National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Blood Thinners (2)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (14)
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- Medication: Safety (1)
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- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (4)
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- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
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- Provider: Clinician (1)
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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 18 of 18 Research Studies DisplayedGallo T, Heise CW, Woosley RL
Clinician satisfaction with advanced clinical decision support to reduce the risk of torsades de pointes.
The purpose of this study was to create an advanced torsades de pointes (TdP) clinical decision support (CDS) advisory that provides relevant, patient-specific information, including 1-click management options, and to evaluate clinician satisfaction with the CDS. The researchers implemented the advanced TdP CDS across a health system comprising 29 hospitals. A brief electronic survey was developed to collect clinician feedback on the advisory and was emailed to 442 clinicians who received the advisory. Feedback was generally positive across the 38 responding providers, with 79% of respondents reporting that the advisory assisted with their care for their patients and 87% responding that the alerts clearly specified alternative actions. The researchers concluded that providers who receive an advanced TdP risk CDS alert generally view the alert favorably.
AHRQ-funded; HS026662.
Citation: Gallo T, Heise CW, Woosley RL .
Clinician satisfaction with advanced clinical decision support to reduce the risk of torsades de pointes.
J Patient Saf 2022 Sep 1;18(6):e1010-e13. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000996..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Risk, Provider: Clinician, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Gallo T, Heise CW, Woosley RL
Clinician responses to a clinical decision support advisory for high risk of Torsades de pointes.
The purpose of this study was to assess provider actions taken in response to a Clinical decision support (CDS) advisory for Torsade de pointes (TdP) that uses a modified Tisdale QT risk score and presents single click management options. The researchers implemented an inpatient TdP risk advisory across a large, 30 hospital health care system. The CDS advisory was programmed to appear when prescribers attempted to order medications with a known risk of TdP in a patient. The CDS advisory displayed patient-specific information and offered related management options including canceling the requested medication and ordering relevant protocols. The study found that 7794 TdP risk advisories were issued during an 8-month period. The most frequent advisory trigger was antibiotics (33.1%.) The most frequent action taken as a result of the advisory was ordering an ECG (20.3%). Incoming medication orders were canceled in 10.2% of the advisories. The researchers concluded that a single-click, modified Tisdale QT risk score-based CDS resulted in a high action/response rate.
AHRQ-funded; HS026662.
Citation: Gallo T, Heise CW, Woosley RL .
Clinician responses to a clinical decision support advisory for high risk of Torsades de pointes.
J Am Heart Assoc 2022 Jun 7;11(11):e024338. doi: 10.1161/jaha.122.024338..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Health Information Technology (HIT), Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Daley CN, Cornet VP, Toscos TR
Naturalistic decision making in everyday self-care among older adults with heart failure.
The purpose of this study was to explore the role of everyday decision-making on disease outcome in a group of older adults living with heart failure. The researchers describe such decisions as events of naturalistic decision-making which are influenced by factors such as the involvement of others, older adults’ social and physical environments, high stakes of the decision, and shifting goals. The researchers recruited 24 older adults with heart failure and 14 of their support persons from an ambulatory cardiology center, and conducted a qualitative field study. The study utilized a naturalistic decision-making model and critical incident technique to analyze health-related everyday decision making and determine how individuals make everyday health-related decisions. The study found that for various decisions, the decision-making of White, male, older adults aligned with the three phases of a preliminary model of naturalistic decision making: monitoring, interpreting, and acting. The researchers also determined that: health decisions are made in a context of personal variables such as emotions, priorities, and values; other people can play important roles; and the performance of the phases can be affected by barriers and strategies. The study concluded that the findings contribute to an expanded model of naturalistic decision-making with implications for not only future research, but for the design of interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025232.
Citation: Daley CN, Cornet VP, Toscos TR .
Naturalistic decision making in everyday self-care among older adults with heart failure.
J Cardiovasc Nurs 2022 Mar-Apr;37(2):167-76. doi: 10.1097/jcn.0000000000000778..
Keywords: Elderly, Patient Self-Management, Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Thomson MC, Allen LA, Halpern SD
Framing benefits in decision aids: effects of varying contextualizing statements on decisions about sacubitril-valsartan for heart failure.
The purpose of this study was to further understand benefit framing by testing the impact of a variety of contextualizing statements within a decision aid for the heart failure medication sacubitril-valsartan. Study participants received one of six versions of a decision aid for sacubitril-valsartan. The only factor that differed between the versions was a contextualizing statement. The participants were surveyed regarding their likelihood of taking sacubitril-valsartan at a cost of $50 per month and their perception of the benefit of the drug. The study found that 54% of the 1,873 participants were willing to take the medication at the cost of $50 per month. The researchers compared each of the 5 contextualizing statements with the baseline version; there were no significant differences in the participants’ reported likelihood of taking the medication. Higher income level, higher self-reported health status, and younger age were related with greater likelihood of taking sacubitril-valsartan. The researchers concluded that decision making was not affected by contextualizing statements tested within the decision aid.
AHRQ-funded; HS026081.
Citation: Thomson MC, Allen LA, Halpern SD .
Framing benefits in decision aids: effects of varying contextualizing statements on decisions about sacubitril-valsartan for heart failure.
MDM Policy Pract 2021 Jul-Dec;6(2):23814683211041623. doi: 10.1177/23814683211041623..
Keywords: Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
McKinney WT, Schaffhausen CR, Schladt D
Designing a patient-specific search of transplant program performance and outcomes: feedback from heart transplant candidates and recipients.
The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients provides transplant program-specific information, but it is unclear what patients and stakeholders need to know. Acceptance criteria for the candidate waitlist and donor organs vary by program and region, but there is no means to search for programs by the clinical profiles of recipients and donors. The authors examined variability in program-specific characteristics that could influence access to transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379; HS024527.
Citation: McKinney WT, Schaffhausen CR, Schladt D .
Designing a patient-specific search of transplant program performance and outcomes: feedback from heart transplant candidates and recipients.
Clin Transplant 2021 Feb;35(2):e14183. doi: 10.1111/ctr.14183..
Keywords: Transplantation, Surgery, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Registries, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Decision Making
Mahtta D, Ahmed ST, Shah NR
Facility-level variation in cardiac stress test use among patients with diabetes: findings from the Veterans Affairs national database.
The authors evaluate facility-level variation in cardiac stress test use among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) across the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Their results suggest that significant residual variation in overall stress test use exists among veterans with DM. They recommend future studies to assess system-wide appropriateness of stress testing, to assess patient-level symptom data, and to conduct qualitative analyses in order to understand individual provider-level drivers behind such variation.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Mahtta D, Ahmed ST, Shah NR .
Facility-level variation in cardiac stress test use among patients with diabetes: findings from the Veterans Affairs national database.
Diabetes Care 2020 May;43(5):e58-e60. doi: 10.2337/dc19-2160..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Diabetes, Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
Brand-McCarthy SR, Delaney RK, Noseworthy PA
Can shared decision making improve stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation?: Implications of the updated guidelines.
This paper discusses the need for shared decision making (SDM) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients not just at the beginning of treatment but throughout during ongoing care. Use of SDM can help with patient adherence to recommended anticoagulation treatment regimens and lifestyle changes. It can help build a strong partnership between clinician and patient.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Brand-McCarthy SR, Delaney RK, Noseworthy PA .
Can shared decision making improve stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation?: Implications of the updated guidelines.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2020 Mar;13(3):e006080. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.119.006080..
Keywords: Decision Making, Stroke, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Prevention, Guidelines, Blood Thinners, Medication, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Blecker S, Austrian JS, Horwitz LI
Interrupting providers with clinical decision support to improve care for heart failure.
The goal of this study was to develop a clinical decision support (CDS) system to recommend an angiotenson converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor during hospitalization so it could be promoted for continuation at discharge. Patients who were hospitalized with reduced ejection fraction were pseudo-randomized to deliver interruptive or non-interruptive CDS alerts to providers based on the patients’ even or odd medical record number. The utilization rate was higher for interruptive alert versus non-interruptive alert hospitalizations for a sample of 958. This resulted in improved quality of care for heart failure patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS023683.
Citation: Blecker S, Austrian JS, Horwitz LI .
Interrupting providers with clinical decision support to improve care for heart failure.
Int J Med Inform 2019 Nov;131:103956. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.103956..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Wang SV, Rogers JR, Jin Y
Stepped-wedge randomised trial to evaluate population health intervention designed to increase appropriate anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Clinical guidelines recommend anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk of stroke; however, studies report 40% of this population is not anticoagulated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a population health intervention to increase anticoagulation use in high-risk patients with AF. The investigators concluded that algorithms to identify underuse of anticoagulation among patients with AF in healthcare databases may not capture clinical subtleties or patient preferences and may overestimate the extent of undertreatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS022193.
Citation: Wang SV, Rogers JR, Jin Y .
Stepped-wedge randomised trial to evaluate population health intervention designed to increase appropriate anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Oct;28(10):835-42. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009367..
Keywords: Blood Thinners, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Decision Making, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Practice Patterns, Healthcare Utilization
Reeder HT, Shen C, Buxton AE
Joint shock/death risk prediction model for patients considering implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
This study’s goal was to develop a joint shock/death risk prediction tool for patients who received implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Secondary analysis of patients was conducted as part of the SCD-HeFT trial (Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial). An illness-death regression model was applied for both ICD shocks and deaths. Among 803 ICD recipients, 430 (53.5%) did not receive an ICD shock or die, 206 (25.7%) received at least 1 shock but did not die, 113 (14.1%) died before receiving a shock, and 54 (6.7%) received at least 1 shock but still died. This predictive performance can be used as a tool for individualized counseling for patients contemplating an ICD.
AHRQ-funded; HS024520.
Citation: Reeder HT, Shen C, Buxton AE .
Joint shock/death risk prediction model for patients considering implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2019 Aug;12(8):e005675. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.119.005675..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medical Devices, Risk, Decision Making, Mortality
Pang PS, Fermann GJ, Hunter BR
TACIT (High Sensitivity Troponin T Rules Out Acute Cardiac Insufficiency Trial).
This study examined the use of high-sensitivity troponin assays to determine whether a patient presenting in the emergency department with chest pains is safe for discharge. An observational study called High Sensitivity Troponin T Rules Out Acute Cardiac Insufficiency Trial (TACIT) explored whether serial high-sensitivity troponin (hsTnT) might aid in making diagnosis of acute heart failure faster. The presence of hsTnT above the 99th percentile usually indicates acute heart failure. Patients in the cohort with hsTnT at or above the 99th percentile were older, more often male, less often black, and more likely to have chronic kidney disease. The study found no difference in risk for 90-day death or rehospitalization or return ED visits in the group with hsTnT above the 99th percentile than those with levels below the 99th percentile so hsTnT would not be considered useful.
AHRQ-funded; HS025411.
Citation: Pang PS, Fermann GJ, Hunter BR .
TACIT (High Sensitivity Troponin T Rules Out Acute Cardiac Insufficiency Trial).
Circ Heart Fail 2019 Jul;12(7):e005931. doi: 10.1161/circheartfailure.119.005931..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Emergency Department, Risk, Decision Making
Ahmad FS, Kallen MA, Schifferdecker KE
Development and initial validation of the PROMIS(R)-Plus-HF profile measure.
This paper describes the efforts to develop and validate the PROMIS®-Plus-HF (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System®-Plus-Heart Failure) profile measure. The authors conducted 8 focus groups with 61 patients with HF and phone interviews with 10 HF clinicians. They tested the measure with a 600-patient sample. Validity was analyzed and confirmed using Pearson r and Spearman rho correlations with Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire subscores. The measure consists of 86 items across 18 domains.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Ahmad FS, Kallen MA, Schifferdecker KE .
Development and initial validation of the PROMIS(R)-Plus-HF profile measure.
Circ Heart Fail 2019 Jun;12(6):e005751. doi: 10.1161/circheartfailure.118.005751.
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Keywords: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Decision Making, Quality of Life, Health Status
Smith GH, Shore S, Allen LA
Discussing out-of-pocket costs with patients: shared decision making for sacubitril-valsartan in heart failure.
This study examined how prescription costs can greatly impact decision-making in patients with serious medical conditions. Forty-nine patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fracture were recruited and interviewed about a drug sacrubitril-valsartan. The drug is considered effective but can be costly. Most patients (45/49) said they would take the medicine if the out-of-pocket cost was only $5 per month more than their current medication. But if the costs increased to $100 more per month then only 43% would switch to sacrubritil-valsartan. Only 20% of participants said their physician had discussed medication costs in the past year.
AHRQ-funded; HS026081.
Citation: Smith GH, Shore S, Allen LA .
Discussing out-of-pocket costs with patients: shared decision making for sacubitril-valsartan in heart failure.
J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Jan 8;8(1):e010635. doi: 10.1161/jaha.118.010635..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Chronic Conditions
Barlow SE, Turer CB
Lipid screening and treatment practices conflict with conflicting recommendations: where do we go from here?
This article comments on a 2017 study by de Ferranti, et al., published in the Journal of Pediatrics, which reported results from a survey of US pediatricians’ knowledge and implementation of child and adolescent cholesterol screening and treatment guidelines.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Barlow SE, Turer CB .
Lipid screening and treatment practices conflict with conflicting recommendations: where do we go from here?
J Pediatr 2017 Jun;185:16-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.02.041..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Heart Disease and Health, Decision Making, Guidelines
Kostick KM, Minard CG, Wilhelms LA
Development and validation of a patient-centered knowledge scale for left ventricular assist device placement.
The authors presented a comprehensive and valid methodology for developing a clinically informed and patient-centered measure of knowledge about left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy to facilitate discussion and measure candidate understanding of treatment options. They concluded that the LVAD knowledge scale may be useful in clinical settings to identify gaps in knowledge among patient candidates considering LVAD treatment; to better tailor education and discussion with patients and their caregivers; and to enhance informed decision-making before treatment decisions are made.
AHRQ-funded; HS024849.
Citation: Kostick KM, Minard CG, Wilhelms LA .
Development and validation of a patient-centered knowledge scale for left ventricular assist device placement.
J Heart Lung Transplant 2016 Jun;35(6):768-76. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2016.01.015.
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Keywords: Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Medical Devices, Patient and Family Engagement, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Sadeghi B, Walling AM, Romano PS
A hospital-based advance care planning intervention for patients with heart failure: a feasibility study.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a multiple-component hospital-based intervention on completion of advance care planning (ACP) forms among heart failure (HF) patients. It concluded that a hospital-based ACP intervention using nonclinician health educators is feasible to implement and has the potential to facilitate the ACP process.
AHRQ-funded HS019311.
Citation: Sadeghi B, Walling AM, Romano PS .
A hospital-based advance care planning intervention for patients with heart failure: a feasibility study.
J Palliat Med 2016 Apr;19(4):451-5. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2015.0269.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Decision Making, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Heart Disease and Health, Hospitals
Blumenthal-Barby JS, Kostick KM, Delgado ED
Assessment of patients' and caregivers' informational and decisional needs for left ventricular assist device placement: implications for informed consent and shared decision-making.
The authors investigated the decision-making process and informational and decisional needs of patients and their caregivers regarding left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. They found that participants easily and clearly identified their values: life extension; family; and mobility. Participants reported the need to meet other patients and caregivers before device placement and to have an involved caregiver to synthesize information. They further found that some participants demonstrated a lack of clarity regarding transplant probability.
AHRQ-funded; HS024849.
Citation: Blumenthal-Barby JS, Kostick KM, Delgado ED .
Assessment of patients' and caregivers' informational and decisional needs for left ventricular assist device placement: implications for informed consent and shared decision-making.
J Heart Lung Transplant 2015 Sep;34(9):1182-9. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2015.03.026.
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Keywords: Caregiving, Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Medical Devices, Patient and Family Engagement
Eapen ZJ, McCoy LA, Fonarow CG
Utility of socioeconomic status in predicting 30-day outcomes after heart failure hospitalization.
The researchers investigated whether accounting for socioeconomic status (SES) can improve risk-adjusted models for 30-day outcomes among CMS beneficiaries hospitalized with heart failure. They found that county-level SES data are modestly associated with 30-day outcomes but do not improve risk adjustment models based on patient characteristics alone.
AHRQ-funded; HS021092.
Citation: Eapen ZJ, McCoy LA, Fonarow CG .
Utility of socioeconomic status in predicting 30-day outcomes after heart failure hospitalization.
Circ Heart Fail 2015 May;8(3):473-80. doi: 10.1161/circheartfailure.114.001879.
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Keywords: Decision Making, Heart Disease and Health, Hospitalization, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Social Determinants of Health