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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Back Health and Pain (1)
- Brain Injury (1)
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- (-) Healthcare Utilization (17)
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- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- (-) Imaging (17)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
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- Pain (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 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedFranc BL, Thombley R, Luo BL, Franc BL, Thombley R, Luo R, Luo Y
Identifying tests related to breast cancer care in claims data.
The goal of this study was to develop a method for calculating rates of testing for breast cancer recurrence in patients who have already undergone initial treatment for breast cancer. Rates were calculated from a cohort of Medicare breast cancer patients and an age-matched noncancer cohort. They calculated testing rates in the breast cancer cohort above the background rate in the noncancer population. There were similar estimates of testing prevalence and frequency in the two groups, with exception of prevalence of computed tomography (CT).
AHRQ-funded; HS024936.
Citation: Franc BL, Thombley R, Luo BL, Franc BL, Thombley R, Luo R, Luo Y .
Identifying tests related to breast cancer care in claims data.
Breast J 2020 Jun;26(6):1227-30. doi: 10.1111/tbj.13691..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Imaging, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Utilization
Hong AS, Levin D, Parker L
Trends in diagnostic imaging utilization among Medicare and commercially insured adults from 2003 through 2016.
This study examined trends in use of noninvasive diagnostic imaging (NDI) among commercially insured individuals compared to Medicare enrollees from 2003 through 2016. There was more of an increase among Medicare enrollees than commercially insured patients, but both showed upward trends until the early 2010’s where trends began to be flat or decline. The notable exception was for CT imaging among commercially insured patients aged 45-64 years and Medicare enrollees after 2012.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Hong AS, Levin D, Parker L .
Trends in diagnostic imaging utilization among Medicare and commercially insured adults from 2003 through 2016.
Radiology 2020 Feb;294(2):342-50. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2019191116..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medicare, Imaging, Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance
Kirk PS, Borza T, Caram MEV
Characterising potential bone scan overuse amongst men treated with radical prostatectomy.
The authors characterized bone scan use after radical prostatectomy (RP) using data from a large, national integrated delivery system. They found a substantial rate of bone scan utilization after RP. The majority were performed for prostate-specific antigen levels in which the likelihood of a positive test was low. They recommended more judicious use of imaging in the post-RP setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Kirk PS, Borza T, Caram MEV .
Characterising potential bone scan overuse amongst men treated with radical prostatectomy.
BJU Int 2019 Jul;124(1):55-61. doi: 10.1111/bju.14551..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Imaging, Healthcare Utilization
Shah NR, Ahmed ST, Winchester DE
Facility-level variation in stress test utilization in veterans with ischemic heart disease.
The aim of this study was to quantify variation in cardiac stress test utilization across the Veterans Health Administration (VA) in patients with established ischemic heart disease (IHD). The investigators used VA datasets to identify adults with IHD (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and/or coronary artery bypass grafting) with a primary care clinic visit at the VA in fiscal year 2014.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Shah NR, Ahmed ST, Winchester DE .
Facility-level variation in stress test utilization in veterans with ischemic heart disease.
JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jul;12(7 Pt 1):1292-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.02.020..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Utilization, Practice Patterns, Imaging
Yun BJ, Borczuk P, Zachrison KS
Utilization of head CT during injury visits to United States emergency departments: 2012-2015.
This study examined national trends in utilization of head computed tomography (CT) imaging in emergency department (ED) patients presenting with an injury-related visit. Data from the US National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2015 was used to find ED patients who had at least one head CT. Overall there was an increase (11.7-13.23%) but it was not statistically significant.
AHRQ-funded; HS024561.
Citation: Yun BJ, Borczuk P, Zachrison KS .
Utilization of head CT during injury visits to United States emergency departments: 2012-2015.
Am J Emerg Med 2018 Aug;36(8):1463-66. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.05.018..
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Emergency Department, Imaging, Injuries and Wounds, Practice Patterns
Graves JM, Fulton-Kehoe D, Jarvik JG
Impact of an advanced imaging utilization review program on downstream health care utilization and costs for low back pain.
Investigators researched the impact of imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for lower back pain (LBP) on utilization and duration of workers’ compensation claims. Claims from 76,119 Washington State workers with LBP from 2006 to 2014 were used to see if a policy that implemented prospective utilization review (UR) for early MRI increased costs per claim, disability duration and the proportion of workers who received benefits. Results showed there were noticeable effects from MRI tests, but not computed tomography or surgery utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS019222.
Citation: Graves JM, Fulton-Kehoe D, Jarvik JG .
Impact of an advanced imaging utilization review program on downstream health care utilization and costs for low back pain.
Med Care 2018 Jun;56(6):520-28. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000917..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Pain
Sharp AL, Huang BZ, Tang T
Implementation of the Canadian CT Head Rule and Its association with use of computed tomography among patients with head injury.
The researchers evaluated the association of implementation of the Canadian CT Head Rule on head computed tomography (CT) imaging in community emergency departments (EDs). They found that a multicomponent implementation of the Canadian CT Head Rule was associated with a modest reduction in CT use and an increased diagnostic yield of head CTs for adult trauma encounters in community EDs.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Sharp AL, Huang BZ, Tang T .
Implementation of the Canadian CT Head Rule and Its association with use of computed tomography among patients with head injury.
Ann Emerg Med 2018 Jan;71(1):54-63.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2017.06.022.
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Keywords: Brain Injury, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Shared Decision Making, Emergency Department, Guidelines, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Kessler R, Stowell JR, Vogel JA
Effect of interventional program on the utilization of PACS in point-of-care ultrasound.
The study’s objective was to determine if a simple interventional program would influence the utilization of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in point-of-care ultrasound. It concluded that a simple interventional program for emergency physicians can significantly increase and sustain the utilization of PACS for point-of-care ultrasound.
AHRQ-funded; HS023901.
Citation: Kessler R, Stowell JR, Vogel JA .
Effect of interventional program on the utilization of PACS in point-of-care ultrasound.
J Digit Imaging 2016 Dec;29(6):701-05. doi: 10.1007/s10278-016-9893-x.
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Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Imaging, Healthcare Utilization, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Melnick ER, O'Brien EG, Kovalerchik O
The association between physician empathy and variation in imaging use.
This paper's objective was to describe empathy in a cohort of emergency physicians and evaluate its association with CT utilization. The authors found that, on the four psychometric scales used, performance was not predictive of risk-adjusted CT utilization in the emergency department. They concluded that the underlying physician-based factors that mediate interphysician variation remain to be clearly identified.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Melnick ER, O'Brien EG, Kovalerchik O .
The association between physician empathy and variation in imaging use.
Acad Emerg Med 2016 Aug;23(8):895-904. doi: 10.1111/acem.13017.
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Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Practice Patterns
Healy MA, Yin H, Reddy RM
Use of positron emission tomography to detect recurrence and associations with survival in patients with lung and esophageal cancers.
The researchers sought to evaluate utilization of positron emission tomography (PET) to detect recurrence in asymptomatic patients and relationships with survival for patients with lung and esophageal cancers. Despite statistically significant variation in use of PET to detect tumor recurrence, there was no association with improved two-year survival.
AHRQ-funded; HS020937.
Citation: Healy MA, Yin H, Reddy RM .
Use of positron emission tomography to detect recurrence and associations with survival in patients with lung and esophageal cancers.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2016 Jul;108(7). doi: 10.1093/jnci/djv429.
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Keywords: Imaging, Cancer, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Healthcare Utilization
Kim EH, Vetter JM, Kuxhausen AN
Limited use of surveillance imaging following nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma.
The researchers evaluated the utilization of follow-up imaging after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in nationally representative data. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER) data, they found that, in the Medicare population, surveillance imaging is performed in a limited number of patients following nephrectomy for RCC but that increasing tumor stage is predictive of both increased chest and abdominal imaging surveillance.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Kim EH, Vetter JM, Kuxhausen AN .
Limited use of surveillance imaging following nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma.
Urol Oncol 2016 May;34(5):237.e11-8. doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2015.11.017.
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Keywords: Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Medicare
Mohapatra A, Vemana G, Bhayani S
Trends in the utilization of imaging for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.
The researchers evaluated the changes in use of the different imaging modalities for diagnosing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and assess how these changes have affected tumor stage at the time of surgery. They found trends toward the utilization of newer imaging modalities to diagnose UTUC and more modalities per patient. Endoscopy and retrograde pyelography were associated with smaller tumors, whereas magnetic resonance urography was associated with larger tumors. They recommended further studies to evaluate the utility of the different modalities in diagnosing UTUC.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Mohapatra A, Vemana G, Bhayani S .
Trends in the utilization of imaging for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.
Urol Oncol 2016 May;34(5):236.e23-8. doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2015.12.002.
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Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Banerjee M
The evaluation of distal symmetric polyneuropathy: utilisation and expenditures by community neurologists.
The aim of the study was to determine utilization and expenditures in the evaluation of a new diagnosis of distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) by community neurologists using a population-based design and a strict case definition. It concluded that electrodiagnostic tests and MRIs are frequently ordered in the diagnostic evaluation of DSP and account for more than 80% of the expenditures.
AHRQ-funded; HS017690.
Citation: Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Banerjee M .
The evaluation of distal symmetric polyneuropathy: utilisation and expenditures by community neurologists.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016 Jan;87(1):113-4. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-307575.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Cherney AR, Marin JR, Brown J
AHRQ Author: Henriksen K
Funding research in emergency diagnostic imaging: summary of a panel discussion at the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference.
As part of the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference "Diagnostic Imaging in the Emergency Department: A Research Agenda to Optimize Utilization," a panel of representatives from several Federal agencies and organizations including AHRQ was assembled to discuss future opportunities for funding research in this particular area of interest. Representatives from these agencies and organizations discussed their missions and priorities and how they distribute funding.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cherney AR, Marin JR, Brown J .
Funding research in emergency diagnostic imaging: summary of a panel discussion at the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference.
Acad Emerg Med 2015 Dec;22(12):1400-5. doi: 10.1111/acem.12825.
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Keywords: Imaging, Emergency Department, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Utilization
Lewiss RE, Chan W, Sheng AY
Research priorities in the utilization and interpretation of diagnostic imaging: Education, assessment, and competency.
A group of radiologists, physicists, and emergency physicians convened at the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference to discuss and prioritize a research agenda related to education, assessment, and competency in ordering and interpreting diagnostic imaging. In this article, the authors review the supporting reliability and validity evidence and make specific recommendations for future research on the education, competency, and assessment of learning diagnostic imaging.
AHRQ-funded; HS023498.
Citation: Lewiss RE, Chan W, Sheng AY .
Research priorities in the utilization and interpretation of diagnostic imaging: Education, assessment, and competency.
Acad Emerg Med 2015 Dec;22(12):1447-54. doi: 10.1111/acem.12833.
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Keywords: Imaging, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Health Services Research (HSR)
Drake BF, Abadin SS, Lyons S
Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women use mobile mammography vans for breast cancer screening and what factors are associated with repeat visits to these vans. Women who were aged 50–65, uninsured, or African-American had higher odds of a repeat visit to the mobile mammography van compared with women who were aged 40–50, insured, or Caucasian.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Drake BF, Abadin SS, Lyons S .
Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.
BMJ Open 2015 Mar 20;5(3):e006960. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006960..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Screening, Women, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Wernli KJ, DeMartini WB, Ichikawa L
Patterns of breast magnetic resonance imaging use in community practice.
The researchers described patterns of breast MRI use in US community practice during the period 2005 through 2009. They found that the overall rate of breast MRI from 2005 through 2009 nearly tripled from 4.2 to 11.5 examinations per 1000 women, with the most rapid increase from 2005 to 2007.
AHRQ-funded; HS019482.
Citation: Wernli KJ, DeMartini WB, Ichikawa L .
Patterns of breast magnetic resonance imaging use in community practice.
JAMA Intern Med 2014 Jan;174(1):125-32. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.11963..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Data, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Registries