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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.
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1 to 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedQuigley DD, McCleskey SG
Improving care experiences for patients and caregivers at end of life: a systematic review.
End-of-life care is increasing as the US population ages. Approaches to providing high-quality end-of-life care vary across setting, diseases, and populations. Several data collection tools measure patient and/or caregiver care experiences at end of life and can be used for quality improvement. Previous reviews examined palliative care improvements or available measures but none explicitly on improving care experiences. In this study, the researchers reviewed literature on improving patient and/or caregiver end-of-life care experiences.
AHRQ-funded; HS025920.
Citation: Quigley DD, McCleskey SG .
Improving care experiences for patients and caregivers at end of life: a systematic review.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021 Jan;38(1):84-93. doi: 10.1177/1049909120931468..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Caregiving, Patient Experience, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Anderson JB, Brown DW, Lihn S
Power of a learning network in congenital heart disease.
This paper discusses the efforts of the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC). The collaborative formed to improve outcomes in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It sought to (1) decrease mortality, (2) reduce growth failure, and (3) reduce hospital readmissions due to major medical problems during the interstage period between discharge following stage 1 palliation (S1P) and admission for stage 2 palliation (S2P).
AHRQ-funded; HS016957.
Citation: Anderson JB, Brown DW, Lihn S .
Power of a learning network in congenital heart disease.
World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 Jan;10(1):66-71. doi: 10.1177/2150135118815023..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Children/Adolescents, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Palliative Care, Quality Improvement, Registries
Kamal AH, Nicolla JM, Power S
Quality improvement pearls for the palliative care and hospice professional.
In this article, the authors provide a prioritized list of 10 tips specifically aimed to palliative care and hospice professionals, using their experience in both failures and successes in performing quality improvement. They aim to demystify quality improvement, highlight areas where rigor and a systematic approach are needed for success, and offer their own lessons learned and mistakes made to promote success for others.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Kamal AH, Nicolla JM, Power S .
Quality improvement pearls for the palliative care and hospice professional.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2017 Nov;54(5):758-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.07.040..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Kamal AH, Taylor DH, Neely B
One size does not fit all: disease profiles of serious illness patients receiving specialty palliative care.
This study was one of the first to describe symptom burden and functional scores by diagnostic categories and care settings across a community-based interdisciplinary specialty palliative care program. Results demonstrated statistically significant and clinically relevant differences among settings of care, functional status, and symptom profiles between patients with various serious illnesses.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Kamal AH, Taylor DH, Neely B .
One size does not fit all: disease profiles of serious illness patients receiving specialty palliative care.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2017 Oct;54(4):476-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.07.035..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Palliative Care, Quality Improvement
Kamal AH, Harrison KL, Bakitas M
Improving the quality of palliative care through national and regional collaboration efforts.
The purpose of this paper was to review examples of quality-improvement collaborations in palliative care to understand the similarities, differences, and future directions of quality measurement and improvement strategies. These three examples showed areas of robust and growing quality-improvement collaboration in the field of palliative care: the Global Palliative Care Quality Alliance; Palliative Care Quality Network; and Project Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Kamal AH, Harrison KL, Bakitas M .
Improving the quality of palliative care through national and regional collaboration efforts.
Cancer Control 2015 Oct;22(4):396-402. doi: 10.1177/107327481502200405.
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Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Palliative Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Kamal AH, Hanson LC, Casarett DJ
The quality imperative for palliative care.
This article discusses moving beyond demonstrating what palliative care is to focusing on the quality of how it is accomplished. This effort includes developing standardized methods to collect data without adding additional burden, comparing and sharing experiences to promote discipline-wide quality assessment and improvement initiatives, and demonstrating intentions for quality improvement on the clinical frontline.
AHRQ-funded; HS022763.
Citation: Kamal AH, Hanson LC, Casarett DJ .
The quality imperative for palliative care.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2015 Feb;49(2):243-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.06.008.
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Keywords: Palliative Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Martinez KA, Aslakson RA, Wilson RF
A systematic review of health care interventions for pain in patients with advanced cancer.
The authors sought to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of pain-focused interventions in patients with advanced cancer. In nineteen studies, they found moderate strength of evidence that pain management in advanced cancer can be improved using health care interventions, particularly nurse-led patient-centered interventions.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710061.
Citation: Martinez KA, Aslakson RA, Wilson RF .
A systematic review of health care interventions for pain in patients with advanced cancer.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2014 Feb;31(1):79-86. doi: 10.1177/1049909113476129.
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Keywords: Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Pain, Palliative Care, Quality Improvement