National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Anxiety (2)
- Asthma (1)
- Back Health and Pain (3)
- Behavioral Health (2)
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- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
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- (-) Chronic Conditions (18)
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- Decision Making (1)
- Depression (2)
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- (-) Diagnostic Safety and Quality (18)
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- Healthcare Delivery (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (3)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Imaging (2)
- Implementation (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (4)
- Medication (1)
- Neurological Disorders (1)
- Obesity (1)
- Pain (3)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (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 DisplayedBell SK, Dong ZJ, Desroches CM
Partnering with patients and families living with chronic conditions to coproduce diagnostic safety through OurDX: a previsit online engagement tool.
Involving patients and their families in the diagnostic process is crucial, but there is a lack of methods for consistent engagement. The implementation of policies providing patients with access to electronic health records offers new possibilities. The researchers evaluated a novel online tool ("OurDX"), co-created with patients and families, to examine the nature and frequency of potential safety issues identified by patients and their families with chronic health conditions and whether these insights were incorporated into visit notes. At two US healthcare facilities, patients and their families were encouraged to participate via an online pre-visit questionnaire, which covered: (1) visit priorities, (2) recent medical history and symptoms, and (3) potential diagnostic concerns. Two physicians assessed patient-reported diagnostic issues to validate and classify diagnostic safety opportunities (DSOs). The researchers performed a chart review to determine if patient inputs were integrated into the visit note. Descriptive statistics were employed to report implementation outcomes, DSO verification, and chart review findings. The study found that OurDX reports were completed in 7075 of 18,129 (39%) eligible pediatric subspecialty visits (site 1) and 460 of 706 (65%) eligible adult primary care visits (site 2). Of the patients expressing diagnostic concerns, 63% were confirmed as probable DSOs. Overall, 7.5% of pediatric and adult patients and their families with chronic health conditions identified probable DSOs. The most frequent DSO types included patients and families feeling unheard; issues or delays in tests or referrals; and complications or delays in clarification or subsequent steps. The chart review revealed that most clinician notes incorporated all or some of the patient or family priorities and patient-reported histories.
AHRQ-funded; HS027367
Citation: Bell SK, Dong ZJ, Desroches CM .
Partnering with patients and families living with chronic conditions to coproduce diagnostic safety through OurDX: a previsit online engagement tool.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2023 Mar 16;30(4):692-702. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocad003.
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Healthcare Delivery
Umeukeje EM, Koonce TY, Kusnoor SV
Systematic review of international studies evaluating MDRD and CKD-EPI estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations in Black adults.
The authors conducted a systematic review to assess how well estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), with and without race adjustment, estimates measured GFR (mGFR) in Black adults globally. They identified 12 studies which included patients with and without kidney disease from Africa, the United States, Europe, and Brazil. They found that the majority of these studies determined that removal of race adjustment improved bias, accuracy, and precision of eGFR equations for Black adults. They concluded that their systematic review supports the need for future studies to be conducted in diverse populations to assess the possibility of alternative approaches for estimating GFR.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Umeukeje EM, Koonce TY, Kusnoor SV .
Systematic review of international studies evaluating MDRD and CKD-EPI estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations in Black adults.
PLoS One 2022 Oct 18;17(10):e0276252. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276252..
Keywords: Kidney Disease and Health, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Roberts JE, Campbell JI, Gauvreau K
Differentiating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.
This study’s objective was to identify clinical and laboratory findings that distinguished multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) from febrile illnesses in which MIS-C was considered but ultimately excluded, and to examine the diseases that most often mimicked MIS-C in a tertiary medical center. All children who were hospitalized at the author’s center with fever were evaluated for MIS-C and were compared for clinical signs and symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 status, and laboratory studies between those with and without MIS-C. The authors identified 50 confirmed MIS-C cases (MIS-C(+)) and 68 children evaluated for, but ultimately not diagnosed with, MIS-C (MIS-C(-)). Symptoms of conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, fatigue, hypoxaemia, tachypnoea and hypotension at presentation were significantly more common among MIS-C(+) patients, with MIS-C(+) and MIS-C(-) patients having similar elevations in C-reactive protein (CRP), but were differentiated by thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and elevated ferritin, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, BNP and troponin. Children hospitalized with MIS-C were older, more likely to present with conjunctivitis, oral mucosa changes, abdominal pain and hypotension, and had higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios and lower platelet counts.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Roberts JE, Campbell JI, Gauvreau K .
Differentiating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.
Arch Dis Child 2022 Mar; 107(3):e3. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322290..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Overstreet DS, Michl AN, Penn TM
Temporal summation of mechanical pain prospectively predicts movement-evoked pain severity in adults with chronic low back pain.
The objective of this study was to determine whether quantitative sensory tests of endogenous pain inhibition and facilitation prospectively predict movement-evoked pain and chronic low back pain severity self-reported on a validated questionnaire. Through surveys using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, findings suggested that a pro-nociceptive pain modulatory balance characterized by enhanced pain facilitation may be an important driver of movement-evoked pain severity and poor physical function in individuals with chronic low back pain.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Overstreet DS, Michl AN, Penn TM .
Temporal summation of mechanical pain prospectively predicts movement-evoked pain severity in adults with chronic low back pain.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021 May 10;22(1):429. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04306-5..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Fenton JJ, Jerant A, Franks P
Watchful waiting as a strategy to reduce low-value spinal imaging: study protocol for a randomized trial.
This paper describes the protocol that will be used for an upcoming randomized control trial to determine the effectiveness of teaching clinicians how to advise watchful waiting when patients request low-value spinal imaging for acute low back pain. The authors will recruit 8-10 primary care and urgent care clinics in Sacramento, California. The study will last 3-6 months and during this time clinicians in the intervention group with receive 3 visits with standardized patient instructors (SPIs) portraying patients with acute back pain. The SPIs will instruct clinicians in a 3-step model emphasizing trust, empathic communication, and negotiation of a watchful waiting approach. The primary outcome looked for will a decreased post-intervention rate of spinal imaging among actual patients with acute back pain compared to the rate of imaging during the baseline period. Secondary outcomes will include use of targeted communication techniques during a follow-up visit with an SP.
AHRQ-funded; HS026415.
Citation: Fenton JJ, Jerant A, Franks P .
Watchful waiting as a strategy to reduce low-value spinal imaging: study protocol for a randomized trial.
Trials 2021 Feb 27;22(1):167. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05106-x..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Imaging, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Liu FF, Lew A, Andes E
Implementation strategies for depression and anxiety screening in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center: a quality improvement project.
The objective of this study was to share key strategies that led to successful mental health screening (MHS) implementation in one pediatric cystic fibrosis center and to report implementation and screening outcomes. Results showed that leveraging coproduction to address stakeholder needs led to successful implementation of a sustainable MHS process.
AHRQ-funded; HS026393.
Citation: Liu FF, Lew A, Andes E .
Implementation strategies for depression and anxiety screening in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center: a quality improvement project.
Pediatr Pulmonol 2020 Dec;55(12):3328-36. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24951..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Respiratory Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Depression, Anxiety, Behavioral Health, Screening, Implementation, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Koller KR, Day GE, Hiratsuka VY
Increase in diabetes among urban Alaska Native people in the Alaska EARTH follow-up study: a call for prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and referral for intervention.
This study estimated incidence of diabetes (DM) and pre-DM relative to DM risk factors among relatively healthy Alaska Native and American Indian (AN) adults living in urban south-central Alaska. Results showed that, controlling for age and sex, obesity, abdominal adiposity, pre-DM, and metabolic syndrome independently increased DM risk. Recommendations included advising health care providers of AN populations to seize the opportunity to screen, refer, and treat individuals with pre-DM and other modifiable DM risk factors prior to DM diagnosis in order to alter the epidemiologic course of disease progression in this urban AN population.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Koller KR, Day GE, Hiratsuka VY .
Increase in diabetes among urban Alaska Native people in the Alaska EARTH follow-up study: a call for prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and referral for intervention.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2020 Sep;167:108357. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108357..
Keywords: Diabetes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Urban Health, Risk, Prevention, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
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
Munger Clary HM, Croxton RD, Allan J
Who is willing to participate in research? A screening model for an anxiety and depression trial in the epilepsy clinic.
This study assessed the willingness of epilepsy patients positively screened for anxiety and/or depression to participate in a research study. A total of 199 patients screened positively during a routine epilepsy screening visit and 154 (77.4%) opted-in for further research assessment. Nearly half of those 199 individuals were already being treated for anxiety and/or depression, with 46.7% receiving neither antidepressants or therapy. Higher depression scores and current treatment were independently associated with opting in. One-quarter reported a past psychiatric hospitalization, but only half of those individuals were currently receiving mental health specialty care.
AHRQ-funded; HS025723.
Citation: Munger Clary HM, Croxton RD, Allan J .
Who is willing to participate in research? A screening model for an anxiety and depression trial in the epilepsy clinic.
Epilepsy Behav 2020 Mar;104(Pt A):106907. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106907..
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Behavioral Health, Neurological Disorders, Chronic Conditions, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Danforth KN, Hahn EE, Slezak JM
Follow-up of abnormal estimated GFR results within a large integrated health care delivery system: a mixed-methods study.
This study examined the rates of follow-up with patients after abnormal estimated glomular filtration rate (eGFR) laboratory results, which may indicate chronic kidney disease. A large integrated health system was used with a total of 244,540 patients aged 21 or older with abnormal eGFRs were included from January 2010 through December 2015. Timely follow-up was defined as repeat eGFR testing within 60 to 150 days, follow-up testing before 60 days that indicated normal kidney function, or diagnosis before 60 days of chronic kidney disease or kidney cancer. Follow-up was found to be poor, with 58% of patients lacking timely follow-up. Fifteen physicians were also interviewed and it was found that both system-level and provider-level factors influenced follow-up rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS024437.
Citation: Danforth KN, Hahn EE, Slezak JM .
Follow-up of abnormal estimated GFR results within a large integrated health care delivery system: a mixed-methods study.
Am J Kidney Dis 2019 Nov;74(5):589-600. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.05.003..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Kidney Disease and Health, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Chronic Conditions
Shetterly Shetterly, S Flory, J
Diagnosis-based cohort augmentation using laboratory results data: the case of chronic kidney disease.
This study used data from FDA’s Sentinel System to determine if augmenting a diagnosis-based chronic kidney disease cohort with patients identified through laboratory results impacted cohort characteristics and outcomes. They divided the cohort into three different groups to compare demographic, clinical, and health care utilization characteristics. They observed mortality rates between the different groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS023898.
Citation: Shetterly Shetterly, S Flory, J .
Diagnosis-based cohort augmentation using laboratory results data: the case of chronic kidney disease.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018 Aug;27(8):872-77. doi: 10.1002/pds.4583..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Kidney Disease and Health, Chronic Conditions, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medication, Adverse Events
Brody AM, Sharma VK, Singh A
Barriers to emergency physician diagnosis and treatment of uncontrolled chronic hypertension.
This study surveyed a national sample of emergency physicians on their perceived barriers in establishing an ED diagnosis of asymptomatic hypertension (HTN) and ED treatment of such patients. It found that the most common barriers to diagnosis of HTN were uncertainty regarding the validity of ED blood pressure measurements (92 percent)and reluctance to diagnose a condition which cannot be comprehensively managed in the ED setting (29 percent).
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Brody AM, Sharma VK, Singh A .
Barriers to emergency physician diagnosis and treatment of uncontrolled chronic hypertension.
Am J Emerg Med 2016 Nov;34(11):2241-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2016.08.050.
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Keywords: Blood Pressure, Emergency Department, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
Satchidanand N, Withiam-Leitch M, Dickinson M
Positive predictive value of a single assessment of estimated GFR in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.
The authors' objective was to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of a single assessment of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among adults with at least one eGFR less than 60 mL/min in their lifetime. Using the Distributed Area Research and Therapeutics Network CKD natural history dataset, they found a cutpoint of less than 45 mL/min, yielding a PPV of 93% with a sensitivity of 28% and a specificity of 94%, thus identifying a valid cutpoint to screen for chronic kidney disease.
AHRQ-funded; HS023656.
Citation: Satchidanand N, Withiam-Leitch M, Dickinson M .
Positive predictive value of a single assessment of estimated GFR in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.
South Med J 2016 Jun;109(6):351-5. doi: 10.14423/smj.0000000000000474.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Kidney Disease and Health, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Thompson CF, Price CP, Huang JH
A pilot study of symptom profiles from a polyp vs an eosinophilic-based classification of chronic rhinosinusitis.
Researchers hypothesized that appropriate chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) subclassification would increase homogeneity of baseline symptoms, and identify characteristic symptoms of each subtype. They found that subclassifying CRS with symptoms alone is difficult with neither polyp status nor eosinophilia giving a distinctive clinical symptom profile. However, certain symptoms may help otolaryngologists identify CRS subtypes, which may help guide future treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Thompson CF, Price CP, Huang JH .
A pilot study of symptom profiles from a polyp vs an eosinophilic-based classification of chronic rhinosinusitis.
Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2016 May;6(5):500-7. doi: 10.1002/alr.21687.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Respiratory Conditions
Wallace ML, Magnan EM, Thorpe CT
Diagnosis and treatment of incident hypertension among patients with diabetes: a U.S. multi-disciplinary group practice observational study.
The researchers aimed to evaluate rates and associations of hypertension diagnosis and treatment among patients with diabetes mellitus and incident hypertension. They found that among patients with diabetes mellitus, even using a cut-point of 140/90 mmHg, approximately 50 percent remained undiagnosed and untreated for hypertension.
AHRQ-funded; HS018368.
Citation: Wallace ML, Magnan EM, Thorpe CT .
Diagnosis and treatment of incident hypertension among patients with diabetes: a U.S. multi-disciplinary group practice observational study.
J Gen Intern Med 2015 Jun;30(6):768-76. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3202-0..
Keywords: Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
Mohanan S, Tapp H, McWilliams A
Obesity and asthma: pathophysiology and implications for diagnosis and management in primary care.
This review summarizes existing data that support the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and asthma, as well as the current and future state of treatment for the obese patient with asthma. It suggests that evidence of chronic inflammatory response linking obesity and asthma indicates a need to address obesity during asthma management, possibly by using patient-centered approaches such as shared decisionmaking.
AHRQ-funded; HS019946
Citation: Mohanan S, Tapp H, McWilliams A .
Obesity and asthma: pathophysiology and implications for diagnosis and management in primary care.
Exp Biol Med. 2014 Nov;239(11):1531-40. doi: 10.1177/1535370214525302..
Keywords: Obesity, Asthma, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Primary Care, Chronic Conditions
Suri P, Boyko EJ, Goldberg J
Longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms: retrospective analysis of data from the longitudinal assessment of imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBACK).
The researchers examined the association of incident lumbar MRI findings with two specific spine-related symptom outcomes: 1) incident chronic bothersome lower back pain, and 2) incident radicular symptoms such as pain, weakness, or sensation alterations in the lower extremity. They found that even when applying more specific definitions for spine-related symptom outcomes, few MRI findings show strong associations with symptom outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222
Citation: Suri P, Boyko EJ, Goldberg J .
Longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms: retrospective analysis of data from the longitudinal assessment of imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBACK).
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 May 13;15:152. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-152..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Pain
Lawrence JM, Black MH, Zhang JL
Validation of pediatric diabetes case identification approaches for diagnosed cases by using information in the electronic health records of a large integrated managed health care organization.
The researchers explored the utility of different algorithms for diabetes case identification by using electronic health records. They found that case identification accuracy was highest in 75% of bootstrapped samples for those who had 1 or more outpatient diabetes diagnoses or 1 or more insulin prescriptions and in 25% of samples for those who had 2 or more outpatient diabetes diagnoses and 1 or more antidiabetic medications.
AHRQ-funded; HS019859.
Citation: Lawrence JM, Black MH, Zhang JL .
Validation of pediatric diabetes case identification approaches for diagnosed cases by using information in the electronic health records of a large integrated managed health care organization.
Am J Epidemiol 2014 Jan;179(1):27-38. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwt230..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Diagnostic Safety and Quality