriptions themselves.
AHRQ-funded; HS026753.
Citation: Varady NH, Worsham CM, Chen AF .
Inappropriate prescribing of opioids for patients undergoing surgery.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022 Dec 6;119(49):e2210226119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2210226119..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Surgery, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician
Khouja T, Polk DE, Suda KJ
Opioid prescribing by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States, 2016-2019.
The objective of this study was to describe opioid prescribing trends among oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS). The IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Dataset, 2016-2019, was used to identify prescriptions written by OMFS. The results indicated that while OMFS-prescribed hydrocodone and oxycodone decreased in most states, 12 percent of states showed increases. Tramadol and codeine prescriptions also increased. From these findings, the authors concluded that targeted interventions are warranted in some areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Khouja T, Polk DE, Suda KJ .
Opioid prescribing by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States, 2016-2019.
J Public Health Dent 2022 Sep;82(4):491-94. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12544..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Orthopedics, Surgery, Dental and Oral Health, Provider: Physician
Vu K, Zhou J, Everhart A
Uptake of evidence by physicians: de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after the TREAT trial.
Variation in de-adoption of ineffective or unsafe treatments is not well-understood. In this study the investigators examined de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in anemia treatment among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) following new clinical evidence of harm and ineffectiveness (the TREAT trial) and the FDA's revision of its safety warning. The investigators found that physician specialty had a dominant role in prescribing decision, and specializations with higher use of treatment (nephrologists) were more responsive to new evidence of unsafety and ineffectiveness.
AHRQ-funded; HS025164.
Citation: Vu K, Zhou J, Everhart A .
Uptake of evidence by physicians: de-adoption of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents after the TREAT trial.
BMC Nephrol 2021 Aug 21;22(1):284. doi: 10.1186/s12882-021-02491-y..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Medication: Safety, Medication, Patient Safety, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician
Chou LN, Kuo YF, Raji MA
Potentially inappropriate medication prescribing by nurse practitioners and physicians.
This study compared prescribing rates for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) by physicians and nurse practitioners (NPs). The authors used 100% Texas Medicare data to define physician and NP visits in 2016. Rates of visits with a PIM prescription from the same provider was measured by initial and refill visits. There were 24.1 per 1000 visits for PIM prescriptions, 9.0 per 1000 visits for an initial PM and 15.1 per 1000 visits for a refill PIM. Visits to an NP was less likely to result in an initial and refill PIM visit than a visit to a physician. There was a strong association of lower odds of a black enrollee receiving a PIM by an NP than white enrollees. There was also less likelihood of receiving a PIM refill from an NP in older patients and in those with more comorbidities.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642; HS020642.
Citation: Chou LN, Kuo YF, Raji MA .
Potentially inappropriate medication prescribing by nurse practitioners and physicians.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jul;69(7):1916-24. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17120..
Keywords: Medication: Safety, Medication, Provider: Physician, Provider: Nurse, Hospitalization, Practice Patterns, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Hollenbeck BK, Oerline M, =Kaufman SR
Promotional payments made to urologists by the pharmaceutical industry and prescribing patterns for targeted therapies.
The authors measured the association between market-level promotional payments to urologists by the manufacturers of abiraterone and enzalutamide and national prescribing patterns. They found that promotional payments to urologists at the market level were strongly associated with the specialty of the physician prescribing abiraterone or enzalutamide for the first time. They recommended that future work elucidate the effects of the shift in prescribing patterns on quality of care and financial hardship for men with advanced prostate cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Hollenbeck BK, Oerline M, =Kaufman SR .
Promotional payments made to urologists by the pharmaceutical industry and prescribing patterns for targeted therapies.
Urology 2021 Feb;148:134-40. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.08.080..
Keywords: Provider: Physician, Provider, Medication, Practice Patterns
Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and trends in opioid prescribing. Results suggested that an increased use of EPCS was not associated with decreased opioid prescribing or a decrease in the amount prescribed and may have been associated with a small increase in opioid prescribing. Recommendations included levers to ensure that EPCS is integrated with outside data and that information is actively used to inform prescribing decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW .
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2027951. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27951..
Keywords: Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Militello LG, Hurley RW, Cook RL
Primary care clinicians' beliefs and strategies for managing chronic pain in an era of a national opioid epidemic.
Investigators sought a better understanding of primary care clinicians’ approaches to managing patients with chronic pain and explored implications for technological and administrative interventions. They found that primary care clinicians’ beliefs about opioid therapy generally align with the clinical evidence but may have some important gaps, suggesting the potential value of interventions that include improved access to research findings, organizational changes to support spending time with patients to develop rapport, and the need for innovative clinical cognitive support.
AHRQ-funded; HS023306.
Citation: Militello LG, Hurley RW, Cook RL .
Primary care clinicians' beliefs and strategies for managing chronic pain in an era of a national opioid epidemic.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Dec;35(12):3542-48. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06178-2..
Keywords: Primary Care, Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider, Care Management
Lozada MJ, Raji MA, Goodwin JS
Opioid prescribing by primary care providers: a cross-sectional analysis of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physician prescribing patterns.
The purpose of this study was to identify prescription opioid over-prescribers by comparing prescribing patterns of primary care physicians (MDs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs). Participants were a national sample of 2015 Medicare Part D enrollees. Findings showed that most NPs/PAs prescribed opioids in a pattern similar to MDs, but NPs/PAs had more outliers who prescribed high-frequency, high-dose opioids than did MDs. Recommendations included efforts to reduce opioid overprescribing including targeted provider education, risk stratification, and state legislation.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Lozada MJ, Raji MA, Goodwin JS .
Opioid prescribing by primary care providers: a cross-sectional analysis of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physician prescribing patterns.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Sep;35(9):2584-92. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05823-0..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Medication: Safety, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Physician, Provider: Physician Assistant, Provider
Cotter JM, Tyler A, Reese J
Steroid variability in pediatric inpatient asthmatics: survey on provider preferences of dexamethasone versus prednisone.
This study looked at pediatric emergency department (ED) inpatient use of dexamethasone versus prednisone by providers for asthma treatment. A survey was distributed to providers who care for inpatient asthmatics. Ninety-two providers completed the survey. When patients received dexamethasone in the ED, 44% continued dexamethasone, 14% switched to prednisone, 2% stopped steroid use, and 40% said it depended on the circumstances. Hospitalists were significantly more likely to continue dexamethasone than pulmonologists (61% versus 15%). Switching to prednisone included factors such as severity of exacerbation (73%) and asthma history (47%). Just over half of providers (5f1%) felt uncomfortable using dexamethasone because of “minimal data to support [its] use inpatient.”
AHRQ-funded; HS026512.
Citation: Cotter JM, Tyler A, Reese J .
Steroid variability in pediatric inpatient asthmatics: survey on provider preferences of dexamethasone versus prednisone.
J Asthma 2020 Sep;57(9):942-48. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2019.1622713..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Medication, Inpatient Care, Care Management, Hospitalization, Emergency Department, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider
Rhee TG, Olfson M, Nierenberg AA
20-year trends in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder by psychiatrists in outpatient care settings.
Pharmacological options for treating bipolar disorder have increased over the past 20 years, with several second-generation antipsychotics receiving regulatory approval in the 1990s. In this study the authors describe trends in use of pharmacological agents in the outpatient management of bipolar disorder. The authors concluded that substantial changes occurred in the treatment of bipolar disorder over the past 20 years, with second-generation antipsychotics in large measure supplanting traditional mood stabilizers.
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Rhee TG, Olfson M, Nierenberg AA .
20-year trends in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder by psychiatrists in outpatient care settings.
Am J Psychiatry 2020 Aug;177(8):706-15. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19091000..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Medication, Practice Patterns, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider
Zetts RM, Stoesz A, Garcia AM
Primary care physicians' attitudes and perceptions towards antibiotic resistance and outpatient antibiotic stewardship in the USA: a qualitative study.
Outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to improve prescribing and address the threat of antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of primary care physicians (PCPs) attitudes towards antibiotic prescribing and outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to identify barriers to stewardship implementation and help tailor stewardship strategies. The aim of this study was to assess PCPs current attitudes towards antibiotic resistance, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and the feasibility of outpatient stewardship efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS026506; HS024930; 233201500020I.
Citation: Zetts RM, Stoesz A, Garcia AM .
Primary care physicians' attitudes and perceptions towards antibiotic resistance and outpatient antibiotic stewardship in the USA: a qualitative study.
BMJ Open 2020 Jul 14;10(7):e034983. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034983..
Keywords: Primary Care, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, Provider: Physician, Provider
Fishbein AB, Hamideh N, Lor J
Management of atopic dermatitis in children younger than two years of age by community pediatricians: a survey and chart review.
The authors characterized primary care providers' (PCPs) practice patterns for atopic dermatitis (AD) in children under 2 years of age and determined the need for AD guidelines for PCPs focused on this age group. They found that PCP management of AD in children under 2 years of age is different from that of older children, with possible underuse of medium/high-potency topical corticosteroids. They recommended clear guidelines for this age group.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Fishbein AB, Hamideh N, Lor J .
Management of atopic dermatitis in children younger than two years of age by community pediatricians: a survey and chart review.
J Pediatr 2020 Jun;221:138-44.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.02.015..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Skin Conditions, Provider: Physician, Practice Patterns, Primary Care, Medication, Care Management
Kohut MR, Keller SC, Linder JA
AHRQ Author: Miller MA
The inconvincible patient: how clinicians perceive demand for antibiotics in the outpatient setting.
Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with clinicians to determine how they perceive demand for antibiotics in the outpatient setting. They conducted interviews with 25 clinicians from nine practices across three states. Patient demand was the most common reason why non-indicated antibiotics were prescribed. Clinicians felt that if they didn’t prescribe them they would experience repercussions in their reputation and practice and that certain patients are impossible to please without an antibiotic prescription regardless of the diagnosis.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I.
Citation: Kohut MR, Keller SC, Linder JA .
The inconvincible patient: how clinicians perceive demand for antibiotics in the outpatient setting.
Fam Pract 2020 Mar 25;37(2):276-82. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmz066..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Medication, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider
Larach DB, Waljee JF, Hu HM
Patterns of initial opioid prescribing to opioid-naive patients.
Researchers sought to determine the proportion of initial opioid prescriptions for opioid-naive patients prescribed by surgeons, dentists, and emergency physicians. Data from a nationwide insurance claims dataset was used to study US adults aged 18 to 64 years. Over the study period, the researchers found that surgical patients received the highest proportion of potent opioids. They concluded that initial opioid prescribing attributable to surgical and dental care was increasing relative to primary and chronic pain care. They recommended evidence-based guideline development for surgical and dental prescribing in order to curb iatrogenic opioid morbidity and mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Larach DB, Waljee JF, Hu HM .
Patterns of initial opioid prescribing to opioid-naive patients.
Ann Surg 2020 Feb;271(2):290-95. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002969..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider
Goyal P, Anderson TS, Bernacki GM
Physician perspectives on deprescribing cardiovascular medications for older adults.
Investigators sought to characterize and compare clinician perspectives regarding deprescribing cardiovascular medications for older adults across three specialties. Within each specialty, 750 physicians were surveyed. The investigators found that, while barriers to deprescribing cardiovascular medications were shared across specialties, reasons for deprescribing, especially in the setting of limited life expectancy, varied. They concluded that implementing deprescribing will require improved processes for both physician-physician and physician-patient communication.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Goyal P, Anderson TS, Bernacki GM .
Physician perspectives on deprescribing cardiovascular medications for older adults.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Jan;68(1):78-86. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16157..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Cardiovascular Conditions, Decision Making, Provider: Physician, Provider
Mitchell AP, Winn AN, Lund JL
Evaluating the strength of the association between industry payments and prescribing practices in oncology.
Financial relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry are common, but factors that may determine whether such relationships result in physician practice changes are unknown. This study evaluated physician use of orally administered cancer drugs for four cancers and whether practice setting at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, receipt of payments for purposes other than education or research (compensation payments), maximum annual dollar value received, and institutional conflict-of-interest policies were associated with the strength of the payment-prescribing association.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Mitchell AP, Winn AN, Lund JL .
Evaluating the strength of the association between industry payments and prescribing practices in oncology.
Oncologist 2019 May;24(5):632-39. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0423..
Keywords: Cancer, Medication, Provider: Physician, Provider
Trent SA, Havranek EP, Ginde AA
Effect of audit and feedback on physician adherence to clinical practice guidelines for pneumonia and sepsis.
This study examined the effect of feedback with blinded peer comparison on emergency physician adherence to guidelines for appropriate antibiotic administration for inpatient pneumonia and completion of the 3-hour Surviving Sepsis Bundle for patients with severe sepsis. A quasi-experiment was conducted with attending physicians randomized into 6 clusters at a single urban safety net hospital. Feedback with blinded peer comparison significantly improved guideline adherence from 52% to 65% with feedback.
AHRQ-funded; HS022400.
Citation: Trent SA, Havranek EP, Ginde AA .
Effect of audit and feedback on physician adherence to clinical practice guidelines for pneumonia and sepsis.
Am J Med Qual 2019 May/Jun;34(3):217-25. doi: 10.1177/1062860618796947..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Emergency Department, Guidelines, Infectious Diseases, Inpatient Care, Medication, Pneumonia, Provider, Provider: Physician, Sepsis
McCreedy EM, Kane RL, Gollust SE
Patient-centered guidelines for geriatric diabetes care: potential missed opportunities to avoid harm.
Clinicians strive to deliver individualized, patient-centered care. However, these intentions are understudied. This research explored how patient characteristics associated with a high risk-to-benefit ratio with hypoglycemia medications affected decision making by primary care clinicians. The investigators found that primary care clinicians often chose to intensify glycemic control despite individual patient factors that warranted higher glycemic targets based on existing guidelines.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: McCreedy EM, Kane RL, Gollust SE .
Patient-centered guidelines for geriatric diabetes care: potential missed opportunities to avoid harm.
J Am Board Fam Med 2018 Mar-Apr;31(2):192-200. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170141..
Keywords: Diabetes, Elderly, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Decision Making, Medication, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Kim HS, McCarthy DM, Hoppe JA
Emergency department provider perspectives on benzodiazepine-opioid coprescribing: a qualitative study.
This study examined attitudes of emergency department residents, attending physicians, and pharmacists from three hospitals on coprescribing benzodiazepines and opioids. There is mounting evidence that this increases overdose risk. Focus groups were conducted using semistructured interviews which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Participants were reluctant to admit coprescribing and said when they did that specific discharge instructions were provided. The decision was also influenced by a provider’s belief in the efficacy of combination therapy as well as self-imposed pressure to escalate care or avoid hospital admission. They did not like the idea of using computerized alerts, but were support of pharmacist-assisted interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011; HS000078.
Citation: Kim HS, McCarthy DM, Hoppe JA .
Emergency department provider perspectives on benzodiazepine-opioid coprescribing: a qualitative study.
Acad Emerg Med 2018 Jan;25(1):15-24. doi: 10.1111/acem.13273..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Guidelines, Medication, Opioids, Practice Patterns, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider: Physician
Fleischman W, Ross JS, Melnick ER
Financial ties between emergency physicians and industry: insights from open payments data.
The authors sought to describe nonresearch, nonroyalty Open Payments made to emergency physicians in the United States. They found that nearly a third of emergency physicians received such payments from industry in 2014, and that most payments were of small monetary value and for activities related to the marketing of antithrombotic drugs.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Fleischman W, Ross JS, Melnick ER .
Financial ties between emergency physicians and industry: insights from open payments data.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Aug;68(2):153-58.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.01.014.
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Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Medication, Policy, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician