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
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (5)
- Adverse Events (5)
- Alcohol Use (1)
- Behavioral Health (2)
- Blood Clots (1)
- Blood Pressure (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Caregiving (1)
- Children/Adolescents (3)
- (-) Chronic Conditions (10)
- Diabetes (1)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Elderly (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Falls (1)
- Guidelines (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (2)
- Medication (10)
- (-) Medication: Safety (10)
- Opioids (5)
- Pain (4)
- Patient Safety (8)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Risk (2)
- Substance Abuse (3)
- Telehealth (1)
- Vulnerable Populations (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 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedJolliff A, Coller RJ, Kearney H
An mHealth design to promote medication safety in children with medical complexity.
This study describes an effort to design a health information technology tool to improve medication safety for children with medical complexity (CMC). The study engaged family caregivers, secondary caregivers, and clinicians who work with CMC in a co-design process to identify: 1) medication safety challenges experienced by CMC caregivers and, 2) design requirements for a mobile health application to improve medication safety for CMC in the home. Family caregivers, secondary caregivers, and clinicians from a children's hospital-based pediatric complex care program participated in virtual co-design sessions. During these sessions, the facilitator guided 16 co-designers in generating and converging upon medication safety challenges and design requirements. These sessions were recorded and reviewed after conclusion to confirm that all designer comments had been captured. An analysis yielded 11 challenges to medication safety and 11 corresponding design requirements that fit into three broader challenges: giving the right medication at the right time; communicating with others about medications; and accommodating complex medical routines.
AHRQ-funded; HS028409.
Citation: Jolliff A, Coller RJ, Kearney H .
An mHealth design to promote medication safety in children with medical complexity.
Appl Clin Inform 2024 Jan; 15(1):45-54. doi: 10.1055/a-2214-8000..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medication: Safety, Medication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Chronic Conditions, Telehealth, Caregiving
Chen C, Winterstein AG, Lo-Ciganic WH
Concurrent use of prescription gabapentinoids with opioids and risk for fall-related injury among older US Medicare beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain: a population-based cohort study.
This study compared the risk of fall-related injury in two cohorts who used gabapentinoids concurrently with opioid use and those who used opioids only. The authors created 2 cohorts based on whether concurrent users initiated gabapentinoids on the day of opioid initiation (Cohort 1) or after opioid initiation (Cohort 2). Both cohorts were identified from a sample of older Medicare beneficiaries with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). Four concurrent users were matched up with 1 opioid-only user. They identified 6,733 concurrent users and 27,092 matched opioid-only users in Cohort 1 and 5,709 concurrent users and 22,388 matched opioid-only users in Cohort 2. Cohort 1’s incidence rate of fall-related injury was 24.5 per 100 person-users during follow-up and was 18.0 per 100-person-years during follow-up for Cohort 2. Concurrent users had had similar risk of fall-related injury as opioid-only users in Cohort 1 but had higher risk for fall-related injury than opioid-only users in Cohort 2.
AHRQ-funded; HS027230.
Citation: Chen C, Winterstein AG, Lo-Ciganic WH .
Concurrent use of prescription gabapentinoids with opioids and risk for fall-related injury among older US Medicare beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain: a population-based cohort study.
PLoS Med 2022 Mar;19(3):e1003921. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003921..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Falls, Patient Safety, Injuries and Wounds, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Wei YJ, Chen C, Lewis MO
Trajectories of prescription opioid dose and risk of opioid-related adverse events among older Medicare beneficiaries in the United States: a nested case-control study.
This study used a sample of older patients who are Medicare beneficiaries who were newly prescribed opioids to determine rates of 4 prescription opioid dose trajectories and the risk of opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). A 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2011 to 2018 was used to conduct a nested case-control study of patients age 65 and older who were newly diagnosed with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). Among the cases and controls, 2,192 (70.6%) were women and mean age was 77.1 years. Four prescribed opioid trajectories before the incident ORAE diagnosis or matched date emerged: gradual dose discontinuation (from ≤3 to 0 daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME), 1,456 [23.5%]), gradual dose increase (from 0 to >3 daily MME, 1,878 [30.3%]), consistent low dose (between 3 and 5 daily MME, 1,510 [24.3%]), and consistent moderate dose (>20 daily MME, 1,362 [22.0%]). Less than 5% were prescribed a mean daily dose of ≥90 daily MME during 6 months before diagnosis or matched date. Patients with gradual dose discontinuation versus those with a consistent low or moderate dose, and increase dose were more likely to be 65 to 74 years, Midwest US residents, and receiving no low-income subsidy. Those with gradual dose increase and consistent moderate dose had a higher risk of ORAE, after adjustment for covariates.
AHRQ-funded; HS027230.
Citation: Wei YJ, Chen C, Lewis MO .
Trajectories of prescription opioid dose and risk of opioid-related adverse events among older Medicare beneficiaries in the United States: a nested case-control study.
PLoS Med 2022 Mar;19(3):e1003947. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003947..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Risk, Chronic Conditions, Pain, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Horton DB, Xie F, Chen L
Oral glucocorticoids and incident treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and venous thromboembolism in children.
The purpose of this study was to quantify rates of incident treatment for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with oral glucocorticoid exposure in children aged 1-18 years. Participants were identified using US Medicaid claims data and included more than 930,000 children diagnosed with autoimmune diseases or a nonimmune comparator condition. Findings showed strong dose-dependent relationships between current glucocorticoid exposure and all outcomes, suggesting strong relative risks, but low absolute risks, of newly-treated VTE, diabetes, and especially hypertension in children taking high-dose oral glucocorticoids.
AHRQ-funded; HS021110.
Citation: Horton DB, Xie F, Chen L .
Oral glucocorticoids and incident treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and venous thromboembolism in children.
Am J Epidemiol 2021 Feb 1;190(3):403-12. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaa197..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Blood Clots, Medication: Safety, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Risk, Patient Safety, Blood Pressure
Wyse J, Simmons A, Ramachandran B
"I don't mind doing what it takes to be safe." Patient perspectives of urine drug testing for pain.
This study sought to uncover patients’ beliefs regarding UDT and its implications for the patient–clinician relationship. Urine drug testing (UDT) is a standard recommendation for those prescribed long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for pain but remains underutilized. Clinician fears regarding negative patient perceptions have been identified as a barrier to conducting UDT; however, little is known about patient perspectives of UDT.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Wyse J, Simmons A, Ramachandran B .
"I don't mind doing what it takes to be safe." Patient perspectives of urine drug testing for pain.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Jan;36(1):243-44. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05688-3..
Keywords: Pain, Chronic Conditions, Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Substance Abuse
Navis A, George MC, Nmashie A
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for assessing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control opioid prescribing guidelines.
This study assessed the use of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) which was designed to improve the implementation of the 2016 Centers for Disease Control Guidelines on the prescription of opioids for chronic pain. Four raters with varying levels of clinical experience were trained to use the SOPET and then used it to evaluate 21 baseline patient scenarios. Inter-rater reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates and their 95% confidence intervals for the total SOPET score based on a mean-rating absolute-agreement, two-way random-effects model. Inter-rater reliability was found to be good for the three physician raters (0.92, 0.97, and 0.99). However, inter-rater reliability for the non-physician rater was lower (0.67).
AHRQ-funded; HS025641.
Citation: Navis A, George MC, Nmashie A .
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for assessing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control opioid prescribing guidelines.
Pain Med 2020 Dec 25;21(12):3655-59. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa138..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Guidelines, Practice Patterns, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice
Kurani S, Jeffery MM, Thorsteinsdottir B
Use of potentially nephrotoxic medications by U.S. adults with chronic kidney disease: NHANES, 2011-2016.
This study looked at the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use by US adults by chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage and self-reported CKD awareness. A cross-sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2011-2016 was conducted using a cohort of non-pregnant CKD adults with stages 3a, 3b, or 4-5 CKD. Analyses were adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, comorbidities, and insurance type. More than 50% of US adults were taking PIM(s) for all CKD stages and awareness categories, but rates were highest among CKD-unaware patients with stages 4-5 CKD. Proton pump inhibitors, opioids, metformin, sulfonylureas, and NSAIDS were used frequently in all CKD stages. NSAIDS were used less frequently when the patient was CKD-aware.
AHRQ-funded; HS025164; HS025402; HS025517.
Citation: Kurani S, Jeffery MM, Thorsteinsdottir B .
Use of potentially nephrotoxic medications by U.S. adults with chronic kidney disease: NHANES, 2011-2016.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Apr;35(4):1092-101. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05557-8..
Keywords: Medication: Safety, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Kidney Disease and Health, Chronic Conditions, Patient Safety
Assimon MM, Brookhart MA, Flythe JE
Comparative cardiac safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors among individuals receiving maintenance hemodialysis.
This retrospective cohort study compared cardiac safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) among individuals receiving maintenance hemodialysis. These individuals may be particularly susceptible to lethal cardiac consequences of drug-induced QT prolongation due to a substantial cardiovascular disease burden and their use of many medications. Data from a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries receiving hemodialysis included in the US Renal Data system registry from 2007-2014 was used. Researchers compared the 1-year risk of death among hemodialysis patients taking different SSRIs. Use of higher QT-prolonging potential SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram) was associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than patients taking lower risk SSRIs (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline). The association was higher among elderly individuals, females, patients with conduction disorders, and those treated with other non-SSRI QT-prolonging medications.
AHRQ-funded; HS026801.
Citation: Assimon MM, Brookhart MA, Flythe JE .
Comparative cardiac safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors among individuals receiving maintenance hemodialysis.
J Am Soc Nephrol 2019 Apr;30(4):611-23. doi: 10.1681/asn.2018101032..
Keywords: Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Kidney Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Weitzman ER, Magane KM, Wisk LE
Alcohol use and alcohol-interactive medications among medically vulnerable youth.
Information about the prevalence of alcohol use among youth with chronic medical conditions (YCMCs) who take alcohol-interactive (AI) medications is scant. This study attempts to address gaps and inform interventions by quantifying simultaneous exposure to alcohol use and AI medications among YCMCs. Participants were adolescents with a variety of chronic conditions: type 1 diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, moderate persistent asthma, cystic fibrosis, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, inflammatory bowel disease. Participants completed an electronic survey designed to measure prevalence of exposure to AI medications and associations with alcohol usage in the past year. Many of the participants reported alcohol use, but drinking was less likely among those who took AI medications. The authors conclude that perceptions about alcohol-medication interference mediated the association between drinking and AI medication exposure.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Weitzman ER, Magane KM, Wisk LE .
Alcohol use and alcohol-interactive medications among medically vulnerable youth.
Pediatrics 2018 Oct;142(4). doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-4026..
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Children/Adolescents, Chronic Conditions, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Vulnerable Populations
Balbale SN, Trivedi I, O'Dwyer LC
Strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse among patients with gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic scoping review.
In this study, the investigators conducted a systematic scoping review to describe published scientific literature on strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and disorders. They concluded that prescription drug monitoring and self-management interventions may be promising strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse in GI care. They suggest that rigorous, empirical research is needed to evaluate the longer-term impact of these strategies.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Balbale SN, Trivedi I, O'Dwyer LC .
Strategies to identify and reduce opioid misuse among patients with gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic scoping review.
Dig Dis Sci 2017 Oct;62(10):2668-85. doi: 10.1007/s10620-017-4705-9..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Chronic Conditions, Digestive Disease and Health, Medication, Medication: Safety, Opioids, Patient Self-Management, Prevention, Substance Abuse