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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 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedCho Y, Yang R, Gong Y
Use of electronic communication with clinicians among cancer survivors: Health Information National Trend Survey in 2019 and 2020.
This study’s objective was to describe cancer survivors' use of electronic communication (e-communication) with clinicians and identify factors associated with their use, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a secondary analysis of cancer survivors (N = 1,482) from the combined Health Information National Trends Survey HINTS 5 Cycle 3 and Cycle 4. Survivors' use of e-communication was defined by at least one of four e-communication use behaviors in the previous 12 months. Cancer survivors had a 64% prevalence of e-communication use, with older adults (≥65 years old) were less likely to use e-communication. Survivors who were white, living in a metro area, diagnosed with breast cancer, seeking cancer-related information previously, or having a regular health care provider were more likely to use e-communication. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was marginally associated with the increased e-communication use when other variables were controlled.
AHRQ-funded; HS027846.
Citation: Cho Y, Yang R, Gong Y .
Use of electronic communication with clinicians among cancer survivors: Health Information National Trend Survey in 2019 and 2020.
Telemed J E Health 2023 Jun; 29(6):866-74. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0203..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Cancer, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK
Cross-sectional association of patient language and patient-provider language concordance with video telemedicine use among patients with limited English proficiency.
The surge in telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to address gaps in patient care, particularly for individuals with limited English proficiency. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patient language, patient-provider language alignment, and the type of telemedicine visit (video or phone consultation). The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using automated data from primary care telemedicine appointments scheduled between March 16, 2020, and October 31, 2020 within a comprehensive healthcare delivery system in Northern California. A total of 22,427 completed primary care telemedicine visits booked by 13,764 patients with limited English proficiency through the patient portal. The study examined the cross-sectional link between electronic health record-documented patient language (with Spanish as the reference) and patient-provider language concordance, considering patient demographics, technology access, and technology familiarity. RESULTS: The study found that among all scheduled appointments, 34.5% (n=7747) were video consultations. The three most common patient languages were Spanish (42.4%), Cantonese (16.9%), and Mandarin (10.3%). After adjusting for demographic and technology factors, video visit usage was higher for patients speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese, compared to Spanish-speaking patients, but lower for those who spoke Punjabi. Language concordance was linked to decreased video visit utilization and influenced the relationship between speaking Spanish, Cantonese, and Korean with video visit usage. Furthermore, for all language groups, patients with prior video visit experience were more likely to use video visits again.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189
Citation: Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK .
Cross-sectional association of patient language and patient-provider language concordance with video telemedicine use among patients with limited English proficiency.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Feb;38(3):633-40. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07887-6.
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Healthcare Delivery, COVID-19
Lieu TA, Warton EM, Levan C
Association of medical assistant-supported virtual rooming with successful video visit connections.
The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate medical assistant-supported virtual rooming for physician video visits to address the digital divide which exists in physician video visit availability and accessibility for patients who have lower socioeconomic status (SES), low English proficiency, or are African American or Black or Latino. The study found that of the 114,214 video visits with successful connections, 14.2% had low neighborhood SES, 3.6% needed interpreters, 20.1% were Latino, and 7.9% were African American or Black. African American or Black race, Latino ethnicity, needing an interpreter, and living in a low SES neighborhood were associated with a lower likelihood of connecting. The researchers concluded that medical assistant–supported virtual rooming was associated with successful video visit connections in this diverse population. High medical assistant supported rooming rates were associated with larger connection improvements for patients at higher risk of not connecting, including those with lower SES, of Latino ethnicity or African American or Black race, or needing interpreters.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189.
Citation: Lieu TA, Warton EM, Levan C .
Association of medical assistant-supported virtual rooming with successful video visit connections.
JAMA Intern Med 2022 Jun;182(6):680-82. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.1032..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Healthcare Delivery
Patel M, Cadzinski AJ, Bell AM
Interprofessional consultations (eConsults) in urology.
This study examined the implementation of an asynchronous form of telehealth called eConsult which is used by primary care providers to consult with a specialist in place of an in-person consultation. The use of eConsult in the practice of urology was analyzed at four academic institutions: University of Michigan, University of California-San Francisco, University of Washington, and Montefiore Medical Center. Data looked at was eConsult conversion rate (to an in-person consultation), response time, completion time, and diagnosis categories. Out of a total of 462 urological eConsults requested, 36% were converted to a traditional in-person visit. Among resolved eConsults, 53.8% were addressed in less than 1 day; 28.6% in 1 day, 8.4% in 2 days, 3.4% in 3 days; 3.4% in 4 days, 1.7% in 5 days, and 0.8% in 6 days or more. Half were completed in 1-10 minutes; 46.7% in 11-20 minutes, 2.8% in 21-39 minutes, and less than 1% in 31 minutes or more.
AHRQ-funded; HS027632.
Citation: Patel M, Cadzinski AJ, Bell AM .
Interprofessional consultations (eConsults) in urology.
Urol Pract 2021 May;8(3):321-27. doi: 10.1097/upj.0000000000000209..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Implementation
Howland C, Despins L, Sindt J
Primary care clinic nurse activities with a telehealth monitoring system.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the types of nursing activities and communication processes reported in a primary care clinic between patients using a home-based monitoring system to electronically communicate self-monitored blood glucose and blood pressure values and those assuming usual care. Significant differences were identified for the direct care nursing activities of providing lifestyle and health education, medication adjustments, and patient follow-up, providing evidence of greater nursing activity reported in a primary care clinic in patients who utilized a home-based monitoring system.
AHRQ-funded; HS017035.
Citation: Howland C, Despins L, Sindt J .
Primary care clinic nurse activities with a telehealth monitoring system.
West J Nurs Res 2021 Jan;43(1):5-12. doi: 10.1177/0193945920923082..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Blood Pressure, Primary Care, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Patient Self-Management, Nursing, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Diabetes
McAlearney AS, Walker DM, Gaughan A
Helping patients be better patients: a qualitative study of perceptions about inpatient portal use.
This qualitative study looked at perceptions about inpatient portal use and its impact on patient experience and the care process. The authors interviewed 120 patients and 433 care team members across a seven-hospital academic medical center that offers an inpatient portal to hospitalized patients. Care team members felt the inpatient portal helped patients be “better patients” by improving their ability to be informed about their health and enabling them to be more involved in the care process. The care team members suggested portal use could be improved by addressing challenges with tablet administration, use of the patient education feature, and the functionality of the scheduling feature.
AHRQ-funded; HS024379; HS024091.
Citation: McAlearney AS, Walker DM, Gaughan A .
Helping patients be better patients: a qualitative study of perceptions about inpatient portal use.
Telemed J E Health 2020 Sep;26(9):1184-87. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2019.0198..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Inpatient Care, Hospitals
Garg SK, Lyles CR, Ackerman S
Qualitative analysis of programmatic initiatives to text patients with mobile devices in resource-limited health systems.
The researchers interviewed safety net health systems piloting texting initiatives to study facilitators and barriers to real-world implementation. Sites interviewed applied texting for programs related to medication adherence and monitoring, appointment reminders, care coordination, and health education and promotion. Patient privacy government regulations emerged as a crucial barrier. A technical challenge was the inablitiy to integrate texting platforms with electronic health records. The authors concluded that inadequate data management capabilities and unclear privacy and security regulations for mobile health technology slowed the initial implementation and limited the clinical use of texting in the safety net and scope of pilots.
AHRQ-funded; HS022047; HS022408.
Citation: Garg SK, Lyles CR, Ackerman S .
Qualitative analysis of programmatic initiatives to text patients with mobile devices in resource-limited health systems.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2016 Feb 6;16:16. doi: 10.1186/s12911-016-0258-7.
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Keywords: Communication, Primary Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Clinician-Patient Communication
Chung CF, Cook K, Bales E
More than telemonitoring: Health provider use and nonuse of life-log data in irritable bowel syndrome and weight management.
The researchers sought to develop an in-depth understanding of providers’ facilitators and barriers to successfully integrating life-log data into their practices and creating better experiences. Providers reported using self-monitoring data to enhance provider-patient communication, develop personalized treatment plans, and to motivate and educate patients, in addition to using them as diagnostic and adherence tools. Barriers included a lack of time to review detailed records and questions about providers' expertise to review it.
AHRQ-funded; HS023654.
Citation: Chung CF, Cook K, Bales E .
More than telemonitoring: Health provider use and nonuse of life-log data in irritable bowel syndrome and weight management.
J Med Internet Res 2015 Aug 21;17(8):e203. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4364..
Keywords: Digestive Disease and Health, Health Information Technology (HIT), Telehealth, Obesity, Clinician-Patient Communication