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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 24 of 24 Research Studies DisplayedRentsch CT, Edelman EJ, Justice AC
Patterns and correlates of prescription opioid receipt among US Veterans: a national, 18-year observational cohort study.
A better understanding of predisposition to transition to high-dose, long-term opioid therapy after initial opioid receipt could facilitate efforts to prevent opioid use disorder (OUD). In this study, the investigators extracted data on 69,268 patients in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study who received any opioid prescription between 1998 and 2015. They identified four distinguishable dose trajectories. The authors indicate that their measures could potentially be used in future prevention research, including genetic discovery.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112; HS023258.
Citation: Rentsch CT, Edelman EJ, Justice AC .
Patterns and correlates of prescription opioid receipt among US Veterans: a national, 18-year observational cohort study.
AIDS Behav 2019 Dec;23(12):3340-49. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02608-3..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Pain, Chronic Conditions
McKellar MS, Kuchibhatla MN, Oursler KAK
Racial differences in change in physical functioning in older male veterans with HIV.
Little is known about longitudinal change in physical functioning of older African American/Black and White HIV-infected persons. In this study, the investigators examined up to 10 years of data on African American and White men with HIV infection and comparable HIV-negative men age 50-91 years from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study Survey sample.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112; HS023464; HS023258.
Citation: McKellar MS, Kuchibhatla MN, Oursler KAK .
Racial differences in change in physical functioning in older male veterans with HIV.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2019 Nov/Dec;35(11-12):1034-43. doi: 10.1089/aid.2018.0296..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Health Status, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Elderly, Men's Health
Shah NR, Ahmed ST, Winchester DE
Facility-level variation in stress test utilization in veterans with ischemic heart disease.
The aim of this study was to quantify variation in cardiac stress test utilization across the Veterans Health Administration (VA) in patients with established ischemic heart disease (IHD). The investigators used VA datasets to identify adults with IHD (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and/or coronary artery bypass grafting) with a primary care clinic visit at the VA in fiscal year 2014.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Shah NR, Ahmed ST, Winchester DE .
Facility-level variation in stress test utilization in veterans with ischemic heart disease.
JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jul;12(7 Pt 1):1292-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.02.020..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Utilization, Practice Patterns, Imaging
Rogal SS, Beste LA, Youk A
Characteristics of opioid prescriptions to veterans with cirrhosis.
The goal of this study was to assess time trends in the prescribing of opioids and factors associated with patients with cirrhosis receiving opioids. National Veterans Health Administration data was used to assess characteristics of cirrhosis patients and their prescriptions for opioids.
AHRQ-funded; HS019461.
Citation: Rogal SS, Beste LA, Youk A .
Characteristics of opioid prescriptions to veterans with cirrhosis.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 May;17(6):1165-74.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2018.10.021..
Keywords: Medication, Medication: Safety, Opioids, Patient Safety, Practice Patterns
Rogal SS, Yakovchenko V, Waltz TJ
Longitudinal assessment of the association between implementation strategy use and the uptake of hepatitis C treatment: year 2.
The goal of the evaluation described in this article was to assess how site-level implementation strategies from providers in the VA’s Hepatitis Innovation Team (HIT) Collaborative were associated with hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation and how the use of these strategies changed over time. Key HCV providers at each of the 130 VA sites was asked in two consecutive fiscal years to complete an online survey which examined the use of 73 implementation strategies; providers reported on whether or not the use of each implementation strategy was due to the HIT Collaborative. The number of veterans initiating treatment for HCV at each site was captured using national data. The strategies that were more likely to be used in the second year included promoting adaptability, sharing knowledge between sites, tailoring strategies to deliver HCV care, and using mass media. The total number of veterans initiating treatment was positively correlated with the total number of strategies used in both years. The authors conclude that their results suggest the measuring of implementation strategies over time is a useful way to catalog implementation of evidence-based practices over time and over multiple settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS019461.
Citation: Rogal SS, Yakovchenko V, Waltz TJ .
Longitudinal assessment of the association between implementation strategy use and the uptake of hepatitis C treatment: year 2.
Implement Sci 2019 Apr 8;14(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s13012-019-0881-7..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Hepatitis, Implementation
Hysong SJ, Amspoker AB, Hughes AM
Impact of team configuration and team stability on primary care quality.
This paper discusses an upcoming study on the impact of team configurations on primary care effectiveness in clinics in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Recommendations are based on the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model. Researchers plan to extract data from over 7000 primary care teams in the VHA’s Team Assignment Reports (TAR).
AHRQ-funded; HS025982.
Citation: Hysong SJ, Amspoker AB, Hughes AM .
Impact of team configuration and team stability on primary care quality.
Implement Sci 2019 Mar 6;14(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13012-019-0864-8..
Keywords: Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care, Quality of Care, Teams
Dworsky JQ, Castle SC, Lee CC
Gerofit prehabilitation pilot program: preparing frail older veterans for surgery.
Older Veterans are increasingly undergoing surgery and are at particularly high risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Prehabilitation has emerged as a method to improve postoperative outcomes by enhancing the patient's preoperative condition. IN this paper, the authors present data from their prehabilitation pilot project and plans for expansion and dissemination of a nationwide quality improvement effort.
Citation: Dworsky JQ, Castle SC, Lee CC .
Gerofit prehabilitation pilot program: preparing frail older veterans for surgery.
J Healthc Qual 2019 Mar/Apr;41(2):91-98. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000185..
Keywords: Elderly, Patient Safety, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Surgery
Basu A, Sohn MW, Bartle B
Development and validation of the real-world progression in diabetes (RAPIDS) model.
This study investigated the value of using the real-world progression in diabetes (RAPIDS) model to increase medication inherence among Veterans Administration (VA) patients. Over 500,000 patients were tracked in 2003 with a 9-year followup. The model includes predictions as to outcomes and medication adherence and was found to be effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS018542.
Citation: Basu A, Sohn MW, Bartle B .
Development and validation of the real-world progression in diabetes (RAPIDS) model.
Med Decis Making 2019 Feb;39(2):137-51. doi: 10.1177/0272989x18817521..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Diabetes, Medication
Aspinall SL, Springer SP, Zhao X
Central nervous system medication burden and risk of recurrent serious falls and hip fractures in Veterans Affairs nursing home residents.
This study investigated the association between taking central nervous system (CNS) medications with the risk of serious falls and hip fractures. Study participants were residents at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Community Living Center (CLC) between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2009. This was a nested case-control study. The investigators concluded that there was a higher risk in those residents receiving 3.0 or more daily CNS medications.
AHRQ-funded; HS023779.
Citation: Aspinall SL, Springer SP, Zhao X .
Central nervous system medication burden and risk of recurrent serious falls and hip fractures in Veterans Affairs nursing home residents.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Jan;67(1):74-80. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15603..
Keywords: Elderly, Falls, Injuries and Wounds, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Patient Safety, Risk
Jackson SS, Lydecker AD, Magder LS
Development and validation of a clinical prediction rule to predict transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nursing homes.
This study’s goal was to develop and validate a clinical prediction rule that can predict transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in nursing homes. The researchers wanted to identify residents who were most likely to transmit MRSA to health-care workers (HCWs) on their hands or clothing during clinical care. Demographic and clinical characteristic data was used from residents of community nursing homes in Maryland and Michigan from 2012 to 2014. The clinical prediction rule that was developed was then externally validated in a cohort of Department of Veterans Affairs nursing home residents from 7 states between 2012 and 2016. Variables in the prediction model included sex, race, resident dependency on care, the presence of any medical device, diabetes mellitus, and chronic skin breakdown. The prediction model showed good performance although it showed less utility in the validation cohort.
AHRQ-funded; HS019979.
Citation: Jackson SS, Lydecker AD, Magder LS .
Development and validation of a clinical prediction rule to predict transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nursing homes.
Am J Epidemiol 2019 Jan;188(1):214-21. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwy220..
Keywords: Elderly, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Long-Term Care, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Nursing Homes, Patient Safety
Ahuja V, Sohn MW, Birge JR
Geographic variation in rosiglitazone use surrounding FDA warnings in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The purpose of this study was to document variation in the use of rosiglitazone and other glucose- lowering drugs across 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks. It found that aggregate rosiglitazone use increased monotonically from 7.7 percent, in the quarter it was added to the VA formulary, to a peak of 15.3 percent in the quarter when the FDA issued the safety alert.
AHRQ-funded; HS018542.
Citation: Ahuja V, Sohn MW, Birge JR .
Geographic variation in rosiglitazone use surrounding FDA warnings in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2015 Dec;21(12):1214-34. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2015.21.12.1214.
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Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medication: Safety, Medication, Practice Patterns
LaFleur J, Hoop R, Korner E
Predictors of early discontinuation of pegylated interferon for reasons other than lack of efficacy in United States veterans with chronic hepatitis C.
The researchers determined whether selected patient characteristics predicted discontinued therapy for reasons other than lack of efficcacy (non-LOE) using national databases of U.S. veterans. They found that predictors of greatest magnitude included comorbidities of myocardial infarction/congestive heart failure, renal disease, platelets 100/mm or more, Black race, albumin 3.5 mg/dl or more, sleep aid use, and poor persistence with antidepressants and antihypertensive agents.
AHRQ-funded; HS018582.
Citation: LaFleur J, Hoop R, Korner E .
Predictors of early discontinuation of pegylated interferon for reasons other than lack of efficacy in United States veterans with chronic hepatitis C.
Gastroenterol Nurs 2015 Nov-Dec;38(6):417-28. doi: 10.1097/sga.0000000000000214.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Hepatitis, Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Heslin KC, Gable A, Dobalian A
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC
Special services for women in substance use disorders treatment: how does the Department of Veterans Affairs compare with other providers?
The researchers examined the prevalence of programs and key services for women in VA facilities in a survey of 14,311 substance use disorder treatment facilities. Approximately 31 percent of facilities had special programs exclusively for women. Although the VA had the lowest prevalence of programs for women, at 19.1 percent, it offered a significantly higher average number of key services for women.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Heslin KC, Gable A, Dobalian A .
Special services for women in substance use disorders treatment: how does the Department of Veterans Affairs compare with other providers?
Womens Health Issues 2015 Nov-Dec;25(6):666-72. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2015.07.005.
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Keywords: Substance Abuse, Women, Healthcare Delivery
Price LE, Shea K, Gephart S
The Veterans Affairs's Corporate Data Warehouse: uses and implications for nursing research and practice.
This article described the developments in research associated with the VHA's transition into the world of Big Data analytics through Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) utilization. The authors found that the most commonly-occurring research topics are pharmacy/medications, systems issues, and weight management/obesity. They concluded that, despite the potential benefit of data mining techniques to improve patient care and services, the CDW and alternative analytical approaches are underutilized by researchers and clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS022908.
Citation: Price LE, Shea K, Gephart S .
The Veterans Affairs's Corporate Data Warehouse: uses and implications for nursing research and practice.
Nurs Adm Q 2015 Oct-Dec;39(4):311-8. doi: 10.1097/naq.0000000000000118.
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Keywords: Data, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Nursing
LaFleur J, DuVall SL, Wilson T
Analysis of osteoporosis treatment patterns with bisphosphonates and outcomes among postmenopausal veterans.
This study evaluated bisphosphonate change behaviors (switching, discontinuing, or reinitiating) over time, as well as fractures and costs, among a large, national cohort of postmenopausal veterans. It found that most bisphosphonate patients discontinue treatment at some point, which did not significantly increase the risk of fracture in this majority non-high risk population. Bisphosphonate change behaviors were associated with significantly lower osteoporosis costs, but significantly higher total costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS018582.
Citation: LaFleur J, DuVall SL, Wilson T .
Analysis of osteoporosis treatment patterns with bisphosphonates and outcomes among postmenopausal veterans.
Bone 2015 Sep;78:174-85. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2015.04.022..
Keywords: Osteoporosis, Medication, Elderly, Injuries and Wounds
Ricci KA, Griffin AR, Heslin KC
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC
Evacuate or shelter-in-place? The role of corporate memory and political environment in hospital-evacuation decision making.
This study was conducted to identify factors that most heavily influenced the decisions to evacuate the Manhattan Veterans Administration Medical Center before Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 senior leaders on the processes and factors that influenced their evacuation decisions.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Ricci KA, Griffin AR, Heslin KC .
Evacuate or shelter-in-place? The role of corporate memory and political environment in hospital-evacuation decision making.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015 Jun;30(3):233-8. doi: 10.1017/s1049023x15000229..
Keywords: Emergency Preparedness, Decision Making, Hospitals
Ripley DC, Kwong PL, Vogel WB
How does geographic access affect in-hospital mortality for veterans with acute ischemic stroke?
This study examined the relationship between estimated travel time to admitting hospital and mortality for veterans with acute ischemic stroke. It found that even after adjusting for the confounding effects of patient, treatment, and facility characteristics, travel time from home to admitting VAMC was significantly associated with inhospital mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS018540.
Citation: Ripley DC, Kwong PL, Vogel WB .
How does geographic access affect in-hospital mortality for veterans with acute ischemic stroke?
Med Care 2015 Jun;53(6):501-9. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000366..
Keywords: Stroke, Mortality, Access to Care
Storzbach D, O'Neil ME, Roost SM
Comparing the neuropsychological test performance of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans with and without blast exposure, mild traumatic brain injury, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.
The purpose of this paper was to compare neuropsychological test performance of veterans with and without mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), blast exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The authors found that, although some mild neurocognitive effects were associated with blast exposure, these neurocognitive effects might be better explained by PTSD symptom severity rather than blast exposure or MTBI history alone.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981; HS019456.
Citation: Storzbach D, O'Neil ME, Roost SM .
Comparing the neuropsychological test performance of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans with and without blast exposure, mild traumatic brain injury, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.
J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2015 May;21(5):353-63. doi: 10.1017/s1355617715000326.
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Keywords: Brain Injury, Behavioral Health, Neurological Disorders
Jump RL, Heath B, Crnich CJ
Knowledge, beliefs, and confidence regarding infections and antimicrobial stewardship: a survey of Veterans Affairs providers who care for older adults.
The reseasrchers conducted an anonymous survey of providers who care for older adults from 10 Veterans Affairs long-term-care facilities to assess their knowledge, beliefs, and confidence toward treating infections and antimicrobial stewardship. They found that the average score on 5 questions assessing knowledge was 3.6 out of 5.0, thus supporting a need for education regarding the care of older adults with infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS023866.
Citation: Jump RL, Heath B, Crnich CJ .
Knowledge, beliefs, and confidence regarding infections and antimicrobial stewardship: a survey of Veterans Affairs providers who care for older adults.
Am J Infect Control 2015 Mar;43(3):298-300. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.11.017.
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Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Long-Term Care, Medication
Hansen RA, Voils CI, Farley JF
Prescriber continuity and medication adherence for complex patients.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between number of prescribers, number of conditions, and refill adherence to oral medications among 7,933 veterans who were identified with 1 to 4 cardiometabolic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or heart failure. It found that for veterans taking antihypertensive or lipid-lowering medications, having more prescribers involved in care modestly decreased the likelihood of being adherent.
AHRQ-funded; HS019445.
Citation: Hansen RA, Voils CI, Farley JF .
Prescriber continuity and medication adherence for complex patients.
Ann Pharmacother 2015 Mar;49(3):293-302. doi: 10.1177/1060028014563266..
Keywords: Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medication, Chronic Conditions
Pershing S, Pal Chee C, Asch SM
Treating age-related macular degeneration: comparing the use of two drugs among Medicare and Veterans Affairs populations.
The researchers examined the diffusion of new biologics ranibizumab and bevacizumab, both for the treatment of macular degeneration but differing in price, in fee-for-service Medicare and Veterans Affairs (VA) systems during 2005-11, in part to assess the impact that differing financial incentives had on prescribing. Their analysis indicated that there are opportunities in both the VA and Medicare to adopt more value-conscious treatment patterns and that multiple mechanisms exist to influence utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS018434.
Citation: Pershing S, Pal Chee C, Asch SM .
Treating age-related macular degeneration: comparing the use of two drugs among Medicare and Veterans Affairs populations.
Health Aff 2015 Feb;34(2):229-38. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1032.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Eye Disease and Health, Medicare, Medication
Chang SH, Luo S, O'Brian KK
Association between metformin use and progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to multiple myeloma in US veterans with diabetes mellitus: a population-based retrospective cohort study.
The authors assessed the association between metformin use and progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to multiple myeloma. They found that metformin use was associated with a reduced risk of progression to multiple myeloma.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Chang SH, Luo S, O'Brian KK .
Association between metformin use and progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to multiple myeloma in US veterans with diabetes mellitus: a population-based retrospective cohort study.
Lancet Haematol 2015 Jan;2(1):e30-6. doi: 10.1016/s2352-3026(14)00037-4.
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Keywords: Diabetes, Medication, Outcomes, Risk
Aspinall SL, Zhao X, Semia TP
Epidemiology of drug-disease interactions in older veteran nursing home residents.
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with potentially inappropriate drug– disease combinations according to the AGS 2012 Beers criteria that are clinically important in elderly adults residing in Veterans Affairs Community Living Centers. It found that drug-disease interactions were common in older residents with dementia or cognitive impairment or a history of falls or hip fracture.
AHRQ-funded; HS018721.
Citation: Aspinall SL, Zhao X, Semia TP .
Epidemiology of drug-disease interactions in older veteran nursing home residents.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2015 Jan;63(1):77-84. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13197..
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Dementia, Elderly, Falls, Injuries and Wounds, Medication, Medication: Safety, Neurological Disorders, Nursing Homes, Patient Safety
Moga DC, Carnahan RM, Lund BC
Risks and benefits of bladder antimuscarinics among elderly residents of Veterans Affairs Community Living Centers.
This study evaluated the risks and benefits of drugs to reduce urinary incontinence that were used by elderly VA nursing home residents. It found that the use of these drugs, known as bladder antimuscarinics, resulted in improved continence rates and better social engagement but also led to a higher risk of fractures in new users.
AHRQ-funded; HS016094
Citation: Moga DC, Carnahan RM, Lund BC .
Risks and benefits of bladder antimuscarinics among elderly residents of Veterans Affairs Community Living Centers.
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013 Oct;14(10):749-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.03.008..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Medication: Safety, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Injuries and Wounds, Patient Safety