National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
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- (-) Racial and Ethnic Minorities (18)
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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 DisplayedKhor S, Heagerty PJ, Basu A
Racial disparities in the ascertainment of cancer recurrence in electronic health records.
This study examined whether the accuracy of a proxy for colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence differed by race/ethnicity and the possible mechanisms that drove the differences. Using data from a large integrated health care system, the authors identified a stratified random sample of 282 Black/African American (AA), Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients with CRC who received primary treatment. The recurrence proxy was found to have excellent overall accuracy (positive predictive value [PPV] 89.4%; negative predictive value 96.5%; mean difference in timing 1.96 months); however, accuracy varied by race/ethnicity. Compared with NHW patients, PPV was 14.9% lower among Hispanic patients and 4.3% lower among Black/AA patients. The proxy disproportionately inflated the 5-year recurrence incidence for Hispanic patients by 10.6%. Compared with NHW patients, proxy recurrences for Hispanic patients were almost three times as likely to have been misclassified as positive (adjusted risk ratio 2.91). The authors theorize that higher false positives among racial/ethnic minorities may be related to higher prevalence of noncancerous lung-related problems and substantial delays in primary treatment because of insufficient patient-provider communication and abnormal treatment patterns.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Khor S, Heagerty PJ, Basu A .
Racial disparities in the ascertainment of cancer recurrence in electronic health records.
JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2023 Jun; 7:e2300004. doi: 10.1200/cci.23.00004..
Keywords: Cancer, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities
Thompson HM, Sharma B, Bhalla S
Bias and fairness assessment of a natural language processing opioid misuse classifier: detection and mitigation of electronic health record data disadvantages across racial subgroups.
The objective of this study was to assess fairness and bias of a previously validated machine learning opioid misuse classifier. Two experiments were conducted with the classifier's original and external validation datasets from 2 health systems. Bias was assessed via testing for differences in type II error rates across racial/ethnic subgroups (Black, Hispanic/Latinx, White, Other) using bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals. The investigators concluded that standardized, transparent bias assessments were needed to improve trustworthiness in clinical machine learning models.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Thompson HM, Sharma B, Bhalla S .
Bias and fairness assessment of a natural language processing opioid misuse classifier: detection and mitigation of electronic health record data disadvantages across racial subgroups.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021 Oct 12;28(11):2393-403. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab148..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Jackman KP, Hightow-Weidman L, Poteat T
Evaluating psychometric determinants of willingness to adopt sexual health patient portal services among black college students: a mixed-methods approach.
The authors used mixed methods to describe perceptions of access to sexually transmitted infection test results via electronic personal health record (PHR) and correlates of willingness to adopt its use. Three qualitative themes emerged on relative advantages, barriers, and functionality of PHRs. Reliable latent factors, centering on PHR convenience and functionality, were positively associated with adoption willingness. Adoption may be boosted with tailored designs responsive to expressed service needs.
AHRQ-funded; HS023057.
Citation: Jackman KP, Hightow-Weidman L, Poteat T .
Evaluating psychometric determinants of willingness to adopt sexual health patient portal services among black college students: a mixed-methods approach.
J Am Coll Health 2021 Feb-Mar;69(2):190-97. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1660352..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Young Adults, Sexual Health, Disparities, Infectious Diseases
Huguet N, Schmidt T, Larson A
Prevalence of pre-existing conditions among community health center patients with COVID-19: implications for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Researchers described the prevalence of pre-existing conditions among community health center patients overall and those with COVID-19 by race/ethnicity. Electronic health record data from OCHIN, a network of 396 community health centers across 14 states, was used. They concluded that since the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is uncertain, and since the long-term health effects of COVID-19 are largely unknown, ensuring that people with pre-existing conditions can acquire health insurance is essential to achieving health equity.
AHRQ-funded; HS025962.
Citation: Huguet N, Schmidt T, Larson A .
Prevalence of pre-existing conditions among community health center patients with COVID-19: implications for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
J Am Board Fam Med 2021 Feb;34(Suppl):S247-s49. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.S1.200571..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Policy, Healthcare Delivery
Jackman KP, Murray S, Hightow-Weidman
Digital technology to address HIV and other sexually transmitted infection disparities: intentions to disclose online personal health records to sex partners among students at a historically Black college.
Among an online survey sample of co-ed students, the authors described latent constructs and other variables associated with perceived behavioral intentions to disclose sexually transmitted infection (STI) test history using patient portals. They found that latent constructs representing communication valuation beliefs and practices were not associated with intentions, while self-reporting prior STI diagnosis was associated with intentions to disclose. They concluded that point-of-care messages focused on improvements to validating test results, communication, and empowerment, may be an effective strategy to support the adoption of patient portals for STI prevention among populations of college-aged Black youth.
AHRQ-funded; HS023057.
Citation: Jackman KP, Murray S, Hightow-Weidman .
Digital technology to address HIV and other sexually transmitted infection disparities: intentions to disclose online personal health records to sex partners among students at a historically Black college.
PLoS One 2020 Aug 21;15(8):e0237648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237648..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Infectious Diseases, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Young Adults, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Prevention
Heintzman J, Marino M, Clark K
Using electronic health record data to study Latino immigrant populations in health services research.
The purpose of this study was to validate an electronic health record (EHR)-based algorithm that could serve as a safe proxy for self-reported immigration status for health services researchers. Researchers developed an EHR algorithm to classify a population of patients as likely undocumented or recent Latino immigrants and validated this algorithm by conducting semi-structured interviews of staff. They concluded that the EHR has potential for studying immigration status in health services research, although more study is needed to determine the accuracy and utility of EHRs for this purpose.
AHRQ-funded; HS021522.
Citation: Heintzman J, Marino M, Clark K .
Using electronic health record data to study Latino immigrant populations in health services research.
J Immigr Minor Health 2020 Aug;22(4):754-61. doi: 10.1007/s10903-019-00925-2..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Health Services Research (HSR)
Polubriaginof FCG, Ryan P, Salmasian H
Challenges with quality of race and ethnicity data in observational databases.
This study assessed the quality of race and ethnicity information in observational health databases as well as electronic health records (EHRs) and to propose patient self-recording as a way to improve accuracy. Data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and Optum Labs, and from a single New York City healthcare system’s EHR was compared. Among 160 million patients in the HCUP database, no race or ethnicity data was recorded for 25% of the records. Among the 2.4 million patients in the New York City HER, race or ethnicity was unknown for 57%. However, when patients were allowed to directly record their race and ethnicity, percentages rose to 86%.
AHRQ-funded; HS021816; HS023704; HS024713.
Citation: Polubriaginof FCG, Ryan P, Salmasian H .
Challenges with quality of race and ethnicity data in observational databases.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2019 Aug;26(8-9):730-36. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocz113..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Data, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Services Research (HSR)
Khoong EC, Cherian R, Matta GY
Perspectives of English, Chinese, and Spanish-speaking safety-net patients on clinician computer use: qualitative analysis.
The goal of this study was to understand how safety-net patients, including those with limited English proficiency, view clinician electronic health record (EHR) use. Through focus groups in English, Spanish, and Cantonese, results showed that linguistically diverse patients accepted the value of EHR use during outpatient visits but desired more eye contact, verbal warnings before EHR use, and screen-sharing. Support for clinicians in completing EHR-related tasks during the visit using patient-centered strategies for all patients is recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS022561; HS023558; HS022408.
Citation: Khoong EC, Cherian R, Matta GY .
Perspectives of English, Chinese, and Spanish-speaking safety-net patients on clinician computer use: qualitative analysis.
J Med Internet Res 2019 May 22;21(5):e13131. doi: 10.2196/13131..
Keywords: Cultural Competence, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Patient Experience, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication, Health Literacy, Communication
Graetz I, Huang J, Brand RJ
Bridging the digital divide: mobile access to personal health records among patients with diabetes.
The authors examined personal health record (PHR) use through a computer-based Web browser or mobile device. They found that mobile-ready PHRs may increase access among patients facing a digital divide in computer use, disproportionately reaching racial/ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic status patients. They recommend continued efforts to increase equitable access to PHRs among patients with chronic conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS015280.
Citation: Graetz I, Huang J, Brand RJ .
Bridging the digital divide: mobile access to personal health records among patients with diabetes.
Am J Manag Care 2018 Jan;24(1):43-48..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Diabetes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Acker WW, Plasek JM, Blumenthal KG
Prevalence of food allergies and intolerances documented in electronic health records.
The researchers sought to determine the prevalence of food allergy and intolerance documented in the EHR allergy module. Among 2.7 million patients, they identified 97,482 patients (3.6 percent) with 1 or more food allergies or intolerances. The prevalence of food allergy and intolerance was higher in females (4.2 percent vs 2.9 percent) and Asians (4.3 percent vs 3.6 percent).
AHRQ-funded; HS022728.
Citation: Acker WW, Plasek JM, Blumenthal KG .
Prevalence of food allergies and intolerances documented in electronic health records.
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017 Dec;140(6):1587-91.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.04.006.
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Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Patient Safety, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sex Factors
Lyles CR, Allen JY, Poole D
"I want to keep the personal relationship with my doctor": Understanding barriers to portal use among African Americans and Latinos.
The investigators sought to understand specific barriers to portal use among African American and Latino patients at Kaiser Permanente, which has had a portal in place for over a decade. Their findings suggest that uniform adoption of portal use across diverse patient groups requires more usable, more personalized websites, which may be particularly important for reducing health care disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS022408.
Citation: Lyles CR, Allen JY, Poole D .
"I want to keep the personal relationship with my doctor": Understanding barriers to portal use among African Americans and Latinos.
J Med Internet Res 2016 Oct 3;18(10):e263. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5910.
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Keywords: Disparities, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Clinician-Patient Communication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Web-Based
Ancker JS, Hafeez B, Kaushal R
Socioeconomic disparities in adoption of personal health records over time.
The authors sought to track personal health record (PHR) adoption and differences by sociodemographic group over time. Using data from the Empire State Poll, they found that during a 4-year period in which federal policies incentivized medical organizations to give medical record access to patients through PHRs and electronic portals, rates of PHR use increased rapidly in all sociodemographic groups, but with a digital divide remaining, linked to Hispanic ethnicity and lower income.
AHRQ-funded; HS021531.
Citation: Ancker JS, Hafeez B, Kaushal R .
Socioeconomic disparities in adoption of personal health records over time.
Am J Manag Care 2016 Aug;22(8):539-40.
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Keywords: Disparities, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Lee SJ, Grobe JE, Tiro JA
Assessing race and ethnicity data quality across cancer registries and EMRs in two hospitals.
The objective of this study was to characterize the quality of race/ethnicity data collection efforts. The authors assessed race and ethnicity data quality across cancer registries and electronic medical records in two hospitals. Their findings suggested that high-quality race/ethnicity data are attainable. Many of the "errors" in race/ethnicity data were caused by missing or "Unknown" data values.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Lee SJ, Grobe JE, Tiro JA .
Assessing race and ethnicity data quality across cancer registries and EMRs in two hospitals.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2016 May;23(3):627-34. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocv156..
Keywords: Cancer, Data, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Hospitals, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Registries
Lyles CR, Sarkar U, Schillinger D
Refilling medications through an online patient portal: consistent improvements in adherence across racial/ethnic groups.
The researchers evaluated longitudinal changes in statin adherence to determine whether racial/ethnic minorities initiating use of the online refill function in patient portals had similar changes over time compared with whites. Their examination of a retrospective cohort of diabetes patients who were existing patient portal users found that all racial/ethnic minority groups had poorer baseline statin adherence compared with whites.
AHRQ-funded; HS022408.
Citation: Lyles CR, Sarkar U, Schillinger D .
Refilling medications through an online patient portal: consistent improvements in adherence across racial/ethnic groups.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2016 Apr;23(e1):e28-e33. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocv126.
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Keywords: Medication, Web-Based, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Chung S, Johns N, Zhao B
Clocks moving at different speeds: cultural variation in the satisfaction with wait time for outpatient care.
This study explored racial/ethnic differences in satisfaction with wait time of scheduled office visits by comparing electronic health record -based, patient-reported, and patient satisfaction with wait time. It found that given actual wait times, Asians perceive longer wait time and were less satisfied with wait times. Asians may have different expectations about wait time at the clinic.
AHRQ-funded; HS019815.
Citation: Chung S, Johns N, Zhao B .
Clocks moving at different speeds: cultural variation in the satisfaction with wait time for outpatient care.
Med Care 2016 Mar;54(3):269-76. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000473.
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Keywords: Patient Experience, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Grundmeier RW, Song L, Ramos MJ
Imputing missing race/ethnicity in pediatric electronic health records: Reducing bias with use of U.S. census location and surname data.
The researchers assessed the utility of imputing race/ethnicity using U.S. Census race/ethnicity, residential address, and surname information compared to standard missing data methods in a pediatric cohort. In a simulation experiment, they constructed dichotomous and continuous outcomes with pre-specified associations with known race/ethnicity. They found that imputation using U.S. Census information reduced bias for both continuous and dichotomous outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS021645.
Citation: Grundmeier RW, Song L, Ramos MJ .
Imputing missing race/ethnicity in pediatric electronic health records: Reducing bias with use of U.S. census location and surname data.
Health Serv Res 2015 Aug;50(4):946-60. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12295..
Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Children/Adolescents, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Bakken SN, Hill JN, Guihan M
Factors influencing consent for electronic data linkage in urban Latinos.
Within the context of patient participation in a Learning Health System, this study examined consent rates and factors associated with consent for linking survey data with electronic clinical data in a sample of 2,271 Latinos. Consent rate was 96.3%. Government insurance status and health literacy significantly influenced the odds of consent.
AHRQ-funded; HS022961.
Citation: Bakken SN, Hill JN, Guihan M .
Factors influencing consent for electronic data linkage in urban Latinos.
Stud Health Technol Inform 2015;216:984..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Health Information Technology (HIT), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Data, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Eapen ZJ, Liang L, Shubrook JH
Current quality of cardiovascular prevention for Million Hearts: an analysis of 147,038 outpatients from The Guideline Advantage.
This study examined adherence to clinical quality measures focusing on antiplatelet drugs for ischemic vascular disease, blood pressure control for hypertension, cholesterol control for diabetes, and tobacco use screening among 145,038 patients from 25 U.S. practices. It found that black and people of color races were associated with a lower likelihood of blood pressure and cholesterol control.
AHRQ-funded; HS021092
Citation: Eapen ZJ, Liang L, Shubrook JH .
Current quality of cardiovascular prevention for Million Hearts: an analysis of 147,038 outpatients from The Guideline Advantage.
Am Heart J. 2014 Sep;168(3):398-404. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2014.06.007..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Promotion, Heart Disease and Health, Quality Improvement, Racial and Ethnic Minorities