National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Arthritis (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Disparities (1)
- Health Promotion (1)
- (-) Health Status (9)
- (-) Lifestyle Changes (9)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Obesity (2)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Social Determinants of Health (5)
- Tobacco Use (2)
- Urban Health (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 9 of 9 Research Studies DisplayedRundle AG, Chen Y, Quinn JW
Development of a neighborhood walkability index for studying neighborhood physical activity contexts in communities across the U.S. over the past three decades.
To examine how urban form shapes physical activity and health over time, a measure of neighborhood walkability is needed that can be linked to cohort studies with participants living across the United States (U.S.) that have been followed over the past decades. In this study, the Built Environment and Health-Neighborhood Walkability Index (BEH-NWI), a measure of neighborhood walkability that can be calculated for communities across the United States between 1990 and 2015, was conceptualized, developed, and tested using data from the New York City Tri-State Area.
AHRQ-funded; HS026120.
Citation: Rundle AG, Chen Y, Quinn JW .
Development of a neighborhood walkability index for studying neighborhood physical activity contexts in communities across the U.S. over the past three decades.
J Urban Health 2019 Aug;96(4):583-90. doi: 10.1007/s11524-019-00370-4
.
.
Keywords: Urban Health, Lifestyle Changes, Health Status, Social Determinants of Health
Gianfrancesco MA, Yazdany J, Schmajuk G
The impact of smoking on disease measures in rheumatoid arthritis: the need for appropriate adjustment of time-varying confounding.
In a recent publication, Quintana-Dunque et al. studied patients with early onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and showed that baseline smoking status was inversely associated with disease activity and disability at 36 months. This paper argues that the authors failed to highlight several limitations of study design and analysis, including time-varying confounding, which may have had a direct impact on results and corresponding conclusions.
AHRQ-funded; HS024412.
Citation: Gianfrancesco MA, Yazdany J, Schmajuk G .
The impact of smoking on disease measures in rheumatoid arthritis: the need for appropriate adjustment of time-varying confounding.
Rheumatol Int 2018 Feb;38(2):313-14. doi: 10.1007/s00296-017-3902-3.
.
.
Keywords: Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Arthritis, Tobacco Use
Powell-Wiley TM, Wong MS, Adu-Brimpong J
Simulating the impact of crime on African American women's physical activity and obesity.
The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of crime on physical activity location accessibility, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and obesity among African American women. The study’s simulations showed that crime may serve as a barrier to LTPA. Reducing crime and increasing propensity to exercise through multilevel interventions may promote greater than linear declines in obesity prevalence.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Powell-Wiley TM, Wong MS, Adu-Brimpong J .
Simulating the impact of crime on African American women's physical activity and obesity.
Obesity 2017 Dec;25(12):2149-55. doi: 10.1002/oby.22040.
.
.
Keywords: Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Oates GR, Jackson BE, Partridge EE
Sociodemographic patterns of chronic disease: how the mid-south region compares to the rest of the country.
This descriptive study examines sociodemographic differences in the distribution of chronic diseases and health-related behaviors in the Mid-South versus the rest of the U.S., identifying subgroups at increased risk of chronic disease. It finds that the Mid-South population had increased rates of chronic disease and worse health-related behaviors than the rest of the U.S. Mid-South blacks had the highest percentages of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke of all subgroups.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Oates GR, Jackson BE, Partridge EE .
Sociodemographic patterns of chronic disease: how the mid-south region compares to the rest of the country.
Am J Prev Med 2017 Jan;52(1s1):S31-s39. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.09.004.
.
.
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Social Determinants of Health
Cockerham WC, Hamby BW, Oates GR
The social determinants of chronic disease.
This review article addresses the concept of the social determinants of health (SDH), selected theories, and its application in studies of chronic disease. The health effects of SDH are initially discussed with respect to smoking and the social gradient in mortality. The article concludes with an examination of neighborhood disadvantage, social networks, and perceived discrimination in SDH research.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Cockerham WC, Hamby BW, Oates GR .
The social determinants of chronic disease.
Am J Prev Med 2017 Jan;52(1s1):S5-s12. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.09.010.
.
.
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Social Determinants of Health
Thorpe RJ, Jr., Kennedy-Hendricks A, Griffith DM
Race, social and environmental conditions, and health behaviors in men.
The investigators examined the nature of disparities in health behaviors among African American and white men in the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities Study-Southwest Baltimore to data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey. They found that race disparities in physical activity, drinking, and smoking were ameliorated where African American and white men were living under similar social, environmental, and socioeconomic status conditions, suggesting that social environment may be an important determinant of health behaviors among African American and white men.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Thorpe RJ, Jr., Kennedy-Hendricks A, Griffith DM .
Race, social and environmental conditions, and health behaviors in men.
Fam Community Health 2015 Oct-Dec;38(4):297-306. doi: 10.1097/fch.0000000000000078.
.
.
Keywords: Disparities, Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Aschbrenner KA, Brunette MF, McElvery R
Cigarette smoking and interest in quitting among overweight and obese adults with serious mental illness enrolled in a fitness intervention.
The authors explored cigarette smoking, health status, and interest in quitting among overweight and obese adults with serious mental illness enrolled in a fitness intervention. Using the In SHAPE fitness intervention data, the researchers found that 84% of smokers were interested in quitting. Smokers in the intervention had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and were less ready to reduce dietary fat.
AHRQ-funded; HS021695.
Citation: Aschbrenner KA, Brunette MF, McElvery R .
Cigarette smoking and interest in quitting among overweight and obese adults with serious mental illness enrolled in a fitness intervention.
J Nerv Ment Dis 2015 Jun;203(6):473-6. doi: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000309.
.
.
Keywords: Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Behavioral Health, Obesity, Tobacco Use
Wright KD, Pepper GA, Caserta M
Factors that influence physical function and emotional well-being among Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.
The researchers examined the associations between race, gender, age, neighborhood poverty, education, and health behaviors (i.e., smoking, exercise, and physical activity) with physical function and emotional well-being in Medicare-Medicaid enrollees. They determined that race, neighborhood poverty, education, and income did not influence physical function or emotional well-being; however, physical activity was associated both with an increased self-report of physical function and emotional well-being.
AHRQ-funded; HS014539.
Citation: Wright KD, Pepper GA, Caserta M .
Factors that influence physical function and emotional well-being among Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.
Geriatr Nurs 2015 Mar-Apr;36(2 Suppl):S16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2015.02.022..
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Medicare, Medicaid, Lifestyle Changes, Health Status
Lyons EJ
Cultivating engagement and enjoyment in exergames using feedback, challenge, and rewards.
The author reviewed theoretical and empirical evidence related to three mechanisms for encouraging enjoyment during exergame play. Lyons found that feedback, challenge, and rewards are promising mechanisms by which exergames could become more enjoyable and concluded that how these concepts are operationalized can affect physical and psychological reactions to exergames.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Lyons EJ .
Cultivating engagement and enjoyment in exergames using feedback, challenge, and rewards.
Games Health J 2015 Feb;4(1):12-8. doi: 10.1089/g4h.2014.0072.
.
.
Keywords: Health Promotion, Health Status, Lifestyle Changes, Patient Experience, Patient Experience