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
- Access to Care (22)
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (11)
- Adverse Events (6)
- Alcohol Use (39)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (4)
- Anxiety (2)
- Behavioral Health (114)
- Blood Thinners (1)
- Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (2)
- Caregiving (4)
- Care Management (3)
- Case Study (4)
- Children/Adolescents (26)
- Chronic Conditions (15)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (2)
- Communication (3)
- Community-Acquired Infections (1)
- Community-Based Practice (6)
- Comparative Effectiveness (4)
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1)
- COVID-19 (8)
- Critical Care (1)
- Cultural Competence (1)
- Decision Making (4)
- Dental and Oral Health (1)
- Depression (3)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (4)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Disparities (10)
- Education: Academic (1)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (1)
- Elderly (8)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (4)
- Emergency Department (12)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (5)
- Evidence-Based Practice (15)
- Family Health and History (2)
- Genetics (2)
- Guidelines (7)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (12)
- Healthcare Costs (11)
- Healthcare Delivery (6)
- Healthcare Utilization (11)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (15)
- Health Insurance (17)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Health Status (1)
- Health Systems (1)
- Hepatitis (2)
- Hospital Discharge (3)
- Hospitalization (15)
- Hospital Readmissions (10)
- Hospitals (6)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (17)
- Implementation (7)
- Infectious Diseases (5)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Inpatient Care (6)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Lifestyle Changes (7)
- Long-Term Care (1)
- Medicaid (19)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (3)
- Medicare (3)
- Medication (144)
- Medication: Safety (10)
- Men's Health (1)
- Mortality (13)
- Newborns/Infants (5)
- Nutrition (1)
- Obesity (4)
- Obesity: Weight Management (1)
- Opioids (154)
- Organizational Change (1)
- Outcomes (9)
- Pain (19)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (7)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (14)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (4)
- Patient and Family Engagement (3)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (8)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Payment (1)
- Pneumonia (1)
- Policy (25)
- Practice Patterns (16)
- Pregnancy (8)
- Prevention (20)
- Primary Care (40)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (3)
- Provider (7)
- Provider: Nurse (1)
- Provider: Pharmacist (10)
- Provider: Physician (2)
- Public Health (3)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (1)
- Quality of Care (4)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (15)
- Rehabilitation (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (2)
- Risk (16)
- Rural/Inner-City Residents (2)
- Rural Health (16)
- Screening (16)
- Sex Factors (4)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (6)
- Social Media (2)
- Social Stigma (9)
- Stress (2)
- (-) Substance Abuse (299)
- Surgery (10)
- Teams (1)
- Telehealth (9)
- Tobacco Use (12)
- Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation (7)
- Tools & Toolkits (1)
- Training (4)
- Transitions of Care (1)
- Treatments (5)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (7)
- Vulnerable Populations (13)
- Women (9)
- Young Adults (13)
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
276 to 299 of 299 Research Studies DisplayedSmith RJ, Kilaru AS, Perrone J
How, why, and for whom do emergency medicine providers use prescription drug monitoring programs?
The authors examined how emergency physicians use Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), for which patients, and for what reasons. They found that providers use the information in PDMPs to alter clinical decisions and guide opioid prescribing patterns. Physicians used the databases additionally for improving their ability to facilitate discussions on addiction and for providing patient education. The authors recommended minimizing administrative barriers to PDMP access and suggested that alternative PDMP uses be further studied to determine their appropriateness and potentially expand their role in clinical practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS021956.
Citation: Smith RJ, Kilaru AS, Perrone J .
How, why, and for whom do emergency medicine providers use prescription drug monitoring programs?
Pain Med 2015 Jun;16(6):1122-31. doi: 10.1111/pme.12700.
.
.
Keywords: Decision Making, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Medication, Practice Patterns, Substance Abuse
Desai RJ, Huybrechts KF, Hernandez-Diaz S
Exposure to prescription opioid analgesics in utero and risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome: population based cohort study.
The study’s objective was to provide risk estimates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) based on prescription opioid duration and timing of use during pregnancy in the presence or absence of additional risk factors for NAS. It found that the risk of NAS is higher in women using long term prescription opioids when there is a history of drug or alcohol misuse and smoking.
AHRQ-funded; HS018533.
Citation: Desai RJ, Huybrechts KF, Hernandez-Diaz S .
Exposure to prescription opioid analgesics in utero and risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome: population based cohort study.
BMJ 2015 May 14;350:h2102. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h2102..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Substance Abuse, Pregnancy, Risk
Westover AN, Nakonezny PA, Barlow CE
Exercise outcomes in prevalent users of stimulant medications.
This study compared prevalent stimulant medication users to matched nonusers undergoing a maximal treadmill test for differences in peak systolic blood pressure, average rise in SBP during exercise, peak heart rate (HR), and aerobic exercise capacity. It found that stimulant use was associated with a decreased peak HR as well as an increased risk of chronotropic incompetence.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Westover AN, Nakonezny PA, Barlow CE .
Exercise outcomes in prevalent users of stimulant medications.
J Psychiatr Res 2015 May;64:32-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.03.011.
.
.
Keywords: Medication, Substance Abuse, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Holdsworth La E, Zhu R, Hassmiller Lich K
The effects of state psychiatric hospital waitlist policies on length of stay and time to readmission.
This study examined the effects of a waitlist policy for state psychiatric hospitals on length of stay and time to readmission. The authors found that waitlists were associated with increased length of stay and time to readmission.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Holdsworth La E, Zhu R, Hassmiller Lich K .
The effects of state psychiatric hospital waitlist policies on length of stay and time to readmission.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2015 May;42(3):332-42. doi: 10.1007/s10488-014-0573-1.
.
.
Keywords: Hospitals, Behavioral Health, Policy, Substance Abuse, Hospital Readmissions
Okuda M, Picazo J, Olfson M
Prevalence and correlates of anger in the community: results from a national survey.
This study assessed the prevalence, as well as the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of anger, in the general population and characterize adults that report inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger. It found the overall prevalence of inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger in the U.S. population was 7.8 percent. Anger was especially common among men and younger adults, and was associated with decreased psychosocial functioning.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112.
Citation: Okuda M, Picazo J, Olfson M .
Prevalence and correlates of anger in the community: results from a national survey.
CNS Spectr 2015 Apr;20(2):130-9. doi: 10.1017/s1092852914000182..
Keywords: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Social Determinants of Health
Smith MW, Stocks C, Santora PB
AHRQ Author: Stocks C
Hospital readmission rates and emergency department visits for mental health and substance abuse conditions.
The purpose of this study is to examine data on the readmission rates and ED visits of individuals diagnosed with mental health and substance abuse (MHSA) conditions to determine which individuals with specific MHSA conditions are more likely to return to the ED or be readmitted. It found that alcohol or drug dependence, dementias, psychotic disorders, autism, impulse control disorders, and personality disorders were most strongly associated with future inpatient admission or ED revisit.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290200600009C.
Citation: Smith MW, Stocks C, Santora PB .
Hospital readmission rates and emergency department visits for mental health and substance abuse conditions.
Community Ment Health J 2015 Feb;51(2):190-7. doi: 10.1007/s10597-014-9784-x..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospital Readmissions, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse
Hwang CS, Chang HY, Alexander GC
Impact of abuse-deterrent OxyContin on prescription opioid utilization.
The researchers quantified the degree to which the August 2010 reformulation of abuse-deterrent OxyContin affected its use, as well as the use of alternative extended-release and immediate-release opioids. They found that the market debut of abuse-deterrent OxyContin was associated with declines in its use after accounting for the simultaneous contraction of the generic extended-release oxycodone market.
AHRQ-funded; HS018960.
Citation: Hwang CS, Chang HY, Alexander GC .
Impact of abuse-deterrent OxyContin on prescription opioid utilization.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2015 Feb;24(2):197-204. doi: 10.1002/pds.3723.
.
.
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Prevention, Substance Abuse
Binswanger IA, Whitley E, Haffey PR
A patient navigation intervention for drug-involved former prison inmates.
The researchers designed a randomized controlled trial of patient navigation to reduce barriers to health care and hospitalizations for former prison inmates. They found recruitment of former inmates highly feasible, but found that follow-up was limited by rearrests. They concluded that their results suggest a significantly lower rate of hospitalizations among navigation participants, although the rate of emergency department/urgent care visits was not improved.
AHRQ-funded; HS019464.
Citation: Binswanger IA, Whitley E, Haffey PR .
A patient navigation intervention for drug-involved former prison inmates.
Subst Abus 2015;36(1):34-41. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2014.932320.
.
.
Keywords: Access to Care, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, Substance Abuse
Jackson H, Mandell K, Johnson K
Cost-effectiveness of injectable extended-release naltrexone compared with methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
The authors estimated the cost-effectiveness of injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) compared with methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance treatment for adult males enrolled in treatment for opioid dependence in the United States from the perspective of state-level addiction treatment payers. They found that XR-NTX is a cost-effective medication for treating opioid dependence if state addiction treatment payers are willing to pay at least $72 per opioid-free day.
AHRQ-funded; HS000083.
Citation: Jackson H, Mandell K, Johnson K .
Cost-effectiveness of injectable extended-release naltrexone compared with methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
Subst Abus 2015;36(2):226-31. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1010031.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Treatments
Turner L, Kruszewski SP, Alexander GC
Trends in the use of buprenorphine by office-based physicians in the United States, 2003-2013.
This study used descriptive statistics to examine trends in buprenorphine utilization from 2003 to 2013. The use of buprenorphine products to treat opioid dependence has increased significantly and has shifted to greater use by primary care physicians, indicating a rapidly changing face of opioid maintenance therapy in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS018960.
Citation: Turner L, Kruszewski SP, Alexander GC .
Trends in the use of buprenorphine by office-based physicians in the United States, 2003-2013.
Am J Addict 2015 Jan;24(1):24-9. doi: 10.1111/ajad.12174..
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Medication, Opioids, Primary Care, Substance Abuse
Raebel MA, Newcomer SR, Bayliss EA
Chronic opioid use emerging after bariatric surgery.
The purpose of this study was to determine opioid use the year after bariatric surgery among patients who did not use opioids chronically pre-surgery and to identify pre-surgery characteristics associated with chronic opioid use after surgery. It found that patients dispensed 60 to 119 days’ supply during the pre-surgery year were 13.23 to 14.29 times more likely to use opioids chronically post-surgery than patients without opioid use pre-surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS019912.
Citation: Raebel MA, Newcomer SR, Bayliss EA .
Chronic opioid use emerging after bariatric surgery.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2014 Dec;23(12):1247-57. doi: 10.1002/pds.3625..
Keywords: Medication, Obesity, Opioids, Pain, Substance Abuse, Surgery
Werth SR, Sachdeva N, Roberts AW
North Carolina Medicaid recipient management lock-in program: the pharmacist's perspective.
The objectives of this study were (a) evaluate pharmacists’ perceptions of the implementation of the North Carolina (NC) recipient management lock-in program (MLIP) and (b) determine how the beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists could promote or inhibit its success. It concluded that, although possible improvements were identified, the NC MLIP has strong potential for success as it utilizes pharmacists’ medication gate-keeping role, while minimizing the effort required for successful implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Werth SR, Sachdeva N, Roberts AW .
North Carolina Medicaid recipient management lock-in program: the pharmacist's perspective.
J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2014 Nov;20(11):1122-9..
Keywords: Medicaid, Medication, Opioids, Provider: Pharmacist, Substance Abuse
Blanco C, Okuda M, Wang S
Testing the drug substitution switching-addictions hypothesis. A prospective study in a nationally representative sample.
The researchers tested whether remission from a substance use disorder (SUD) would increase the probability of new onset of an SUD. In a national sample of 34,653 adults, they found that contrary to a common clinical perception, remission from an SUD decreases rather than increases the risk of onset of another SUD.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112
Citation: Blanco C, Okuda M, Wang S .
Testing the drug substitution switching-addictions hypothesis. A prospective study in a nationally representative sample.
JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Nov;71(11):1246-53. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.1206..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
Regenstein M, Andres E
Reducing hospital readmissions among Medicaid patients: a review of the literature.
This review aims to identify factors related to readmissions that are unique to Medicaid populations to inform efforts to reduce Medicaid readmissions. It concluded that much of the Medicaid readmissions literature focuses on patients with mental health or substance abuse issues, who are often high utilizers of health care within the Medicaid population.
AHRQ-funded; 290202010000301.
Citation: Regenstein M, Andres E .
Reducing hospital readmissions among Medicaid patients: a review of the literature.
Qual Manag Health Care 2014 Oct-Dec;23(4):203-25. doi: 10.1097/qmh.0000000000000043..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Social Determinants of Health
Lapham GT, Rubinsky AD, Williams EC
Decreasing sensitivity of clinical alcohol screening with the AUDIT-C after repeated negative screens in VA clinics.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of repeat annual clinical alcohol screening in 4 samples of VA outpatients with 1–4 prior consecutive negative annual screens. It found that among patients with repeated negative clinical alcohol screens, the proportion who subsequently screened positive a year later was low and decreased as patients had more prior negative screens.
AHRQ-funded; HS022800.
Citation: Lapham GT, Rubinsky AD, Williams EC .
Decreasing sensitivity of clinical alcohol screening with the AUDIT-C after repeated negative screens in VA clinics.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2014 Sep 1;142:209-15. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.06.017..
Keywords: Screening, Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse
Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C
Genetic polymorphisms and response to medications for alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This review assessed whether response to medications for alcohol use disorders varies by genotype. It found that estimates of effect for return to heavy drinking suggest it is possible that patients with at least one G allele of A118G polymorphism of OPRM1 might be more likely to respond to naltrexone.
290201200008I; 29032002T
Citation: Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C .
Genetic polymorphisms and response to medications for alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pharmacogenomics 2014 Sep;15(13):1687-700. doi: 10.2217/pgs.14.121..
Keywords: Medication, Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Genetics
Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C
Genetic polymorphisms and response to medications for alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This review assessed whether response to medications for alcohol use disorders varies by genotype. It found that estimates of effect for return to heavy drinking suggest it is possible that patients with at least one G allele of A118G polymorphism of OPRM1 might be more likely to respond to naltrexone.
290201200008I; 29032002T
Citation: Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C .
Genetic polymorphisms and response to medications for alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pharmacogenomics 2014 Sep;15(13):1687-700. doi: 10.2217/pgs.14.121..
Keywords: Medication, Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Genetics
Saloner B, Le Cook B
An ACA provision increased treatment for young adults with possible mental illnesses relative to comparison group.
The researchers examined the impact of the ACA dependent coverage provision on people ages 18-25 with possible mental health or substance use disorders. They found that after implementation of the ACA provision, among people ages 18-25 with possible mental health disorders, mental health treatment increased by 5.3 percentage points relative to a comparison group of similar people ages 26-35. For those using mental health treatment, uninsured visits declined by 12.4 percentage points, and visits paid by private insurance increased by 12.9 percentage points.
AHRQ-funded; HS021486.
Citation: Saloner B, Le Cook B .
An ACA provision increased treatment for young adults with possible mental illnesses relative to comparison group.
Health Aff 2014 Aug;33(8):1425-34. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0214.
.
.
Keywords: Access to Care, Health Insurance, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Young Adults
Hartung DM, McCarty D, Fu R
Extended-release naltrexone for alcohol and opioid dependence: a meta-analysis of healthcare utilization studies.
The authors evaluated cost and utilization outcomes between extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) and other pharmacotherapies for treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence. They found that alcohol dependent XR-NTX patients had longer medication refill persistence versus acamprosate and oral naltrexone, with healthcare utilization and costs being generally lower or as low for XR-NTX-treated patients relative to other alcohol dependence agents. Opioid dependent XR-NTX patients had lower inpatient substance abuse-related utilization versus other agents and $8170 lower total cost versus methadone.
AHRQ-funded; HS019456.
Citation: Hartung DM, McCarty D, Fu R .
Extended-release naltrexone for alcohol and opioid dependence: a meta-analysis of healthcare utilization studies.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2014 Aug;47(2):113-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.03.007.
.
.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Comparative Effectiveness, Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse
Lebrun-Harris LA, Tomoyasu N, Ngo-Metzger Q
AHRQ Author: Ngo-Metzger Q
Substance use, risk of dependence, counseling and treatment among adult health center patients.
The authors examined the prevalence of substance use and risk of dependence among health center patients, and identified factors associated with desire for counseling/treatment and discussions about substance use with a clinician. They found that 84% of patients who desired substance use counseling or treatment reported receiving it, and those patients most likely to desire substance use counseling or treatment were male, unmarried, insured, current smokers, and indicated mental health problems.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lebrun-Harris LA, Tomoyasu N, Ngo-Metzger Q .
Substance use, risk of dependence, counseling and treatment among adult health center patients.
J Health Care Poor Underserved 2014 Aug;25(3):1217-30. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2014.0130.
.
.
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Community-Based Practice, Substance Abuse, Vulnerable Populations
Cochran G, Field C, Caetano R
Injury-related consequences of alcohol misuse among injured patients who received screening and brief intervention for alcohol: a latent class analysis.
This study identifies latent classes of intervention recipients based on injury-related consequences and risks of alcohol misuse and then determines which profiles experienced the greatest improvements in drinking. It found that the patients who reported the greatest improvements in drinking following discharge were those characterized by multiple alcohol-related risks and those characterized by a history of alcohol-related accidents and injuries.
AHRQ-funded; HS021394.
Citation: Cochran G, Field C, Caetano R .
Injury-related consequences of alcohol misuse among injured patients who received screening and brief intervention for alcohol: a latent class analysis.
Subst Abus 2014;35(2):153-62. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2013.820679..
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Risk
Quanbeck A, Chih MY, Isham A
Mobile delivery of treatment for alcohol use disorders: A review of the literature.
This article explores questions about mobile applications intended for patients dealing with alcohol-use disorders (AUD) s including: What mHealth applications to treat AUDs exist that have been evaluated in the peer-reviewed literature and how can they be categorized? What are common features of these applications? How effective are currently commercially available mHealth applications for AUDs? What are the characteristics, benefits, and limitations of mHealth applications for AUDs?
AHRQ-funded; HS01991702.
Citation: Quanbeck A, Chih MY, Isham A .
Mobile delivery of treatment for alcohol use disorders: A review of the literature.
Alcohol Res 2014;36(1):111-22..
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Health Information Technology (HIT), Substance Abuse, Telehealth
Raebel MA, Newcomer SR, Reifler LM
Chronic use of opioid medications before and after bariatric surgery.
This study of 11,179 obese patients receiving bariatric surgery found that among the 933 who were using opioids chronically before bariatric surgery, 77 percent continued chronic opioid use in the year following surgery (excluding the first 30 days after surgery). The amount of chronic opioid use was greater postoperatively than preoperatively.
AHRQ-funded; HS019912
Citation: Raebel MA, Newcomer SR, Reifler LM .
Chronic use of opioid medications before and after bariatric surgery.
JAMA. 2013 Oct 2;310(13):1369-76. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.278344..
Keywords: Medication, Obesity, Opioids, Pain, Substance Abuse, Surgery
Katz DF, Sun J, Khatri V
QTc interval screening in an opioid treatment program.
This pilot study supports the feasibility of implementing a population-based electrocardiographic monitoring program in order to decrease the QTc interval in high-risk patients undergoing methadone maintenance in an opioid treatment program. Clinical characteristics alone were inadequate to identify patients in need of electrocardiographic screening.
AHRQ-funded; HS021138
Citation: Katz DF, Sun J, Khatri V .
QTc interval screening in an opioid treatment program.
Am J Cardiol. 2013 Oct 1;112(7):1013-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.05.037..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Screening, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medication: Safety, Risk, Implementation