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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 20 of 20 Research Studies DisplayedAdams DR
Availability and accessibility of mental health services for youth: a descriptive survey of safety-net health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of this study was to assess the availability of outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents at safety-net health centers in a large metropolitan county. A comprehensive sample of Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) received a 5-minute survey approximately one year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The response indicated that 10% of health centers had closed and 20% reported that they were not offering outpatient mental health services. Reported wait times were longer at CMHCs than FQHCs. The author concluded that these findings suggested that online directories such as the SAMHSA Treatment Locator are often inaccurate or out-of-date.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Adams DR .
Availability and accessibility of mental health services for youth: a descriptive survey of safety-net health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Ment Health J 2024 Jan; 60(1):88-97. doi: 10.1007/s10597-023-01127-9..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, COVID-19, Public Health
Mooney AC, Jackson KE, Hamad R
Experiences of distress and gaps in government safety net supports among parents of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.
This study examined the experiences and challenges of families with low incomes caring for young children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews from August 2020 to January 2021 with 34 parents of young children in California that were then analyzed using thematic analysis. They identified three key themes related to parents' experiences during the pandemic: (1) positive experiences with government support programs, (2) challenging experiences with government support programs, and (3) distress resulting from insufficient support for childcare disruptions. Program expansions helped alleviate food insecurity, and those attending community colleges reported accessing a range of supports through supportive counselors. However, there were many reported gaps in childcare and distance learning support, pre-existing housing instability, and parenting stressors.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Mooney AC, Jackson KE, Hamad R .
Experiences of distress and gaps in government safety net supports among parents of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.
BMC Public Health 2023 Jun 7; 23(1):1099. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16037-4..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Public Health
Shankar LG, Habich M, Rosenman M
Mental health emergency department visits by children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigators described pediatric mental health emergency department (ED) visit rates and visit characteristics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that mental health ED visit rates by children increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Shankar LG, Habich M, Rosenman M .
Mental health emergency department visits by children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acad Pediatr 2022 Sep-Oct;22(7):1127-32. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.05.022..
Keywords: COVID-19, Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Utilization, Public Health
Cutler GJ, Bergmann KR, Doupnik SK
Pediatric mental health emergency department visits and access to Inpatient care: a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of this study was to explore the author’s previous research findings on trends in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for mental health (MH) vs non-mental health in light of more recent related data corresponding with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that recent research supports the dramatic increase in pediatric MH ED visits found in the author’s previous research and provides additional evidence that the increase has been driven by specific MH diagnoses. The researchers conclude that depressive disorders, self-harm behavior, and non-alcohol substance use disorders should be prioritized for the development of ED- and hospital-based strategies, and that EDs, hospitals, health systems, and the government urgently need to increase capacity for MH services and identify innovative solutions to improve access to high quality MH care for children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Cutler GJ, Bergmann KR, Doupnik SK .
Pediatric mental health emergency department visits and access to Inpatient care: a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acad Pediatr 2022 Aug;22(6):889-91. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.03.015..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Behavioral Health, Emergency Department, Access to Care, Public Health, Inpatient Care
Michelson KA, Samuels-Kalow ME
Association of elementary school reopening status and county COVID-19 incidence.
This study examined the association between elementary school opening status (ESOS) and pediatric COVID-19 incidence. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of US counties with school districts with ≥500 elementary school students. The main exposure was ESOS in September 2020 and outcome was county incidence of COVID-19. Among 3220 US counties, 19.2% were remote, 12.1% were hybrid, and 62.8% were in person. In unadjusted models, COVID-19 incidence after school started was higher among children in hybrid or in-person counties compared with remote only counties. After adjusting for local COVID-19 incidence, the incidence rate ratio compared with remote counties was 1.01 in hybrid counties and 0.79 in in-person counties.
AHRQ-funded; HS026503.
Citation: Michelson KA, Samuels-Kalow ME .
Association of elementary school reopening status and county COVID-19 incidence.
Acad Pediatr 2022 May-Jun;22(4):667-70. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.09.006..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Public Health, Education
Kranz AM, Steiner ED, Mitchell JM
School-based health services in Virginia and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the provision of school health services and related student needs. In May 2021, all 1178 Virginia public elementary schools received a web-based survey regarding the impact of the pandemic on school-based health services, with 65% of schools responding (N=767). Schools reported providing fewer school-based health services during the pandemic than before, with dental screenings declining the most (51% before vs 15% after). The study also reported that mental health as a top concern for students increased from 15% before the pandemic to 27% during the pandemic. The study concluded that schools reported providing fewer health services to students during pandemic in the 2020-2021 school year and increased concern about students' mental health.
AHRQ-funded; HS025430.
Citation: Kranz AM, Steiner ED, Mitchell JM .
School-based health services in Virginia and the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Sch Health 2022 May;92(5):436-44. doi: 10.1111/josh.13147..
Keywords: COVID-19, Children/Adolescents, Public Health, Healthcare Delivery, Community-Based Practice
Masonbrink AR, Harris M, Hall M
Safety events in children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted hospitals, potentially affecting quality and safety. The objective of this study was to compare pediatric hospitalization safety events during the pandemic versus previous years. The investigators concluded that postoperative sepsis rates increased among children hospitalized during COVID-19. They suggest that efforts are needed to improve safety of postoperative care for hospitalized children.
AHRQ-funded; HS024554; HS024592.
Citation: Masonbrink AR, Harris M, Hall M .
Safety events in children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hosp Pediatr 2021 Jun;11(6):e95-e100. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-004937..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Patient Safety, Sepsis, Adverse Events, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Inpatient Care, Infectious Diseases, Public Health
Dickinson-Copeland CM, Immergluck LC, Britez M
Increased risk of sub-clinical blood lead levels in the 20-county metro Atlanta, Georgia area-a laboratory surveillance-based study.
This study looked at the distribution of blood lead levels (BLLs) in children aged 0-72 months and their associations with sociodemographic and area-level variables. Data from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Healthy Homes for Lead Prevention Program surveillance data was used to describe the distribution of BLLs in metro Atlanta area children from 2010 to 2018. Residential addresses were geocoded and if BLLs were spatially clustered they were defined at “Hotspots”. Geographically defined hotspots for both clinical (≥5 µg/dL) and sub-clinical (2 to <5 µg/dL) BLLs diffused from the city-central area into suburban areas. Predictors of sub-clinical BLL levels from those with lower (<2 µg/dL) or higher ((≥5 µg/dL) BLLs included non-Medicaid insurance, the proportion of renters in a given geographical area, and proportion of individuals with a GED/high school diploma. Over half of the study children had sub-clinical BLL levels, a range that does not currently trigger public health measures but could result in adverse development outcomes if ignored.
AHRQ-funded; HS024338.
Citation: Dickinson-Copeland CM, Immergluck LC, Britez M .
Increased risk of sub-clinical blood lead levels in the 20-county metro Atlanta, Georgia area-a laboratory surveillance-based study.
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 13;18(10). doi: 10.3390/ijerph18105163..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Children/Adolescents, Social Determinants of Health, Public Health, Public Health
Hofstetter AM, Schaffer S
Childhood and adolescent vaccination in alternative settings.
This article reviews the unique advantages, challenges, and experiences regarding vaccine delivery in alternative settings, such as schools, emergency rooms, hospitals, and pharmacies. It describes the key components that each setting must possess as well as other important factors to consider when assessing the ability of each to deliver vaccines to the children and adolescents they serve. It is important to emphasize that these settings should not replace the medical home as the primary location for vaccination, but rather serve as a critical safety net for high-risk individuals and communities and in situations where access to traditional locations may be limited, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHRQ-funded; HS025470.
Citation: Hofstetter AM, Schaffer S .
Childhood and adolescent vaccination in alternative settings.
Acad Pediatr 2021 May-Jun;21(4s):S50-s56. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.02.001..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Vaccination, Healthcare Delivery, Public Health
Angier H, Garvey B, DeVoe JE. H, Angier H, Garvey B, DeVoe JE. B, DeVoe JE
Focus on families to improve child health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
This article discusses the need for policymakers to develop interventions designed to help entire families during the pandemic because children’s health is affected by parent health. The authors advocate creating family-centered health care and enable primary care practices and public health programs to help families apply for health insurance coverage. They also discuss work that must be done to address health equity and increasing health and health care disparities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHRQ-funded; HS025962.
Citation: Angier H, Garvey B, DeVoe JE. H, Angier H, Garvey B, DeVoe JE. B, DeVoe JE .
Focus on families to improve child health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
JAMA Health Forum 2021 Mar;2(3). doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.0238..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Family Health and History, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Policy, Public Health
Balikai SC, Badheka A, Casey A
Simulation to train pediatric ICU teams in endotracheal intubation of patients with COVID-19.
This paper describes the outcomes of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) simulation training to safely perform endotracheal intubations in children with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Confidence levels before and after training was measured using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified (SET-M, Likert scale 0-2). Fifty unique PICU staff members participated in 9 simulation sessions and mean confidences scores increased from 0.9 to 2.
AHRQ-funded; HS026965.
Citation: Balikai SC, Badheka A, Casey A .
Simulation to train pediatric ICU teams in endotracheal intubation of patients with COVID-19.
Pediatr Qual Saf 2021 Jan-Feb;6(1):e373. doi: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000373..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Simulation, Training, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Sonik RA, Coleman-Jensen A, Parish SL
Household food insufficiency, health status and emergency healthcare utilisation among children with and without special healthcare needs.
The purpose of this study was to compare exposure to household food insufficiency and the relationship between household food insufficiency and both health status and emergency healthcare utilization among children with and without special healthcare needs (SHCN). The investigators concluded that compared with other children, children with SHCN have an elevated risk of exposure to household food insufficiency and experiencing greater reductions in health status when exposed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026317.
Citation: Sonik RA, Coleman-Jensen A, Parish SL .
Household food insufficiency, health status and emergency healthcare utilisation among children with and without special healthcare needs.
Public Health Nutr 2020 Dec;23(17):3204-10. doi: 10.1017/s1368980020000361..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Nutrition, Health Status, Emergency Department, Public Health
Selden TM, Berdahl TA, Fang Z
AHRQ Author: Selden TM, Berdahl TA, Fang Z
The risk of severe COVID-19 within households of school employees and school-age children.
Across the United States, school districts are grappling with questions of whether and how to reopen elementary and secondary schools in the 2020-21 academic year. Using pre-pandemic household data, the authors examined how often persons at risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were connected to schools, either as employees or by living in the same households as school employees or school-age children.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Selden TM, Berdahl TA, Fang Z .
The risk of severe COVID-19 within households of school employees and school-age children.
Health Aff 2020 Nov;39(11):2002-09. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01536..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Public Health, Risk, Infectious Diseases
Auger KA, Shah SS, Richardson T
Association between statewide school closure and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in the US.
This study examined whether school closures between March and May due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased COVID-19 incidence and mortality. States were examined in quartiles using the number of cases per 100,000 population. States with the lowest cumulative incidence had the most significant decline (-72%) in cases compared to states with the highest incidence (-49%). States that closed schools earlier had the largest reduction in incidence and mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS024735, HS026763, HS025138.
Citation: Auger KA, Shah SS, Richardson T .
Association between statewide school closure and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in the US.
JAMA 2020 Sep;324(9):859-70. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.14348..
Keywords: COVID-19, Public Health, Children/Adolescents, Policy, Mortality
Vyles D, Antoon JW, Norton A
Children with reported penicillin allergy: public health impact and safety of delabeling.
The objectives of this study were to: 1.) Review the relevant literature related to children with reported penicillin allergy 2.) Highlight the different ways in which children could be delabeled and 3.) Evaluate the public health impact that a penicillin allergy has for children. The investigators concluded that penicillin allergy was overdiagnosed, often incorrectly, and the label was frequently first applied during childhood.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Vyles D, Antoon JW, Norton A .
Children with reported penicillin allergy: public health impact and safety of delabeling.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2020 Jun;124(6):558-65. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2020.03.012..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Public Health
Yoo BK, Schaffer SJ, Humiston SG
Cost effectiveness of school-located influenza vaccination programs for elementary and secondary school children.
This paper describes a clinical trial which created a school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) program in upstate New York. Researchers wanted to determine if this was a cost-effective alternative to vaccination in primary care practices. Two groups of students were vaccinated – one in an elementary school and the other in a secondary school. Secondary school vaccinations were more cost-effective than elementary schools with a lower median cost per vaccination. The authors concluded that it does raise vaccination rates, but it is not cost-effective due to the higher costs for consent systems and project coordination.
AHRQ-funded; HS021163.
Citation: Yoo BK, Schaffer SJ, Humiston SG .
Cost effectiveness of school-located influenza vaccination programs for elementary and secondary school children.
BMC Health Serv Res 2019 Jun 24;19(1):407. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4228-5..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Education, Healthcare Costs, Influenza, Public Health, Vaccination
Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF
Child mortality in the United States: bridging palliative care and public health perspectives.
This commentary discusses the findings of the article by Trowbridge et al in this same issue of Pediatrics, which examines modes of death rather than causes of death at a freestanding children’s hospital. Five distinct categories were created: withdrawal of life-sustaining technology; non-escalation of care; failed resuscitation; code then withdrawal; death by neurological criteria. More than 60% of the deaths were infants. The authors of this commentary note that conceptualizing the findings of this study from a public health perspective raises important questions about how causes of death are associated with end-of-life care in hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024133.
Citation: Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF .
Child mortality in the United States: bridging palliative care and public health perspectives.
Pediatrics 2018 Oct;142(4). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1927..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Hospitals, Mortality, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Public Health
Szilagyi PG, Schaffer S, Rand CM
School-located influenza vaccinations for adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.
In this study, the investigators aimed to evaluate the effect of school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) on adolescents' influenza vaccination rates. In 2015-2016, they performed a cluster-randomized trial of adolescent SLIV in middle/high schools. They concluded that SLIV in this community increased influenza vaccination rates among adolescents attending suburban schools.
AHRQ-funded; HS021163.
Citation: Szilagyi PG, Schaffer S, Rand CM .
School-located influenza vaccinations for adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.
J Adolesc Health 2018 Feb;62(2):157-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.09.021..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Education, Influenza, Prevention, Public Health, Vaccination
Saville AW, Gurfinkel D, Sevick C
Provider preferences and experiences with a countywide centralized collaborative reminder/recall for childhood immunizations.
The researchers assessed among providers in Colorado where a collaborative centralized reminder/recall (CC-R/R) using the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) was performed: 1) preferences about CC-R/R conducted by the public health department (PHD); and 2) experiences with including their name on CC-R/R notices. Most practices are accepting of the PHD centrally conducting R/R, but most prefer collaboration that includes their name.
AHRQ-funded; HS021138.
Citation: Saville AW, Gurfinkel D, Sevick C .
Provider preferences and experiences with a countywide centralized collaborative reminder/recall for childhood immunizations.
Acad Pediatr 2016 Jan-Feb;16(1):50-6. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2015.09.002.
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Keywords: Public Health, Vaccination, Health Information Technology (HIT), Children/Adolescents, Practice Patterns
Glanz JM, Kraus CR, Daley MF
Addressing parental vaccine concerns: engagement, balance, and timing.
The recent United States measles epidemic has sparked another contentious national discussion about childhood vaccination. Interventions to address this emerging public health issue are needed. The authors describe a framework by which web-based interventions can be used to help parents make evidence-based decisions about childhood vaccinations.
AHRQ-funded; HS021492.
Citation: Glanz JM, Kraus CR, Daley MF .
Addressing parental vaccine concerns: engagement, balance, and timing.
PLoS Biol 2015 Aug;13(8):e1002227. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002227..
Keywords: Vaccination, Children/Adolescents, Public Health, Education: Patient and Caregiver