National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
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- Access to Care (1)
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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 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedRains A, Sibley AL, Levander XA
"I would do anything but that": attitudes towards sex work among rural people who use drugs.
This study explored how people who use drugs in rural counties across the United States appraise sex work by themselves or other community members. The authors used qualitative interview data that came from the Rural Opioid Initiative (ROI), a project coordinated by research teams across 65 rural counties in 10 states. These interviews were individual and conducted from 2018 to 2020, with all participants reporting past 30-day opioid use and/or any injection drug use. Across sites, 355 interviews were conducted with a mean participant age of 36, 55% male, and 93% white. Negative attitudes were expressed towards sex work as a function of its criminal-legal repercussions or was framed as morally transgressive. Many appraisals were gendered, with the behavior described as being “easier” for women who were often described as "whores," with more neutral terms used to describe men. Some participants viewed sex work as an implicit “exchange” for drugs.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Rains A, Sibley AL, Levander XA .
"I would do anything but that": attitudes towards sex work among rural people who use drugs.
Int J Drug Policy 2023 Dec; 122:104237. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104237..
Keywords: Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
Barton AJ, Amura CR, Willems EL
Patient and provider perceptions of COVID-19-driven telehealth use from nurse-led care models in rural, frontier, and urban Colorado communities.
The aim of this study was to describe the patient and provider encounter in the unexpected telehealth application that took place with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and providers from 3 nurse-led models of care (federally qualified health centers, nurse midwifery practices, and the Nurse-Family partnership program) in Colorado were surveyed. Data from the Patient Attitude toward Telehealth survey and Provider Perceptions about Telehealth were collected. Patients who resided in urban areas utilized telehealth with greater frequency than in rural or frontier areas. Across each of the 5 domains assessed, rural/frontier patients had significantly lower attitude scores than urban patients. The mode of Telehealth employed differed across location, with video calls utilized more frequently by urban providers, and phone calls utilized by rural/frontier providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS028085.
Citation: Barton AJ, Amura CR, Willems EL .
Patient and provider perceptions of COVID-19-driven telehealth use from nurse-led care models in rural, frontier, and urban Colorado communities.
J Patient Exp 2023 Jan 25; 10:23743735231151546. doi: 10.1177/23743735231151546..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Primary Care, Patient Experience, Rural Health, Urban Health, Vulnerable Populations, Provider: Nurse
Davidson L, Haynes SC, Favila-Meza A
Parent experience and cost savings associated with a novel tele-physiatry program for children living in rural and underserved communities.
This study investigated patient and therapist experience and cost savings from the payer perspective associated with a novel tele-physiatry program for children living in rural and underserved communities. Study setting was four school-based clinics in Northern California with a total of 268 encounters (124 telemedicine and 144 in-person). Parent and therapists reported no difference in experience and perceived quality of care between telemedicine and in-person encounters. For parents whose children received a telemedicine encounter, 54.8% reported no preference for their child’s subsequent encounter, 28.8% preferred a physiatrist telemedicine visit, and 12 preferred a physiatrist in-person visit. There was also an average cost savings of $100 per clinic owing to physician milage for in-person visits.
AHRQ-funded; HS025714.
Citation: Davidson L, Haynes SC, Favila-Meza A .
Parent experience and cost savings associated with a novel tele-physiatry program for children living in rural and underserved communities.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022 Jan;103(1):8-13. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.07.807..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Costs, Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations, Disabilities, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Jacob SA, Carroll AE, Bennett WE
A feasibility study of telemedicine for paediatric sickle cell patients living in a rural medically underserved area.
The purpose of this cross-sectional, observational study was to determine the feasibility of using telemedicine for the provision of subspecialty pediatric (0-21 years old) Sickle Cell Disease care in a rural medically underserved area. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational, feasibility study. The study found that 10 SCD patients initiated telemedicine visits during the study period. Approximately 60% of the eligible participants did not attend more than 50% of scheduled visits prior to beginning telemedicine visits or were lost to follow-up. After initiation of telemedicine, all Hb SS patients were started and/or maintained on hydroxyurea. Nine out of 10 patients who participated during this timeframe had a 100% follow-up rate. All the participants rated the comfort and ease of using the telehealth system as good or excellent, and all participants would take part in a telemedicine visit again.
AHRQ-funded; HS026390.
Citation: Jacob SA, Carroll AE, Bennett WE .
A feasibility study of telemedicine for paediatric sickle cell patients living in a rural medically underserved area.
J Telemed Telecare 2021 Aug;27(7):431-35. doi: 10.1177/1357633x19883558..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Telehealth, Sickle Cell Disease, Rural Health, Chronic Conditions, Vulnerable Populations, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Grande SW, Castaldo MG, Carpenter-Song E
A digital advocate? Reactions of rural people who experience homelessness to the idea of recording clinical encounters.
This study examines the reactions of homeless people to the idea of using a smartphone to record their own clinical encounter, either covertly or with permission from their physician. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with individuals at a temporary housing shelter in Northern New England. The study found that while many rural, disadvantaged individuals felt marginalized by the wide social distance between themselves and their clinicians, recording technology may serve as an advocate by holding both patients and doctors accountable and by permitting the burden of clinical proof to be shared.
AHRQ-funded; HS021695.
Citation: Grande SW, Castaldo MG, Carpenter-Song E .
A digital advocate? Reactions of rural people who experience homelessness to the idea of recording clinical encounters.
Health Expect 2017 Aug;20(4):618-25. doi: 10.1111/hex.12492..
Keywords: Health Information Exchange (HIE), Clinician-Patient Communication, Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations
Peltz A, Wu CL, White ML
Characteristics of rural children admitted to pediatric hospitals.
The researchers assessed characteristics and hospitalizations of rural children admitted to US children's hospitals in 2012. They found that rural children more often resided in low-income ZIP codes and Health Professional Shortage Areas; they further noted that rural children had a higher prevalence of complex chronic conditions and medical technology assistance. Rural children also experienced higher inpatient costs and higher odds of 30-day readmission.
AHRQ-funded; HS023092.
Citation: Peltz A, Wu CL, White ML .
Characteristics of rural children admitted to pediatric hospitals.
Pediatrics 2016 May;137(5). doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-3156.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Hospitalization, Children/Adolescents, Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations
Weintraub JA, Burgette JM, Chadwick DG
Educating North Carolina's oral health workforce in an evolving environment.
In 2014, North Carolina had 4,681 actively practicing dentists and ranked 47th among US states in dentist-to-population ratio. The need for dentists is increasing as the population grows, and underserved areas persist. This commentary discusses the impact of the state's 2 dental schools and external factors on dental workforce trends.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Weintraub JA, Burgette JM, Chadwick DG .
Educating North Carolina's oral health workforce in an evolving environment.
N C Med J 2016 Mar-Apr;77(2):107-11. doi: 10.18043/ncm.77.2.107..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Education, Access to Care, Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations