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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.
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1 to 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedSchoenfeld EM, Poronsky KE, Westafer LM
Feasibility and efficacy of a decision aid for emergency department patients with suspected ureterolithiasis: protocol for an adaptive randomized controlled trial.
Both ultrasound and CT scan can be used for diagnosis of ureterolithiasis (or renal colic, the pain from an obstructing kidney stone), but the majority of patients receive a CT scan. Diagnostic pathways utilizing ultrasound have been shown to decrease radiation exposure to patients but are potentially less accurate. The investigators developed a decision aid to facilitate SDM in this scenario. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of this decision aid, as compared to usual care, on patient knowledge, radiation exposure, engagement, safety, and healthcare utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS025701.
Citation: Schoenfeld EM, Poronsky KE, Westafer LM .
Feasibility and efficacy of a decision aid for emergency department patients with suspected ureterolithiasis: protocol for an adaptive randomized controlled trial.
Trials 2021 Mar 10;22(1):201. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05140-9..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Decision Making, Kidney Disease and Health, Imaging, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Martinez DA, Levin SR, Klein EY
Early prediction of acute kidney injury in the emergency department with machine-learning methods applied to electronic health record data.
Researchers analyzed routinely collected emergency department (ED) data and developed prediction models with capacity for early identification of ED patients at high risk for acute kidney injury. They found that machine learning applied to routinely-collected ED data identified ED patients at high risk for acute kidney injury up to 72 hours before they met diagnostic criteria. They recommended further prospective evaluation.
AHRQ-funded; HS027793.
Citation: Martinez DA, Levin SR, Klein EY .
Early prediction of acute kidney injury in the emergency department with machine-learning methods applied to electronic health record data.
Ann Emerg Med 2020 Oct;76(4):501-14. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2020.05.026..
Keywords: Kidney Disease and Health, Emergency Department, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Schoenfeld EM, Shieh MS, Pekow PS
Association of patient and visit characteristics with rate and timing of urologic procedures for patients discharged from the emergency department with renal colic.
Little is known about the timing of urologic interventions in patients with renal colic discharged from the emergency department. Understanding patients' likelihood of a subsequent urologic intervention could inform decision-making in this population. The objective of this study was to examine the rate and timing of urologic procedures performed after an emergency department visit for renal colic and the factors associated with receipt of an intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS025701.
Citation: Schoenfeld EM, Shieh MS, Pekow PS .
Association of patient and visit characteristics with rate and timing of urologic procedures for patients discharged from the emergency department with renal colic.
JAMA Netw Open 2019 Dec 2;2(12):e1916454. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16454..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Kidney Disease and Health, Decision Making
Shah PK, Yan PL, Dauw CA
Emergency department switching and duplicate computed tomography scans in patients with kidney stones.
The researchers measured the association between emergency department (ED) switching during a kidney stone episode and receipt of a repeat computed tomography (CT) scan. They found that 12% of patients who received a CT scan at their initial ED encounter had a revisit within 30 days of discharge. One-third of their revisits were made to a different ED than the iniital one. Duplicate CT scans were obtained at nearly 40% of all revisits. The risk of receiving a repeat CT was 12% higher if this revisit was made to a different ED. They concluded that their findings support the role of better health information exchange among providers to help reduce waste in the health-care system.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Shah PK, Yan PL, Dauw CA .
Emergency department switching and duplicate computed tomography scans in patients with kidney stones.
Urology 2018 Apr;114:41-44. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2018.01.013.
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Keywords: Emergency Department, Imaging, Kidney Disease and Health
Daniels B, Gross CP, Molinaro A
STONE PLUS: evaluation of emergency department patients with suspected renal colic, using a clinical prediction tool combined with point-of-care limited ultrasonography.
This study sought to determine whether renal point-of-care limited ultrasonography (PLUS) used in conjunction with the Sex, Timing, Origin, Nausea, Erythrocytes (STONE) clinical prediction score can aid identification of emergency department (ED) patients with uncomplicated ureteral stone or need for urologic intervention. It concluded that hydronephrosis on renal PLUS modestly improved risk stratification in low- and moderate-risk STONE score patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS018322.
Citation: Daniels B, Gross CP, Molinaro A .
STONE PLUS: evaluation of emergency department patients with suspected renal colic, using a clinical prediction tool combined with point-of-care limited ultrasonography.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Apr;67(4):439-48. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.10.020.
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Keywords: Decision Making, Emergency Department, Imaging, Kidney Disease and Health
Moore CL, Daniels B, Ghita M
Accuracy of reduced-dose computed tomography for ureteral stones in emergency department patients.
The researchers compared the sensitivity and specificity of reduced-dose computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of clinically important urologic causes of kidney stones likely to require intervention within a 90-day follow-up period. In 201 patients with a range of body mass indexes who received both regular and reduced dose scans contemporaneously, reduced-dose CT were 96% sensitive for stones requiring intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS018322.
Citation: Moore CL, Daniels B, Ghita M .
Accuracy of reduced-dose computed tomography for ureteral stones in emergency department patients.
Ann Emerg Med 2015 Feb;65(2):189-98.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2014.09.008..
Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Department, Kidney Disease and Health, Imaging