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
- (-) Cancer (8)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (3)
- Caregiving (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (3)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (4)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Imaging (1)
- Medication (2)
- Men's Health (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Outcomes (3)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (4)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Quality of Life (2)
- Respiratory Conditions (2)
- Surgery (1)
- (-) Treatments (8)
- Young Adults (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 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedMoazzezi M, Rose B, Kisling K
Prospects for daily online adaptive radiotherapy via ethos for prostate cancer patients without nodal involvement using unedited CBCT auto-segmentation.
This study’s objective was to assess the new online adaptive radiation therapy technology called Ethos for treating prostate cancer. Twenty-five prostate patients previously treated at the author’s clinic were re-planed using an Ethos emulator. Clinical margins of 3 mm posterior, 5 mm left/right/anterior, and 7 mm superior/inferior were used. Dose metrics were compared to unadapted plans to evaluate clinical target volumes (CTV) and online adaptive radiation (OAR) dose changes. Overall, 96% of fractions required auto-segmentation edits, although they were mostly minor. Adaptation improved CTV 98% for the 24 patients with minor auto-segmentation corrections. However, for one in 25 patients, large contour edits were required.
AHRQ-funded; HS025440.
Citation: Moazzezi M, Rose B, Kisling K .
Prospects for daily online adaptive radiotherapy via ethos for prostate cancer patients without nodal involvement using unedited CBCT auto-segmentation.
J Appl Clin Med Phys 2021 Oct;22(10):82-93. doi: 10.1002/acm2.13399..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Treatments, Imaging
Garsa A, Jang JK, Baxi S
Radiation therapy for brain metastases: a systematic review.
This systematic review synthesizes the available evidence on radiation therapy for brain metastases. A literature search was conducted using the major medical databases and included randomized controlled trials and large observational studies which evaluated whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone or in combination as initial or postoperative treatment, with or without systemic therapy for adults with brain metastases due to lung cancer, breast cancer, or melanoma. No statistically significant difference in overall survival was found with a combination of SRS plus WBRT compared with SRS alone or WBRT alone. Radiation therapy after surgery did not improve overall survival compared with surgery alone. WBRT plus systemic therapy was associated with increased risks for vomiting compared with WBRT alone. There was not enough data on patient-relevant outcomes such as quality of life, functional status, and cognitive effects.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500010I.
Citation: Garsa A, Jang JK, Baxi S .
Radiation therapy for brain metastases: a systematic review.
Pract Radiat Oncol 2021 Sep-Oct;11(5):354-65. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2021.04.002..
Keywords: Cancer, Surgery, Treatments, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Caram MEV, Burns J, Kumbier K
Factors influencing treatment of veterans with advanced prostate cancer.
This study examined factors influencing treatment of veterans with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Clinician and nonclinical factors associated with the first-line treatment for CPRC using data from the Veterans Health Administration was used. Almost 5000 patients who received abiraterone, enzalutamide, docetaxel, or ketoconazole from 2010 through 2017 were identified. Increasing age was associated with receipt of abiraterone or enzalutamide versus docetaxel. Greater preexisting comorbidity was associated with enzalutamide versus abiraterone. Patients with higher PSA values at the start of treatment were more likely to receive docetaxel than the other three treatments. African American men were more likely to receive ketoconazole.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Caram MEV, Burns J, Kumbier K .
Factors influencing treatment of veterans with advanced prostate cancer.
Cancer 2021 Jul 1;127(13):2311-18. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33485..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Men's Health, Treatments
Pasalic D, Barocas DA, Huang LC
Five-year outcomes from a prospective comparative effectiveness study evaluating external-beam radiotherapy with or without low-dose-rate brachytherapy boost for localized prostate cancer.
This retrospective cohort study’s objective was to determine if there were differences in treatment-related regret or survival between prostate cancer patients who received external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without a brachytherapy boost (EBRT-LDR), over a 5-year period. The cohort included 695 men who met inclusion criteria and received either EBRT (n=583) or EBRT-LDR (n=112). Men who received either treatment reported clinically worse urinary irritation and bowel function through 3 years but resolved after 5 years. Men who received EBRT-LDR continued to report moderate- to-big problems with urinary function bother and frequent urination at 5 years. There was no difference in treatment-related regret or survival between patients who received either treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Pasalic D, Barocas DA, Huang LC .
Five-year outcomes from a prospective comparative effectiveness study evaluating external-beam radiotherapy with or without low-dose-rate brachytherapy boost for localized prostate cancer.
Cancer 2021 Jun 1;127(11):1912-25. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33388..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Treatments
Maduekwe UN, Herb JN, Esther RJ
Pathologic nodal staging for clinically node negative soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.
This study looked at the need for pathological nodal staging in patients with extremity synovial, clear cell, angiosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and epithelioid (SCARE) soft tissue sarcoma. Patients included were without clinical nodal involvement undergoing surgical resection in the National Cancer Database (2004-2017). The cohort included 4158 patients, with 669 patients (16%) undergoing regional lymph node surgery (RLNS). Patients with epithelioid and clear cell sarcomas were most likely to undergo RLNS. Forty-five (7%) had positive nodes with clear cell sarcoma (14%) and angiosarcoma (13%) having the highest rates of nodal positivity. Five-year survival was reduced in patients with positive nodes.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Maduekwe UN, Herb JN, Esther RJ .
Pathologic nodal staging for clinically node negative soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.
J Surg Oncol 2021 May;123(8):1792-800. doi: 10.1002/jso.26465..
Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Treatments
Heneghan MB, Hussain T, Barrera L
Access to technology and preferences for an mHealth intervention to promote medication adherence in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: approach leveraging behavior change techniques.
This study’s objectives were to examine access to mobile technology and preferences for an mHealth intervention to improve medication adherence in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Parents of children with ALL as well as adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with ALL who received maintenance chemotherapy were given a cross-sectional survey. Findings showed that parents, adolescents, and AYAs reported ubiquitous access to mobile technology and strong interest in multiple adherence-specific mHealth app features. Parents and AYAs provided valuable insight into preferred features for a multifunctional behavioral intervention to promote medication adherence in pediatric ALL.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Heneghan MB, Hussain T, Barrera L .
Access to technology and preferences for an mHealth intervention to promote medication adherence in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: approach leveraging behavior change techniques.
J Med Internet Res 2021 Feb 18;23(2):e24893. doi: 10.2196/24893..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Young Adults, Caregiving, Cancer, Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Health Information Technology (HIT), Treatments
Gupta A, Sedhom R, Sharma R
Nonpharmacological interventions for managing breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer: a systematic review.
The purpose of this review was to evaluate the advantages and harms of nonpharmacological interventions for managing breathlessness in adults with advanced cancer. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for English-language studies about randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials, controlled trials, and observational studies. Findings included the safety and association with improved breathlessness of several nonpharmacological interventions for adults with advanced cancer. Recommendations included incorporating nonpharmacological interventions as first-line treatment for adults with advanced cancer and breathlessness.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500006I.
Citation: Gupta A, Sedhom R, Sharma R .
Nonpharmacological interventions for managing breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer: a systematic review.
JAMA Oncol 2021 Feb;7(2):290-98. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.5184..
Keywords: Cancer, Respiratory Conditions, Treatments, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Quality of Life, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Feliciano JL, Waldfogel JM, Sharma R
Pharmacologic interventions for breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the use of pharmacological interventions for breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer. Studies were identified from database inception to May 2020 using predefined eligibility criteria. Pharmacologic intervention benefits and harms were compared, focusing on breathlessness, anxiety, exercise capacity and health-related quality of life. Out of 7729 unique citations, 19 studies with a total of 1424 patients were included. Opioids were not associated with more effectiveness than placebo for improving breathlessness or exercise capacity. Anxiolytics were also not associated with more effectiveness than placebo for breathlessness or anxiety. There was limited evidence for other pharmacologic interventions. There was some harm, but it was minimal in those short-term studies.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500006I.
Citation: Feliciano JL, Waldfogel JM, Sharma R .
Pharmacologic interventions for breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Feb;4(2):e2037632. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.37632..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Respiratory Conditions, Medication, Treatments, Opioids, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Quality of Life, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research