National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
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- Children/Adolescents (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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedEverson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and trends in opioid prescribing. Results suggested that an increased use of EPCS was not associated with decreased opioid prescribing or a decrease in the amount prescribed and may have been associated with a small increase in opioid prescribing. Recommendations included levers to ensure that EPCS is integrated with outside data and that information is actively used to inform prescribing decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW .
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2027951. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27951..
Keywords: Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Lozada MJ, Raji MA, Goodwin JS
Opioid prescribing by primary care providers: a cross-sectional analysis of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physician prescribing patterns.
The purpose of this study was to identify prescription opioid over-prescribers by comparing prescribing patterns of primary care physicians (MDs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs). Participants were a national sample of 2015 Medicare Part D enrollees. Findings showed that most NPs/PAs prescribed opioids in a pattern similar to MDs, but NPs/PAs had more outliers who prescribed high-frequency, high-dose opioids than did MDs. Recommendations included efforts to reduce opioid overprescribing including targeted provider education, risk stratification, and state legislation.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Lozada MJ, Raji MA, Goodwin JS .
Opioid prescribing by primary care providers: a cross-sectional analysis of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physician prescribing patterns.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Sep;35(9):2584-92. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05823-0..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Medication: Safety, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Physician, Provider: Physician Assistant, Provider
Cotter JM, Tyler A, Reese J
Steroid variability in pediatric inpatient asthmatics: survey on provider preferences of dexamethasone versus prednisone.
This study looked at pediatric emergency department (ED) inpatient use of dexamethasone versus prednisone by providers for asthma treatment. A survey was distributed to providers who care for inpatient asthmatics. Ninety-two providers completed the survey. When patients received dexamethasone in the ED, 44% continued dexamethasone, 14% switched to prednisone, 2% stopped steroid use, and 40% said it depended on the circumstances. Hospitalists were significantly more likely to continue dexamethasone than pulmonologists (61% versus 15%). Switching to prednisone included factors such as severity of exacerbation (73%) and asthma history (47%). Just over half of providers (5f1%) felt uncomfortable using dexamethasone because of “minimal data to support [its] use inpatient.”
AHRQ-funded; HS026512.
Citation: Cotter JM, Tyler A, Reese J .
Steroid variability in pediatric inpatient asthmatics: survey on provider preferences of dexamethasone versus prednisone.
J Asthma 2020 Sep;57(9):942-48. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2019.1622713..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Medication, Inpatient Care, Care Management, Hospitalization, Emergency Department, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider
Rhee TG, Olfson M, Nierenberg AA
20-year trends in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder by psychiatrists in outpatient care settings.
Pharmacological options for treating bipolar disorder have increased over the past 20 years, with several second-generation antipsychotics receiving regulatory approval in the 1990s. In this study the authors describe trends in use of pharmacological agents in the outpatient management of bipolar disorder. The authors concluded that substantial changes occurred in the treatment of bipolar disorder over the past 20 years, with second-generation antipsychotics in large measure supplanting traditional mood stabilizers.
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Rhee TG, Olfson M, Nierenberg AA .
20-year trends in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder by psychiatrists in outpatient care settings.
Am J Psychiatry 2020 Aug;177(8):706-15. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19091000..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Medication, Practice Patterns, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider
Suda KJ, Zhou J, Rowan SA
Overprescribing of opioids to adults by dentists in the U.S., 2011-2015.
Dentists prescribe 1 in 10 opioid prescriptions in the U.S. When opioids are necessary, national guidelines recommend the prescription of low-dose opioids for a short duration. This study assessed the appropriate prescribing of opioids by dentists before guideline implementation. The investigators concluded that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 2 opioids prescribed to adult dental patients are overprescribed.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Suda KJ, Zhou J, Rowan SA .
Overprescribing of opioids to adults by dentists in the U.S., 2011-2015.
Am J Prev Med 2020 Apr;58(4):473-86. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.006..
Keywords: Opioids, Dental and Oral Health, Provider, Practice Patterns, Medication
Larach DB, Waljee JF, Hu HM
Patterns of initial opioid prescribing to opioid-naive patients.
Researchers sought to determine the proportion of initial opioid prescriptions for opioid-naive patients prescribed by surgeons, dentists, and emergency physicians. Data from a nationwide insurance claims dataset was used to study US adults aged 18 to 64 years. Over the study period, the researchers found that surgical patients received the highest proportion of potent opioids. They concluded that initial opioid prescribing attributable to surgical and dental care was increasing relative to primary and chronic pain care. They recommended evidence-based guideline development for surgical and dental prescribing in order to curb iatrogenic opioid morbidity and mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Larach DB, Waljee JF, Hu HM .
Patterns of initial opioid prescribing to opioid-naive patients.
Ann Surg 2020 Feb;271(2):290-95. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002969..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider