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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.
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1 to 3 of 3 Research Studies DisplayedAiken LH, Sloane DM, McHugh MD
A repeated cross-sectional study of nurses immediately before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for action
The goal of this cross-sectional study was to establish whether hospital nursing care shortages are primarily due to the COVID pandemic, and therefore likely to subside, or if shortages are due to understaffing and poor working conditions that predated the pandemic. The study considered registered nurses in New York and Illinois, and a subset of staff nurses employed in 357 hospitals, before and during the pandemic. While no evidence was found to show that large numbers of nurses left in the first 18 months of the pandemic, the study’s findings indicate that nurses in hospitals with better staffing and more favorable work environments prior to the pandemic reported significantly better outcomes. The authors concluded that policies that prevent chronic understaffing have the most potential to stabilize the hospital nurse workforce.
AHRQ-funded; HS028978.
Citation: Aiken LH, Sloane DM, McHugh MD .
A repeated cross-sectional study of nurses immediately before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for action
Nurs Outlook 2023 Jan-Feb; 71(1):101903. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.11.007..
Keywords: COVID-19, Provider: Nurse, Workforce, Burnout
Jin DP, Samuel S, Bowden K
Just-in-time electronic health record retraining to support clinician redeployment during the COVID-19 surge.
The purpose of this study was to examine the use of training in ICU-specific electronic health record (EHR) workflows prior to redeployment of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) as ICU clinicians during the COVID-19 surge. The researchers utilized clinical informatics (CI) fellows to lead a multidisciplinary team to deploy a customized HER curriculum consisting of in-person classes and online video modules. Eighteen CRNAs participated, with 15 completing surveys immediately after the in-person training session, and 12 participants completing a post-deployment survey. The study found that all respondents of the post-training survey thought the training was useful and improved their EHR skills. Of the 12 participants who completed the post-deployment survey, all said that the training both increased their comfort in the ICU and that the concepts learned would be useful in their anesthesia role, and 91% indicated the training prepared them to work in the ICU with minimal guidance. The researchers concluded that CI fellows are uniquely prepared to deliver EHR training for clinician deployment in operational crisis response.
AHRQ-funded; HS02373.
Citation: Jin DP, Samuel S, Bowden K .
Just-in-time electronic health record retraining to support clinician redeployment during the COVID-19 surge.
Appl Clin Inform 2022 Aug 29;13(5):949-55. doi: 10.1055/a-1933-1798..
Keywords: COVID-19, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Public Health, Training, Workforce
Vranas KC, Golden SE, Mathews KS
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on ICU organization, care processes, and frontline clinician experiences: a qualitative study.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented adjustments to intensive care unit (ICU) organization and care processes globally. The investigators examined if hospital emergency responses to the COVID-19 pandemic differed depending on hospital setting and explored which strategies worked well to mitigate strain as perceived by intensivists. The investigators concluded that their study demonstrated the importance of trust and transparency between frontline staff and hospital leadership as key components of effective emergency responses during public health crises.
AHRQ-funded; HS028038.
Citation: Vranas KC, Golden SE, Mathews KS .
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on ICU organization, care processes, and frontline clinician experiences: a qualitative study.
Chest 2021 Nov;160(5):1714-28. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.05.041..
Keywords: COVID-19, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Healthcare Delivery, Workforce, Public Health