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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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedTarnutzer AA, Gold D, Wang Z
Impact of clinician training background and stroke location on bedside diagnostic test accuracy in the acute vestibular syndrome - a meta-analysis.
Researchers conducted a systematic review to assess the accuracy of bedside diagnosis of acute dizziness/vertigo to differentiate peripheral vestibular from central neurologic causes. Their review indicated that the Head Impulse, Nystagmus, Test of Skew (HINTS) examination by trained clinicians can differentiate peripheral from central causes and show higher diagnostic accuracy for stroke in the first 24-48 hours than MRI diffusion-weighted imaging. They concluded that these techniques should be disseminated to clinicians evaluating dizziness/vertigo.
AHRQ-funded; HS029350.
Citation: Tarnutzer AA, Gold D, Wang Z .
Impact of clinician training background and stroke location on bedside diagnostic test accuracy in the acute vestibular syndrome - a meta-analysis.
Ann Neurol 2023 Aug; 94(2):295-308. doi: 10.1002/ana.26661..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Training, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider: Clinician, Stroke, Cardiovascular Conditions
Williams JP, Nathanson R, LoPresti CM
Current use, training, and barriers in point-of-care ultrasound in hospital medicine: a national survey of VA hospitals.
This study aimed to characterize current point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use, training needs, and barriers to use among hospital medicine groups (HMGs). This prospective observation study looked at all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers from August 2019 to March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all chiefs of HMGs. There was a 90% response rate from 117 HMGs. Procedural POCUS use decreased by 19% from 2015 to 2020 but increased for diagnostic use for cardiac (8%), pulmonary (7%), and abdominal (8%) applications. The most common barrier to POCUS use was lack of training (89%), with only 34% of HMGs having access to POCUS training. Access to ultrasound equipment was the least common barrier at 57%, however with the proportion of HMGs with ≥1 ultrasound machine increasing from 29% to 71% from 2015 to 2020. In 2020 an average of 3.6 ultrasound devices per HMG was available, and 45% were handheld devices.
AHRQ-funded; HS025979.
Citation: Williams JP, Nathanson R, LoPresti CM .
Current use, training, and barriers in point-of-care ultrasound in hospital medicine: a national survey of VA hospitals.
J Hosp Med 2022 Aug;17(8):601-08. doi: 10.1002/jhm.12911..
Keywords: Imaging, Training, Hospitals, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Provider: Clinician
Westafer LM, Kunz A, Bugajska P
Provider perspectives on the use of evidence-based risk stratification tools in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism: a qualitative study.
Providers often pursue imaging in patients at low risk of pulmonary embolism (PE), resulting in imaging yields <10% and false-positive imaging rates of 10% to 25%. Attempts to curb overtesting have had only modest success and no interventions have used implementation science frameworks. The objective of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to the adoption of evidence-based diagnostic testing for PE.
AHRQ-funded; HS025701.
Citation: Westafer LM, Kunz A, Bugajska P .
Provider perspectives on the use of evidence-based risk stratification tools in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism: a qualitative study.
Acad Emerg Med 2020 Jun;27(6):447-56. doi: 10.1111/acem.13908..
Keywords: Respiratory Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Shared Decision Making, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Aronson PL, Schaeffer P, Fraenkel L
Physicians' and nurses' perspectives on the decision to perform lumbar punctures on febrile infants </=8 weeks old.
This paper discusses the reasons for wide variation in the decision to perform lumbar punctures (LPs) in febrile infants 8 weeks or less. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 pediatric and general emergency medicine physicians and 8 pediatric emergency medicine nurses at an urban, academic medical center. Five themes emerged from the interviews that included: age of the infant, the physician’s clinical experience, physician’s use of research findings, the physician’s values, and the role of the primary care pediatrician.
AHRQ-funded; HS026006.
Citation: Aronson PL, Schaeffer P, Fraenkel L .
Physicians' and nurses' perspectives on the decision to perform lumbar punctures on febrile infants </=8 weeks old.
Hosp Pediatr 2019 Jun;9(6):405-14. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2019-0002..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Shared Decision Making, Provider: Physician, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Clinician, Provider, Emergency Department, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Clarity C, Sarkar U, Lee J
Clinician perspectives on the management of abnormal subcritical tests in an urban academic safety-net health care system.
Missed or delayed follow-up of abnormal subcritical tests (tests that do not require immediate medical attention) can lead to poor patient outcomes. Safety-net health systems with limited resources and socially complex patients are vulnerable to safety gaps resulting from delayed management. In this study, clinician perspectives to identify system challenges, vulnerable situations, and potential solutions, were sought in focus groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS023558.
Citation: Clarity C, Sarkar U, Lee J .
Clinician perspectives on the management of abnormal subcritical tests in an urban academic safety-net health care system.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2017 Oct;43(10):517-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.05.007..
Keywords: Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient Safety, Vulnerable Populations, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Communication, Provider: Clinician
Feuille E, Menon NR, Huang F
Knowledge of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome among general pediatricians.
In this study, investigators examined knowledge of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome among general pediatricians. They created a 32-question survey, collecting information regarding participants’ experience with FPIES and knowledge of FPIES diagnosis and management. Investigators found that many pediatricians had a basic but incomplete understanding of FPIES diagnosis and initial management.
AHRQ-funded; HS024599.
Citation: Feuille E, Menon NR, Huang F .
Knowledge of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome among general pediatricians.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2017 Sep;119(3):291-92.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.07.001..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Digestive Disease and Health, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Nutrition, Provider, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician