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
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Antibiotics (6)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (6)
- Asthma (3)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Community-Acquired Infections (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Critical Care (1)
- Decision Making (1)
- Depression (1)
- Elderly (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (3)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Hospitals (1)
- Maternal Care (1)
- (-) Medication (13)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Pneumonia (2)
- Practice Patterns (3)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Primary Care (3)
- Public Health (1)
- Quality of Care (1)
- (-) Respiratory Conditions (13)
- Skin Conditions (1)
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (1)
- Women (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 13 of 13 Research Studies DisplayedSoper NS, Appukutty AJ, Paje D
Antibiotic overuse after discharge from medical short-stay units.
This study investigated antibiotic overuse after discharge from medical short-stay units (SSUs). This cross-sectional study included patients hospitalized in 2 different medical SSUs with a total of 40 beds at a single academic medical center. Eligible adults were discharged with an oral antibiotic from either SSU from May 2018 to September 2019. Of 100 patients discharged from SSUs with antibiotics, 47 had a skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI), 22 pneumonia, 21 UTI, and 10 had “other” infections. Overall, 78 cases (78%) were defined as overuse, including 39 of 47 of those treated for SSTI, 17 of 21 for UTI, and 14 of 22 for pneumonia. The most common types of overuse were excess duration and guideline discordant selection. Examples of factors influencing overuse included consultant recommendations, miscalculation of duration, and the need for source control procedure.
AHRQ-funded; HS026530.
Citation: Soper NS, Appukutty AJ, Paje D .
Antibiotic overuse after discharge from medical short-stay units.
Nov;43(11):1689-92. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.346..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medication, Pneumonia, Skin Conditions, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Respiratory Conditions, Hospital Discharge
Snyder BM, Patterson MF, Gebretsadik T
Association between asthma status and prenatal antibiotic prescription fills among women in a Medicaid population.
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal asthma and outpatient prenatal antibiotic prescription fills to inform antibiotic stewardship. With data from the Tennessee Medicaid Program, findings showed that women with asthma had an increased risk of filling at least one prenatal antibiotic prescription and had an increased number of fills during pregnancy compared to women without asthma. These findings highlight that pregnant women with asthma disproportionately fill more antibiotic prescriptions during pregnancy.
AHRQ-funded; HS018454.
Citation: Snyder BM, Patterson MF, Gebretsadik T .
Association between asthma status and prenatal antibiotic prescription fills among women in a Medicaid population.
J Asthma 2022 Oct;59(10):2100-07. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1993247..
Keywords: Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Pregnancy, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medication, Maternal Care, Women, Chronic Conditions
Vaughn VM, Gandhi TN, Hofer TP
A statewide collaborative quality initiative to improve antibiotic duration and outcomes in patients hospitalized with uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia.
Researchers sought to improve antibiotic duration for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) across 41 hospitals participating in the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium (HMS). They found that, across diverse hospitals, HMS participation was associated with more appropriate use of short-course therapy and fewer adverse events in hospitalized patients with uncomplicated CAP.
AHRQ-funded; HS026530.
Citation: Vaughn VM, Gandhi TN, Hofer TP .
A statewide collaborative quality initiative to improve antibiotic duration and outcomes in patients hospitalized with uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia.
Clin Infect Dis 2022 Aug 31;75(3):460-67. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab950..
Keywords: Community-Acquired Infections, Pneumonia, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medication, Respiratory Conditions
Keller SC, Caballero TM, Tamma PD
AHRQ Author: Miller MA
Assessment of changes in visits and antibiotic prescribing during the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use aimed to improve antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory practices by engaging clinicians and staff to incorporate antibiotic stewardship into practice culture, communication, and decision-making. The study ran from December 2019 through November 2020. A total of 389 ambulatory care practices with over 6.5 million visits to 5483 clinicians were compared from the baseline to completion of the program. Participants included 82 primary care practices, 103 urgent care practices, 34 federally supported practices, 21 pediatric-only practices, 39 pediatric urgent care practices, 21 pediatric-only practices, and 14 other practice types. Of the 389 practices who completed the program, 75% submitted completed data. Visits per practice per month decreased from a mean of 1624 at baseline to a nadir of 906 early in the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020) and were 1797 at the end of the program. Total antibiotic prescribing decreased from 18.2% of visits at baseline to 9.5% at completion of the program. Acute respiratory infection (ARI) visits per practice per month decreased from a baseline of 321 to a nadir of 76 early in the pandemic (May 2020) and gradually increased through completion of the program (n = 239). Antibiotic prescribing for ARIs decreased from 39.2% at baseline to 24.7% at completion of the program.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I.
Citation: Keller SC, Caballero TM, Tamma PD .
Assessment of changes in visits and antibiotic prescribing during the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use and the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2220512. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.20512..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, COVID-19, Public Health, Respiratory Conditions
Kan K, Shaunfield S, Kanaley M
Health provider perspectives of electronic medication monitoring in outpatient asthma care: a qualitative investigation using the consolidated framework for implementation research.
This study’s objective was to quantitatively explore the experience of health providers using electronic medication monitoring (EMM) in pediatric outpatient asthma care. The authors conducted interviews with 10 health providers using the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR) on their EMM experience with asthma patients from 5 primary care or specialty clinics. The EMM tracked albuterol and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use. Health providers called parents whenever ICS adherence waned, or albuterol use increased. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and deductively analyzed. Most providers felt the intervention improved care delivery, but implementation of the intervention model would require additional employees to handle the increased administrative and clinical workload.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Kan K, Shaunfield S, Kanaley M .
Health provider perspectives of electronic medication monitoring in outpatient asthma care: a qualitative investigation using the consolidated framework for implementation research.
J Asthma 2022 Feb;59(2):342-51. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2020.1846745..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Albrecht JS, Park Y, Hur P
Adherence to maintenance medications among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. the role of depression.
The objective of this study was to assess the impact of depression on COPD maintenance medication adherence among of Medicare beneficiaries newly diagnosed with COPD. Average monthly adherence to COPD maintenance medications was low, peaking at 57 percent in the month after first fill and decreasing to 35 percent within 6 months. In the adjusted regression model, depression was associated with decreased adherence to COPD maintenance medications.
AHRQ-funded; HS024560.
Citation: Albrecht JS, Park Y, Hur P .
Adherence to maintenance medications among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. the role of depression.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2016 Sep;13(9):1497-504. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201602-136OC.
.
.
Keywords: Respiratory Conditions, Elderly, Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Depression
Gidengil CA, Mehrotra A, Beach S
What drives variation in antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections?
This study sought to identify the underlying factors driving variation in antibiotic prescribing across clinicians and settings. The investigators concluded that poor-quality antibiotic prescribing was associated with feeling rushed, believing less strongly that antibiotics were overused, and believing that patient demand was not an issue, factors that can be assessed and addressed in future interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS018419.
Citation: Gidengil CA, Mehrotra A, Beach S .
What drives variation in antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections?
J Gen Intern Med 2016 Aug;31(8):918-24. doi: 10.1007/s11606-016-3643-0..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Medication, Respiratory Conditions, Practice Patterns
Press VG, Arora VM, Trela KC
Effectiveness of interventions to teach metered-dose and diskus inhaler techniques. A randomized trial.
This study evaluated the relative effects of two different educational strategies (teach-to-goal instruction vs. brief verbal instruction) in adults hospitalized with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It concluded that, Acute care events were less common among teach-to-goal participants than brief intervention participants at 30 days (17 percent vs. 36 percent,), but not at 90 days.
AHRQ-funded; HS016967.
Citation: Press VG, Arora VM, Trela KC .
Effectiveness of interventions to teach metered-dose and diskus inhaler techniques. A randomized trial.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2016 Jun;13(6):816-24. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201509-603OC.
.
.
Keywords: Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Health Literacy, Medication
Renati S, Linder JA
Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.
The researchers measured the proportion of primary care acute respiratory infection (ARI) visits that may not require an office visit. They concluded that about two-thirds of primary care ARI visits may not be necessary for appropriate antibiotic management.
AHRQ-funded; HS018419.
Citation: Renati S, Linder JA .
Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.
Fam Pract 2016 Jun;33(3):312-7. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmw019.
.
.
Keywords: Decision Making, Medication, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Respiratory Conditions
Iyer AS, Dransfield MT
Serum eosinophils as a COPD biomarker: ready for prime time?
The authors discuss a study by Watz showing a robust association between the withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids and an increased risk of moderate-to-severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients with relatively high baseline serum eosinophil counts. They argue that, when combined with similar findings from other recent reports, serum eosinophils as a COPD biomarker are ready for prime time use.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Iyer AS, Dransfield MT .
Serum eosinophils as a COPD biomarker: ready for prime time?
Lancet Respir Med 2016 May;4(5):341-3. doi: 10.1016/s2213-2600(16)30040-6.
.
.
Keywords: Respiratory Conditions, Medication
Gidengil CA, Linder JA, Beach S
Using clinical vignettes to assess quality of care for acute respiratory infections.
Overprescribing of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) is common. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a vignette-based method to estimate clinician ARI antibiotic prescribing. The researchers concluded that responses to 3 clinical vignettes can identify clinicians with relatively poor quality ARI antibiotic prescribing. Vignettes may be a mechanism to target clinicians for quality improvement efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS018419.
Citation: Gidengil CA, Linder JA, Beach S .
Using clinical vignettes to assess quality of care for acute respiratory infections.
Inquiry 2016 Apr 20;53:pii: 0046958016636531. doi: 10.1177/0046958016636531..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Services Research (HSR), Medication, Practice Patterns, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Respiratory Conditions
Meeker D, Linder JA, Fox CR
Effect of behavioral interventions on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing among primary care practices: a randomized clinical trial.
The purpose of this study was to assess effects of behavioral interventions and rates of inappropriate (not guideline-concordant) antibiotic prescribing during ambulatory visits for acute respiratory tract infections. It concluded that among primary care practices, the use of accountable justification and peer comparison as behavioral interventions resulted in lower rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS019913.
Citation: Meeker D, Linder JA, Fox CR .
Effect of behavioral interventions on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing among primary care practices: a randomized clinical trial.
JAMA 2016 Feb 9;315(6):562-70. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.0275..
Keywords: Primary Care, Medication, Respiratory Conditions, Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
Kelesidis T, Braykov N, Uslan DZ
Indications and types of antibiotic agents used in 6 acute care hospitals, 2009-2010: a pragmatic retrospective observational study.
This study characterized the indications for antibiotic therapy, agents used, duration, combinations, and microbiological justification in 6 acute-care US facilities with varied location, size, and type of antimicrobial stewardship programs. It concluded that the use of broad-spectrum empirical therapy was prevalent in 6 US acute care facilities. Fluoroquinolones, vancomycin, and antipseudomonal penicillins were the most frequently used antibiotics, particularly for respiratory indications
AHRQ-funded; HS021188.
Citation: Kelesidis T, Braykov N, Uslan DZ .
Indications and types of antibiotic agents used in 6 acute care hospitals, 2009-2010: a pragmatic retrospective observational study.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016 Jan;37(1):70-9. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.226.
.
.
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Critical Care, Hospitals, Medication, Respiratory Conditions