National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Cardiovascular Conditions (6)
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (1)
- Communication (2)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (9)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (3)
- Heart Disease and Health (5)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Implementation (2)
- Neurological Disorders (1)
- Orthopedics (1)
- Outcomes (4)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (5)
- (-) Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (12)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Practice Improvement (1)
- Prevention (5)
- Primary Care (6)
- Quality Improvement (10)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (1)
- Quality Measures (1)
- (-) Quality of Care (12)
- Surgery (2)
- Transitions of Care (1)
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 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedKuzel AJ, Cuellar A, Nichols L
The EvidenceNOW practice support initiative: the Heart of Virginia Healthcare.
The purpose of this study was for The Heart of Virginia Health care (HVH) collaborative (one of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Evidence Now project’s 7 collaboratives) to test different ways to improve performance and outcomes on ABCS clinical quality measures (appropriate Aspirin use, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol control, and Smoking cessation counseling) within small primary care practices. The researchers recruited 264 eligible practices and randomized them to 3 cohorts in a stepped wedge design, with 173, utilizing 16 different EHRs, participated through the entire initiative. Trained coaches delivered the practice support curriculum to improve performance on the ABCS measures. The program included an initial kickoff meeting, 3 months of focused support, 9 months of continued support, and access to online materials and faculty. The intervention phase was shortened due to difficulty in recruiting a sufficient number of practices. The study found that the short HVH intervention had a small but statistically significant positive average effects on appropriate use of aspirin and other anti-thrombotics, small negative effects on blood pressure control, except for those practices which did not attend the kickoff, and small negative effects on smoking cessation counseling. The researchers concluded that the truncation of the intervention contributed to the lack of substantial improvements in the ABCS.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Kuzel AJ, Cuellar A, Nichols L .
The EvidenceNOW practice support initiative: the Heart of Virginia Healthcare.
J Am Board Fam Med 2022 Oct 18;35(5):979-89. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.05.210021..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Hornor MA, Liu JY, Hu QL
Surgical technical evidence review for acute appendectomy conducted for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery.
This evidence review uses enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) protocols developed for the AHRQ-funded Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery (ISCR Program) to develop ERPs for acute appendectomy surgery. The authors classified appendicitis into uncomplicated (nonperforated) and complicated (perforated or gangrenous) to help with risk stratification. They identified 13 components for appendectomy for review. The processes are organized by perioperative phase, and each phase includes the rationale, evidence review, summary of guidelines, and a recommendation summary of the evidence for or against inclusion in the ERP. Preoperative management components included: education and counseling; preoperative antibiotics; initial nonsurgical management for perforated appendicitis with abscess or phlegmon, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, delay for operation for 12-24 hours for uncomplicated appendicitis. Intraoperative management components include: laparoscopic surgical technique, peritoneal drain placement, urinary catheter placement, and prophylactic nasogastric tube insertion. Postoperative management components include same-day surgery discharge for uncomplicated appendicitis, antibiotics, early oral alimentation, and early mobilization. Of the ERPs reviewed: there was no evidence to support the routine use of abdominal drainage in patients undergoing appendectomies, urinary catheter insertion for laparoscopic surgery, use of prophylactic nasogastric tube placement, postoperative antibiotic use for uncomplicated appendicitis, and early oral alimentation for uncomplicated appendicitis.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Hornor MA, Liu JY, Hu QL .
Surgical technical evidence review for acute appendectomy conducted for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery.
J Am Coll Surg 2018 Dec;227(6):605-17.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.09.024..
Keywords: Surgery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient Safety, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Desai AD, Simon TD, Leyenaar JK
Utilizing family-centered process and outcome measures to assess hospital-to-home transition quality.
This commentary describes the success of using 8 new caregiver-reported measures to assess the quality of hospital- and emergency department (ED)-to-home transitions in pediatric patients. This measures were originally created by the national Pediatric Quality Measures Program mandated by the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). An original article describing these measures was published 2016 and there have been several follow-up studies. These measures are undergoing further testing.
AHRQ-funded; HS024133; HS024299; HS020506.
Citation: Desai AD, Simon TD, Leyenaar JK .
Utilizing family-centered process and outcome measures to assess hospital-to-home transition quality.
Acad Pediatr 2018 Nov - Dec;18(8):843-46. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2018.07.013..
Keywords: Hospital Discharge, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Transitions of Care, Quality of Care, Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Evidence-Based Practice
Baldwin LM, Fischer MA, Powell J
Virtual educational outreach intervention in primary care based on the principles of academic detailing.
This paper describes the efforts of the Healthy Hearts Northwest (H2N) EvidenceNOW cooperative in providing virtual outreach intervention in primary care based on the principles of academic detailing (AD). EvidenceNOW is AHRQ’s initiative to fund seven regional cooperatives to identify and implement effective strategies to improve the quality of cardiovascular care in communities across the United States. The H2N network covers three states: Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. For this initiative they recruited 259 primary care practices that had 10 full-time or fewer providers and met stage 1 electronic health record meaningful use criteria. The aim was to increase adoption of the four ABCS of heart disease prevention: Aspirin use by high-risk individuals, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. Due to the long distances and staffing limitations H2N decided to develop an educational outreach program using virtual visits instead of the traditional AD program structure. The findings and outcomes of this program is described in detail in this paper.
AHRQ-funded; HS023236; HS023908.
Citation: Baldwin LM, Fischer MA, Powell J .
Virtual educational outreach intervention in primary care based on the principles of academic detailing.
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2018 Fall;38(4):269-75. doi: 10.1097/ceh.0000000000000224..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Prevention
Ciolino JD, Jackson KL, Liss DT
Design of Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3): a practice-randomized, comparative effectiveness study.
The Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3) study is part of a nationwide effort, EvidenceNOW, seeking to better understand the ability of small primary care practices to improve "ABCS" clinical quality measures: appropriate Aspirin therapy, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. In this paper, the authors describe the design and randomization of the H3 study.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: Ciolino JD, Jackson KL, Liss DT .
Design of Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3): a practice-randomized, comparative effectiveness study.
Contemp Clin Trials 2018 Aug;71:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.06.004..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Prevention, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Chou AF, Homco JB, Nagykaldi Z
Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.
The Healthy Hearts for Oklahoma (H2O) Study proposes to build a quality improvement (QI) infrastructure by (1) constructing a sustainable Oklahoma Primary Healthcare Improvement Collaborative (OPHIC) to support dissemination and implementation (D&I) of QI methods; and (2) providing QI support in primary care practices to better manage patients at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. H2O has 263 small primary care practices across Oklahoma that receive the bundled QI intervention to improve ABCS (aspirin therapy, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation) performance. The infrastructure established as a result of this funding will help reach medically underserved Oklahomans, particularly among rural and tribal populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS023919.
Citation: Chou AF, Homco JB, Nagykaldi Z .
Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.
BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Jun 4;18(1):404. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3189-4.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Communication, Heart Disease and Health, Healthcare Delivery, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care, Prevention, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Nuckols TK, Conlon C, Robbins M
Quality of care and patient-reported outcomes in carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective observational study.
This prospective observational study examined the association of higher quality care for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with better outcomes. Adults diagnosed with CTS from 30 occupational health centers were recruited and their physicians' adherence to recommended care processes evaluated. Among 343 individuals, receiving better was associated with greater improvements. CTS symptoms showed greater improvement when physicians assessed and managed patient activity, when patients underwent necessary surgery, and when employers adjusted job tasks. The researchers conclude that efforts should be made to ensure patients with CTS receive essential care processes, including activity assessment and management as well as necessary surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS018982.
Citation: Nuckols TK, Conlon C, Robbins M .
Quality of care and patient-reported outcomes in carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective observational study.
Muscle Nerve 2018 Jun;57(6):896-904. doi: 10.1002/mus.26041..
Keywords: Neurological Disorders, Outcomes, Patient Experience, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Care
Rahman F, Guan J, Glazier RH
AHRQ Author: Bierman AS
Association between quality domains and health care spending across physician networks.
One of the more fundamental health policy questions is the relationship between health care quality and spending. Researchers measured 65 validated quality indicators (QI) across Ontario physician networks. Higher physician spending, especially outpatient primary care spending, was associated with lower rates of avoidable hospitalizations and higher rates of timely hospital-community transitions and moderately associated with lower readmission rates.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Rahman F, Guan J, Glazier RH .
Association between quality domains and health care spending across physician networks.
PLoS One 2018 Apr 3;13(4):e0195222. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195222.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Indicators (QIs)
Meyers D, Miller T, Genevro J
AHRQ Author: Meyers D, Miller T, Genevro J, Zhan C, De La Mare J, Fournier A, Bennett H, McNellis RJ
EvidenceNOW: Balancing primary care implementation and implementation research.
In 2015, AHRQ invested in the largest primary care research project in its history. EvidenceNOW is a $112 million effort to disseminate and implement patient-centered outcomes research evidence in more than 1,500 primary care practices and to study how quality-improvement support can build the capacity of primary care practices to understand and apply evidence. EvidenceNOW comprises 7 implementation research grants, each funded to provide external quality-improvement support to primary care practices to implement evidence-based cardiovascular care and to conduct rigorous internal evaluations of their work.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meyers D, Miller T, Genevro J .
EvidenceNOW: Balancing primary care implementation and implementation research.
Ann Fam Med 2018 Apr;16(Suppl 1):S5-s11. doi: 10.1370/afm.2196.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Implementation
McHugh M, Brown T, Liss DT
Practice facilitators' and leaders' perspectives on a facilitated quality improvement program.
The study’s purpose was to describe practice facilitators' and practice leaders' perspectives on implementation of a practice facilitator-supported quality improvement program and describe where their perspectives aligned and diverged. Practice leaders preferred targeted assistance, particularly electronic health record documentation guidance and linkages to state smoking cessation programs; however, practice facilitators reported that the easiest interventions were those that did not alter care practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: McHugh M, Brown T, Liss DT .
Practice facilitators' and leaders' perspectives on a facilitated quality improvement program.
Ann Fam Med 2018 Apr;16(Suppl 1):S65-s71. doi: 10.1370/afm.2197.
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Keywords: Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Improvement
Childers CP, Siletz AE, Singer ES
Surgical technical evidence review for elective total joint replacement conducted for the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery.
AHRQ, the American College of Surgeons, and the Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patent Safety and Quality have developed the Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery - a national effort to catalyze implementation of practices to improve perioperative care and enhance recovery of surgical patients. This review synthesizes evidence that can be used to develop a protocol for elective total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I.
Citation: Childers CP, Siletz AE, Singer ES .
Surgical technical evidence review for elective total joint replacement conducted for the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery.
Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil 2018 Feb 12;9:2151458518754451. doi: 10.1177/2151458518754451.
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Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Orthopedics, Patient Safety, Surgery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Ono SS, Crabtree BF, Hemler JR
Taking innovation to scale in primary care practices: the functions of health care extension.
Health care extension is an approach to providing external support to primary care practices with the aim of diffusing innovation. EvidenceNOW was launched to rapidly disseminate and implement evidence-based guidelines for cardiovascular preventive care in the primary care setting. This article describes how cooperatives varied in their approaches to extension and provides early empirical evidence that health care extension is a feasible and potentially useful approach for providing quality improvement.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Ono SS, Crabtree BF, Hemler JR .
Taking innovation to scale in primary care practices: the functions of health care extension.
Health Aff 2018 Feb;37(2):222-30. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1100.
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Keywords: Primary Care, Implementation, Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Practice Improvement, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention