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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (3)
- Adverse Events (2)
- Antibiotics (2)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (2)
- Asthma (1)
- Blood Pressure (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (3)
- Communication (3)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (6)
- Elderly (3)
- Eye Disease and Health (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- (-) Health Literacy (18)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Medical Errors (1)
- (-) Medication (18)
- Medication: Safety (4)
- Opioids (2)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (5)
- Patient Safety (4)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Provider (2)
- Provider: Clinician (1)
- Provider: Pharmacist (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (2)
- Risk (1)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Tools & Toolkits (2)
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 DisplayedCarroll AR, Johnson JA, Stassun JC
Health literacy-informed communication to reduce discharge medication errors in hospitalized children: a randomized clinical trial.
This study’s objective was to test a health literacy-informed communication intervention to decrease liquid medication dosing errors compared with standard counseling in hospitalized children. This parallel, randomized clinical trial was conducted from June 22, 2021, to August 20, 2022, at a tertiary care, US children's hospital. English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers of hospitalized children 6 years or younger prescribed a new, scheduled liquid medication at discharge were included in the analysis. Observed dosing errors were the main outcome measured, and secondary outcomes included caregiver-reported medication knowledge. Among 198 randomized caregivers (mean age 31.4 years; 186 women [93.9%]; 36 [18.2%] Hispanic or Latino and 158 [79.8%] White), the primary outcome was available for 151 (76.3%). The observed mean (SD) percentage dosing error was 1.0% (2.2 percentage points) among the intervention group and 3.3% (5.1 percentage points) among the standard counseling group (absolute difference, 2.3 percentage points). Twenty-four of 79 caregivers in the intervention group (30.4%) measured an incorrect dose compared with 39 of 72 (54.2%) in the standard counseling group. The intervention enhanced caregiver-reported medication knowledge compared with the standard counseling group for medication dose (71 of 76 [93.4%] vs 55 of 69 [79.7%]), duration of administration (65 of 76 [85.5%] vs 49 of 69 [71.0%], and correct reporting of 2 or more medication adverse effects (60 of 76 [78.9%] vs 13 of 69 [18.8%]).
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Carroll AR, Johnson JA, Stassun JC .
Health literacy-informed communication to reduce discharge medication errors in hospitalized children: a randomized clinical trial.
JAMA Netw Open 2024 Jan 2; 7(1):e2350969. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50969..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Health Literacy, Communication, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medical Errors, Clinician-Patient Communication, Hospital Discharge, Medication: Safety
Colditz JB, Shensa A, Kennedy AJ
Acceptability and efficacy of the SMARxT media literacy education program to counter pharmaceutical marketing influences among medical trainees.
This article looked at the results of a media literacy education program called SMARxT, whose goal was to counter pharmaceutical marketing influences among resident physicians. In 2017, the authors assessed program feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of enhancing knowledge among resident physicians at the University of Pittsburgh. The residents (n=73) responded to pre-test items assessing prior knowledge, viewed six SMARxT videos, and responded to post-test items. The residents completed a 6-month follow-up test to quantitatively assess sustained changes in knowledge and to qualitatively assess feedback about the program. The proportion of correct knowledge responses increased from pre-test to immediate post-test (31% to 64%) at baseline. Correct responses also increased from pre-test to 6-month follow-up (31% to 43%). Acceptability of the program quantitatively yielded positive scores and qualitative responses indicated participants' increased confidence in understanding and countering marketing influences due to the intervention. However, participants shared they would prefer shorter videos, feedback about test scores, and additional resources to reinforce learning objectives.
AHRQ-funded; HS022927.
Citation: Colditz JB, Shensa A, Kennedy AJ .
Acceptability and efficacy of the SMARxT media literacy education program to counter pharmaceutical marketing influences among medical trainees.
Interdiscip J Virtual Learn Med Sci 2022 Sep; 13(3):213-20. doi: 10.30476/ijvlms.2022.95137.1151..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Medication
Martin BA, Breslow RM, Sims A
Identifying over-the-counter information to prioritize for the purpose of reducing adverse drug reactions in older adults: a national survey of pharmacists.
This study’s objective was to determine which information on over-the-counter (OTC) Drug Facts Labels (DFS) is most critical in reducing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among older adults and should be placed in front of the label. A national survey of practicing pharmacists knowledgeable about OTC medication use by older adults asked respondents to rank order the importance of the DFL sections to reduce ADRs. A total of 318 responses were analyzed. There was high consensus that uses and purposes, active ingredient, warnings, and directions for use were the most important sections on the label. Two specific warnings “Do not use” and “Ask a doctor or pharmacist” were deemed most important in the warnings section.
AHRQ-funded; HS025386.
Citation: Martin BA, Breslow RM, Sims A .
Identifying over-the-counter information to prioritize for the purpose of reducing adverse drug reactions in older adults: a national survey of pharmacists.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2022 Jan-Feb;62(1):167-75.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2021.08.019..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication: Safety, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Savitz ST, Bailey SC, Dusetzina SB
Treatment selection and medication adherence for stable angina: the role of area-based health literacy.
Clinical studies show equivalent health outcomes from interventional procedures and treatment with medication only for stable angina patients. However, patients may be subject to overuse or access barriers for interventional procedures and may exhibit suboptimal adherence to medications. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether community-level health literacy was associated with treatment selection and medication adherence patterns.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Savitz ST, Bailey SC, Dusetzina SB .
Treatment selection and medication adherence for stable angina: the role of area-based health literacy.
J Eval Clin Pract 2020 Dec;26(6):1711-21. doi: 10.1111/jep.13341..
Keywords: Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Health Literacy, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Miller BJ, Carson KA, Keller S
Educating patients on unnecessary antibiotics: personalizing potential harm aids patient understanding.
Antibiotic resistance is a public health emergency fueled by inappropriate antibiotic use. Public education campaigns often focus on global antibiotic resistance or societal harm of antibiotic misuse. In this study, the investigators administered a survey at a primary care clinic in Baltimore, MD. A total of 250 participants rated 18 statements about potential harm from antibiotics on how each statement changed their likelihood to request antibiotics for an upper respiratory tract infection.
AHRQ-funded; HS025782.
Citation: Miller BJ, Carson KA, Keller S .
Educating patients on unnecessary antibiotics: personalizing potential harm aids patient understanding.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Nov-Dec;33(6):969-77. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200210..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Medication, Respiratory Conditions, Health Literacy
Shah S, Gilson AM, Jacobson N
Understanding the factors influencing older adults' decision-making about their use of over-the-counter medications-a scenario-based approach.
The potential risks of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are often aggravated in vulnerable populations, such as older adults. The elevated patterns of older-adult OTC medication use do not necessarily translate into a greater understanding of these medications or their safety implications. The objective of this study was to assess how older adults' knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes informed their decision-making regarding OTC use.
AHRQ-funded; HS024490.
Citation: Shah S, Gilson AM, Jacobson N .
Understanding the factors influencing older adults' decision-making about their use of over-the-counter medications-a scenario-based approach.
Pharmacy 2020 Sep 18;8(3). doi: 10.3390/pharmacy8030175..
Keywords: Elderly, Shared Decision Making, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Health Literacy
McCarthy DM, Curtis LM, Courtney DM
A multifaceted intervention to improve patient knowledge and safe use of opioids: results of the ED EMC(2) randomized controlled trial.
Despite increased focus on opioid prescribing, little is known about the influence of prescription opioid medication information given to patients in the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC(2)) Opioid Strategy on patients' safe use of opioids and knowledge about opioids. The study found that the EMC(2) tools improved demonstrated safe dosing, but these benefits did not translate into actual use based on medication dairies. The text-messaging intervention did result in improved patient knowledge.
AHRQ-funded; HS023459.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Curtis LM, Courtney DM .
A multifaceted intervention to improve patient knowledge and safe use of opioids: results of the ED EMC(2) randomized controlled trial.
Acad Emerg Med 2019 Dec;26(12):1311-25. doi: 10.1111/acem.13860..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT)
RIchmond J, Mangrum R, Wang G
An informed public's views on reducing antibiotic overuse.
The purpose of this study was to understand public attitudes about and recommendations to address antibiotic overuse by employing public deliberation (a method for eliciting informed input on value-laden issues). The investigators concluded that when informed about individual and social consequences of antibiotic overuse, patients may be more receptive to antibiotic prescription limits. They suggest that community-physician-government partnerships are needed to create solutions.
AHRQ-funded; 290201000005C.
Citation: RIchmond J, Mangrum R, Wang G .
An informed public's views on reducing antibiotic overuse.
Health Serv Res 2019 Dec;54(6):1283-94. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13175..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver
McCarthy DM, Russell AM , Effler MR
Implementation fidelity of patient-centered prescription label to promote opioid safe use.
The authors assessed implementation of a patient-centered "PRN" (as needed) label entitled "Take-Wait-Stop" (TWS) with three deconstructed steps replacing traditional wording. They found that exact intervention adherence was not achieved in the majority of cases, limiting impact, but that community pharmacies were responsive to new instructions, with higher implementation reliability requiring additional supports.
AHRQ-funded; HS023459.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Russell AM , Effler MR .
Implementation fidelity of patient-centered prescription label to promote opioid safe use.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2019 Sep;28(9):1251-57. doi: 10.1002/pds.4795..
Keywords: Opioids, Patient Safety, Health Literacy, Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider
Lor M, Koleck TA, Bakken S
Association between health literacy and medication adherence among Hispanics with hypertension.
This study examined the association between health literacy and medication adherence among Hispanic adults with hypertension. A cross-sectional survey of 1355 Hispanic adults, mostly Dominicans who self-report hypertension was conducted. After controlling for age, sex, birth country, education level, recruitment location, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance inadequate health literacy was associated with a lower adherence score.
AHRQ-funded; HS019853; HS022961.
Citation: Lor M, Koleck TA, Bakken S .
Association between health literacy and medication adherence among Hispanics with hypertension.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2019 Jun;6(3):517-24. doi: 10.1007/s40615-018-00550-z..
Keywords: Blood Pressure, Health Literacy, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Pack AP, Golin CE, Hill LM
Patient and clinician perspectives on optimizing graphical displays of longitudinal medication adherence data.
This study looked into the value of using graphical display prototypes of hypothetical daily drug concentrations measured in hair for patients to assess their medication adherence. Investigators surveyed 30 HIV-positive patients and 29 clinicians to assess their preferences for three different prototypes. Patients and clinicians generally found the prototypes acceptable, but clinicians largely preferred daily drug concentrations in bar graph display. Patients with lower health literacy had trouble understanding the link between medication-taking and drug concentrations in hair and also preferred pictographs over bar or line graphs.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Pack AP, Golin CE, Hill LM .
Patient and clinician perspectives on optimizing graphical displays of longitudinal medication adherence data.
Patient Educ Couns 2019 Jun;102(6):1090-97. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.12.029..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Health Literacy, Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Provider, Provider: Clinician
Fredericksen RJ, Gibbons L, Brown S
Medication understanding among patients living with multiple chronic conditions: implications for patient-reported measures of adherence.
The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge of names and purposes of prescribed medications among patients with multiple chronic conditions. The investigators found that many patients demonstrated difficulty identifying the name and purpose of prescribed medications; this did not differ by demographic group or medication storage type. They suggest that patients may benefit from routine review of medications with their provider in order to improve health literacy, outcomes, and patient-reported adherence measurement.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Fredericksen RJ, Gibbons L, Brown S .
Medication understanding among patients living with multiple chronic conditions: implications for patient-reported measures of adherence.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2018 Jun;14(6):540-44. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2017.06.009..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Health Literacy, Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance
van den Bogert CA, Miller MJ, Cobaugh DJ
Screening questions for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug risk knowledge.
The aim of this study was to evaluate screening questions for estimating nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) risk knowledge. It concluded that screening questions for subjective NSAID risk awareness and health literacy are predictive of objectively tested NSAID knowledge and can be used to triage patients as well as subsequently initiate and direct a conversation about NSAID risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS016956.
Citation: van den Bogert CA, Miller MJ, Cobaugh DJ .
Screening questions for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug risk knowledge.
J Patient Saf 2017 Dec;13(4):217-22. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000143.
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Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Health Literacy, Medication, Risk
Press VG, Arora VM, Trela KC
Effectiveness of interventions to teach metered-dose and diskus inhaler techniques. A randomized trial.
This study evaluated the relative effects of two different educational strategies (teach-to-goal instruction vs. brief verbal instruction) in adults hospitalized with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It concluded that, Acute care events were less common among teach-to-goal participants than brief intervention participants at 30 days (17 percent vs. 36 percent,), but not at 90 days.
AHRQ-funded; HS016967.
Citation: Press VG, Arora VM, Trela KC .
Effectiveness of interventions to teach metered-dose and diskus inhaler techniques. A randomized trial.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2016 Jun;13(6):816-24. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201509-603OC.
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Keywords: Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Health Literacy, Medication
Weiss BD, Brega AG, LeBlanc WG
AHRQ Author: Brach C
Improving the effectiveness of medication review: guidance from the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit.
The objective of this study was to determine whether the medication review tool in AHRQ’s Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit can help to improve medication reviews in primary care practices. It found that eEvaluation before and after implementation revealed a 3-fold increase in the percentage of patients who brought all their prescription medications and a 6-fold increase in the number of prescription medications brought to office visits.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290200710008.
Citation: Weiss BD, Brega AG, LeBlanc WG .
Improving the effectiveness of medication review: guidance from the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit.
J Am Board Fam Med 2016 Jan-Feb;29(1):18-23. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2016.01.150163.
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Keywords: Health Literacy, Medication, Primary Care, Tools & Toolkits
Slota C, Sayner R, Vitko M
Glaucoma patient expression of medication problems and nonadherence.
The purpose of this article was to evaluate what patient characteristics led patients to express (1) medication problems, including difficulty with side effects and eye drop administration, and (2) problems with nonadherence to glaucoma medications. It found that patients with lower health literacy are less likely to express medication-related problems and patients who express medication problems often express nonadherence.
AHRQ-funded; HS023054.
Citation: Slota C, Sayner R, Vitko M .
Glaucoma patient expression of medication problems and nonadherence.
Optom Vis Sci 2015 May;92(5):537-43. doi: 10.1097/opx.0000000000000574..
Keywords: Eye Disease and Health, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medication, Health Literacy
Shoemaker SJ, Staub-DeLong L, Wasserman M
Factors affecting adoption and implementation of AHRQ health literacy tools in pharmacies.
The purpose of this study is to understand the facilitators and barriers to the adoption and implementation of AHRQ’s health literacy tools, particularly a tool to assess a pharmacy’s health literacy practices. The study found facilitators including awareness of health literacy, a culture of innovation, and a change champion. It also identified barriers such as lack of leadership support and limited staff time.
AHRQ-funded; 290200600011I
Citation: Shoemaker SJ, Staub-DeLong L, Wasserman M .
Factors affecting adoption and implementation of AHRQ health literacy tools in pharmacies.
Res Social Adm Pharm. 2013 Sep-Oct;9(5):553-63. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.05.003..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Practice Patterns, Tools & Toolkits, Medication
Robertson J, Farris KB, Schultz SK
Older adults' views about "Managing Your Medications" booklet.
The objective of the study was to evaluate the Managing Your Medications (MYM) booklet to improve medication management. Older adults reported it was comprehensible and 17 percent reported behavioral intentions to change their current actions regarding medications. Overall, 12.7 percent of respondents agreed that MYM changed their opinion of the topic. The most popular means to dis¬seminate were doctors’ offices and senior citizens’ centers.
AHRQ-funded; HS016094.
Citation: Robertson J, Farris KB, Schultz SK .
Older adults' views about "Managing Your Medications" booklet.
J Appl Gerontol 2013 Apr;32(3):370-82. doi: 10.1177/0733464811421910..
Keywords: Elderly, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Literacy, Medication