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
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cancer (7)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (5)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (3)
- Cancer: Ovarian Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (2)
- Case Study (3)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Colonoscopy (1)
- Decision Making (1)
- Depression (1)
- Diabetes (2)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (4)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- Family Health and History (3)
- Genetics (2)
- Guidelines (3)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Health Systems (1)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (1)
- Imaging (2)
- Implementation (1)
- Medication (1)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Osteoporosis (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Payment (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (7)
- Primary Care (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- (-) Risk (19)
- (-) Screening (19)
- Social Determinants of Health (2)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (7)
- Urban Health (1)
- Vulnerable Populations (1)
- Women (6)
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 19 of 19 Research Studies DisplayedSprague BL, Ichikawa L, Eavey J
Breast cancer risk characteristics of women undergoing whole-breast ultrasound screening versus mammography alone.
This study evaluated mammography screening failure risk among women undergoing supplemental ultrasound screening in clinical practice in comparison with women undergoing mammography alone. Screening ultrasounds and screening mammograms without supplemental screening were identified within three Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registries. A clinically significant proportion of women who had undergone mammography screening alone were at high mammography screening failure risk. Ultrasound screening was highly targeted to women with dense breasts, but only a small proportion were high mammography screening failure risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Sprague BL, Ichikawa L, Eavey J .
Breast cancer risk characteristics of women undergoing whole-breast ultrasound screening versus mammography alone.
Cancer 2023 Aug 15; 129(16):2456-68. doi: 10.1002/cncr.34768..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Imaging, Screening, Risk
O'Connor EA, Perdue LA, Coppola EL
Depression and suicide risk screening: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The objectives of this article were to review the benefits and harms of depression and suicide risk screening and treatment and the accuracy of instruments to detect these conditions in primary care patients. Evidence gathered from the literature search supported screening for depression in primary care settings, including during pregnancy and postpartum. The authors noted, however, that there were numerous important gaps in the evidence for suicide risk screening.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500011I; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: O'Connor EA, Perdue LA, Coppola EL .
Depression and suicide risk screening: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Jun 20; 329(23):2068-85. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.7787..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Depression, Behavioral Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Risk
Kerlikowske K, Su YR, Sprague BL
Association of screening with digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography with risk of interval invasive and advanced breast cancer.
The purpose of this study was to compare digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with digital mammography to determine whether DBT was correlated with lower rates of internal invasive cancer and advanced breast cancer, taking into consideration breast density and breast cancer risk. From 2011 through 2018, the researchers studied a cohort of 504,427 women between the ages of 40 and 79 who underwent 375,189 screening DBT exams and 1,003,900 screening digital mammography exams, and who were then followed up for cancer diagnoses between 2011 and 2019 after being identified via linkage to state or regional cancer registries. The median age at the time of screening was 58 years (IQR 50-65 years) and the diagnostic screenings took place at 44 Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) facilities in the United States. The study found that among women at low to average risk, or at high risk with almost entirely fatty, scattered fibroglandular densities, or heterogeneously dense breasts, advanced cancer rates were not significantly different for DBT vs digital mammography. There was no significant difference between DBT and digital mammography for interval cancer rates per 1000 exams. Interval invasive cancer rates were also not significantly different among the 413,061 examinations with BCSC 5-year risk of 1.67% or higher (high risk) across breast density categories, or among all the 836,250 examinations with BCSC 5-year risk less than 1.67% (low to average-risk). For the 3.6% of women with extremely dense breasts and at high risk of breast cancer (13,291 examinations in the DBT group and 31,300 in the digital mammography group) advanced cancer rates per 1000 examinations were significantly lower for DBT vs digital mammography, but not for women at low to average risk (10,611 examinations in the DBT group and 37,796 in the digital mammography group). The researchers reported that there was no significant difference in the 96.4% of women with extremely dense breasts not at high risk, heterogeneously dense breasts, or nondense breasts, and concluded that screening with DBT vs digital mammography was associated with a significantly lower risk of advanced breast cancer among the 3.6% of women with extremely dense breasts and at high risk of breast cancer, and was not associated with a significant difference in risk of interval invasive cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Kerlikowske K, Su YR, Sprague BL .
Association of screening with digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography with risk of interval invasive and advanced breast cancer.
JAMA 2022 Jun 14;327(22):2220-30. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.7672..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Women, Imaging, Risk
Frehn JL, Brewster AL, Shortell SM
Comparing health care system and physician practice influences on social risk screening.
This study examined the association of multilevel organizational capabilities and adoption of social risk screening among system-owned physician practices. A secondary analysis of the 2018 National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems data was conducted. Five social risks were used as measures for physician and system screening: food insecurity, housing instability, utility needs, interpersonal violence, and transportation needs. System-owned practices screened an average of 1.7 of the 5 social risks assessed. The differences were 16% attributable to practice variation between their health system owners, and 84% attributable to differences between individual practices. Practices owned by hospital systems screened for an additional 0.44 social risks relative to practices of systems without hospitals. Characteristics associated with more social risk screening included health information technology capacity, innovation culture, and patient engagement strategies.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075; HS022241.
Citation: Frehn JL, Brewster AL, Shortell SM .
Comparing health care system and physician practice influences on social risk screening.
Health Care Manage Rev 2022 Jan-Mar;47(1):E1-e10. doi: 10.1097/hmr.0000000000000309..
Keywords: Health Systems, Social Determinants of Health, Screening, Risk
Mills J, Molchan S
AHRQ Author: Mills J
Screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.
This Putting Prevention into Practice case study is a 3-question quiz on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) final recommendation on screening for carotid artery stenosis. It asks questions on counseling patients, risk factors, and the USPSTF recommendations on the benefits and harms of screening for carotid artery stenosis. Discussion is provided in the answers along with references to the USPSTF recommendations.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Mills J, Molchan S .
Screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.
Am Fam Physician 2021 May 15;103(10):623-24..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Cardiovascular Conditions, Prevention, Case Study, Risk
Richardson L, Parker EO, Zhou C
Electronic health risk behavior screening with integrated feedback among adolescents in primary care: randomized controlled trial.
Health risk behaviors are the most common sources of morbidity among adolescents. Adolescent health guidelines (Guidelines for Preventive Services by the AMA and Bright Futures by the Maternal Child Health Bureau) recommend screening and counseling, but the implementation is inconsistent. This study aimed to test the efficacy of electronic risk behavior screening with integrated patient-facing feedback on the delivery of adolescent-reported clinician counseling and risk behaviors over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS023383.
Citation: Richardson L, Parker EO, Zhou C .
Electronic health risk behavior screening with integrated feedback among adolescents in primary care: randomized controlled trial.
J Med Internet Res 2021 Mar 12;23(3):e24135. doi: 10.2196/24135..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Primary Care, Risk, Screening
Rodriguez SA, Higashi RT, Betts AC
Anal cancer and anal cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk among women living with HIV.
The aims of this study were (1) to describe anal cancer knowledge, perceived risk, screening barriers, and acceptability of sample self-collection among women living with HIV (WLWH) at an integrated safety-net system and (2) to describe differences in demographic and psychosocial variables among a subsample of WLWH with a history of abnormal cervical cytology results versus those with normal results. The investigators concluded that this study highlighted a gap in knowledge and awareness among WLWH regarding their heightened risk for anal cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Rodriguez SA, Higashi RT, Betts AC .
Anal cancer and anal cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk among women living with HIV.
J Low Genit Tract Dis 2021 Jan;25(1):43-47. doi: 10.1097/lgt.0000000000000578..
Keywords: Cancer, Screening, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Risk, Women
Brewster AL, Fraze TK, Gottlieb LM
The role of value-based payment in promoting innovation to address social risks: a cross-sectional study of social risk screening by US physicians.
The authors studied the conditions under which value-based payment will encourage health care providers to innovate to address upstream social risks. Their results indicated that implementation of social risk screening was not associated with overall exposure to value-based payment for physician practices. They recommended expanding social risk screening in order to reduce the level of innovative capacity required.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Brewster AL, Fraze TK, Gottlieb LM .
The role of value-based payment in promoting innovation to address social risks: a cross-sectional study of social risk screening by US physicians.
Milbank Q 2020 Dec;98(4):1114-33. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12480..
Keywords: Payment, Social Determinants of Health, Practice Patterns, Vulnerable Populations, Screening, Risk, Nutrition
Shah SC, Itzkowitz SH
Reappraising risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease-associated neoplasia: implications for colonoscopic surveillance in IBD.
One of the most feared complications of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]-associated colitis is colorectal cancer. An opportunity for early detection is being missed in a group that is overlooked as high-risk, as a substantial proportion of colorectal cancers are being diagnosed in individuals with colonic IBD who have disease duration shorter than when guidelines recommend surveillance initiation. In this study, the investigators discuss a viewpoint that supports a paradigm shift that will ideally result in a more effective and higher-value colorectal cancer prevention approach in IBD.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Shah SC, Itzkowitz SH .
Reappraising risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease-associated neoplasia: implications for colonoscopic surveillance in IBD.
J Crohns Colitis 2020 Sep 7;14(8):1172-77. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa040..
Keywords: Digestive Disease and Health, Risk, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Colonoscopy, Prevention, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Screening
Koller KR, Day GE, Hiratsuka VY
Increase in diabetes among urban Alaska Native people in the Alaska EARTH follow-up study: a call for prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and referral for intervention.
This study estimated incidence of diabetes (DM) and pre-DM relative to DM risk factors among relatively healthy Alaska Native and American Indian (AN) adults living in urban south-central Alaska. Results showed that, controlling for age and sex, obesity, abdominal adiposity, pre-DM, and metabolic syndrome independently increased DM risk. Recommendations included advising health care providers of AN populations to seize the opportunity to screen, refer, and treat individuals with pre-DM and other modifiable DM risk factors prior to DM diagnosis in order to alter the epidemiologic course of disease progression in this urban AN population.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Koller KR, Day GE, Hiratsuka VY .
Increase in diabetes among urban Alaska Native people in the Alaska EARTH follow-up study: a call for prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and referral for intervention.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2020 Sep;167:108357. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108357..
Keywords: Diabetes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Urban Health, Risk, Prevention, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
Eden KB, Ivlev I, Bensching KL
Use of an online breast cancer risk assessment and patient decision aid in primary care practices.
A cross-sectional study evaluating a web-based breast cancer risk assessment and decision aid (MammoScreen) was conducted in an academic general internal medicine clinic. Breast cancer risk assessment and mammography screening decision support were efficiently implemented through a web-based tool for patients sent through an electronic patient portal. Findings indicated that integration of patient decision aids with risk algorithms in clinical practice may help support the implementation of USPSTF recommendations that include risk assessment and shared decision-making.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Eden KB, Ivlev I, Bensching KL .
Use of an online breast cancer risk assessment and patient decision aid in primary care practices.
J Womens Health 2020 Jun;29(6):763-69. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2019.8143..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Decision Making, Risk, Health Information Technology (HIT), Prevention, Women
Tracer H, Jadotte YT
AHRQ Author: Tracer H
Screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography.
This paper presents a case study, along with questions and answers, related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Tracer H, Jadotte YT .
Screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography.
Am Fam Physician 2018 Sep 15;98(6):375-76..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cardiovascular Conditions, Screening, Risk, Prevention, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Case Study
Naber SK, Kuntz KM, Henrikson NB
AHRQ Author: Ganiats TG
Cost effectiveness of age-specific screening intervals for people with family histories of colorectal cancer.
Despite relative risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) decreasing with age among individuals with a family history of CRC, no screening recommendations specify less frequent screening. Researchers found that for individuals with a family history of CRC, it is cost effective to gradually increase the screening interval if several subsequent screening colonoscopies have negative results and no new cases of CRC are found in family members.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Naber SK, Kuntz KM, Henrikson NB .
Cost effectiveness of age-specific screening intervals for people with family histories of colorectal cancer.
Gastroenterology 2018 Jan;154(1):105-16.e20. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.09.021.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Family Health and History, Risk, Screening
Bowen ME, Xuan L, Lingvay I
Performance of a random glucose case-finding strategy to detect undiagnosed diabetes.
This study describes a case-finding approach using non-diagnostic random glucose values to identify individuals in need of diabetes testing and compares its performance to current screening guidelines. Using random glucose >/=100 mg/dL to identify individuals in need of diabetes, it determined that screening is highly sensitive and specific, performing better than current screening guidelines. Case-finding strategies informed by random glucose data may improve diabetes detection.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Bowen ME, Xuan L, Lingvay I .
Performance of a random glucose case-finding strategy to detect undiagnosed diabetes.
Am J Prev Med 2017 Jun;52(6):710-16. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.023.
.
.
Keywords: Diabetes, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Risk, Screening
Abdelsattar ZM, Wong SL, Regenbogen SE
Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening.
The researchers investigated the national treatment patterns and outcomes of patients younger than 50 with colorectal cancer (CRC). They found that patients with CRC diagnosed at age <50 years are more likely to present with advanced-stage disease. However, they receive more aggressive therapy and achieve longer disease-specific survival, despite the greater percentage of patients with advanced-stage disease.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053; HS020937.
Citation: Abdelsattar ZM, Wong SL, Regenbogen SE .
Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening.
Cancer 2016 Mar 15;122(6):929-34. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29716.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Risk, Screening
Amarnath AL, Franks P, Robbins JA
Underuse and overuse of osteoporosis screening in a regional health system: a retrospective cohort study.
The researchers aimed to determine the extent to which dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening is used in accordance with USPSTF recommendations within a regional health system. They concluded that DXA screening was underused in women at increased fracture risk, including women age 65 and over. Meanwhile, DXA screening was common among women at low fracture risk, such as younger women without osteoporosis risk factors.
AHRQ-funded; HS022236.
Citation: Amarnath AL, Franks P, Robbins JA .
Underuse and overuse of osteoporosis screening in a regional health system: a retrospective cohort study.
J Gen Intern Med 2015 Dec;30(12):1733-40. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3349-8.
.
.
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Osteoporosis, Healthcare Utilization, Risk
Lee K, Rossi C
AHRQ Author: Lee K
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.
L.M. is a 37-year-old nonsmoking woman who is not taking any medications and has no significant past medical problems. As breast cancer runs in her family, she is interested in genetic testing for breast cancer. This case study poses three multiple choice questions together with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and related background information.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lee K, Rossi C .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.
Am Fam Physician 2015 Jan 15;91(2):119-20.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Case Study, Family Health and History, Genetics, Prevention, Risk, Screening, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Women
Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
This systematic review was done in support of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated recommendation on the benefit and harms of risk assessment, genetic testing, and genetic counseling for BRCA-related cancer in women. A systematic review was done on literature from 2004 to July 30, 2013 from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment, Scopus, and reference lists. Data on the participants, study design, analysis, follow-up, and results was extracted and a second investigator confirmed key data. The studies were rated on study quality and applicability. The analysis found women with high-risk for breast cancer had decreased risk of breast cancer by 85% to 100% by having a mastectomy, and risk of mortality by 81% to 100% compared to women without surgery. There was also a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer after having salpingo-oopherectomy surgery.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710057
Citation: Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
Ann Intern Med 2014 Feb 18;160(4):255-66. doi: 10.7326/m13-1684..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Ovarian Cancer, Cancer, Genetics, Screening, Prevention, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Women, Risk, Family Health and History
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