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- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
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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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedChandanabhumma PP, Zhou S, Fetters MD
Expanding our methodological toolbox to improve quality: the role of mixed-methods evaluations.
This article discusses ways that using mixed-methods studies can enhance quality improvement interventions instead of relying solely on quantitative evidence. Mixed-methods design helped to advance an evidence-based, customizable infection prevention toolkit for durable left ventricular assist device therapy. Strengths of using mixed-methods studies include: (1) the use of qualitative research methodologies (eg, eliciting patient or clinician perspectives on barriers and facilitators of best practices) and (2) integrating qualitative and quantitative data and analyses to understand more fully effective strategies for achieving optimal care and outcomes for these patients across diverse settings. The study: 1) used quantitative clinical data merged with Medicare claims to evaluate interhospital variability in the incidence of infection; 2) used qualitative methods to understand local practice patterns across low- and high-performing centers; and 3) integrated both data sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the overall findings.
AHRQ-funded; HS026003.
Citation: Chandanabhumma PP, Zhou S, Fetters MD .
Expanding our methodological toolbox to improve quality: the role of mixed-methods evaluations.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2023 May; 16(5):e009629. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.122.009629..
Keywords: Research Methodologies, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Hernandez AV, Roman YM, White CM
Developing criteria and associated instructions for consistent and useful quality improvement study data extraction for health systems.
This paper describes AHRQ’s efforts to collate and assess quality improvement studies to support learning health systems (LHS). The authors identified quality improvement studies and evaluated the consistency of data extraction from two experienced independent reviewers at three time points: baseline, first revision, and final revision. Six investigators looked at the data extracted by the independent reviewers and determined the extent of similarity on a scale of 0 to 10. Two LHS participants were then asked to assess the relative value of their criteria. The consistency of extraction improved from a mean 1.17 score at baseline to 6.07 at first revision, and 6.81 at the final revision. There was not a significant improvement from the first to final revision. However, the LHS participants rated the value of these ratings a 9 and a 6, demonstrating that there is value in developing criteria.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500012I.
Citation: Hernandez AV, Roman YM, White CM .
Developing criteria and associated instructions for consistent and useful quality improvement study data extraction for health systems.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Nov;35(Suppl 2):802-07. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06098-1..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Learning Health Systems, Health Systems, Health Services Research (HSR), Research Methodologies
Hsu YJ, Kosinski AS, Wallace AS
Using a society database to evaluate a patient safety collaborative: the Cardiovascular Surgical Translational Study.
The authors assessed the utility of using external databases for quality improvement (QI) evaluations in the context of an innovative QI collaborative aimed to reduce three infections and improve patient safety across the cardiac surgery service line. They compared changes in each outcome between 15 intervention hospitals and 52 propensity score-matched hospitals, and found that improvement trends in several outcomes among the studied intervention hospitals were not statistically different from those in comparison hospitals. They conclude that using external databases may permit comparative effectiveness assessment by providing concurrent comparison groups, additional outcome measures, and longer follow-up.
AHRQ-funded; HS019934.
Citation: Hsu YJ, Kosinski AS, Wallace AS .
Using a society database to evaluate a patient safety collaborative: the Cardiovascular Surgical Translational Study.
J Comp Eff Res 2019 Jan;8(1):21-32. doi: 10.2217/cer-2018-0051..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care, Surgery, Cardiovascular Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Data, Hospitals, Research Methodologies, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Phillippi JC, Hartmann KE
Differentiating research, quality improvement, and case studies to ethically incorporate pregnant women.
This article discusses the need to involve pregnant women in research, quality improvement, and case studies and how to involve them in an ethical way with high standards to protect participants. This review includes vignettes to distinguish between the different types of studies and emphasizes that perinatal care providers will need to seek institutional review board approval for all research to be conducted.
AHRQ-funded; HS024733.
Citation: Phillippi JC, Hartmann KE .
Differentiating research, quality improvement, and case studies to ethically incorporate pregnant women.
J Midwifery Womens Health 2018 Jan;63(1):104-14. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12673..
Keywords: Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Delivery, Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Research Methodologies, Women
Whicher D, Kass N, Saghai Y
The views of quality improvement professionals and comparative effectiveness researchers on ethics, IRBs, and oversight.
The authors conducted a series of semi-structured focus groups with quality improvement (QI) and comparative effectiveness research (CER) professionals to understand their experiences and views of the ethical and regulatory challenges that exist. They found that most participants have experienced challenges related to the ethical oversight of QI and CER activities, and many believe that current regulatory criteria for distinguishing clinical practice from clinical research requiring ethical oversight are confusing.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Whicher D, Kass N, Saghai Y .
The views of quality improvement professionals and comparative effectiveness researchers on ethics, IRBs, and oversight.
J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2015 Apr;10(2):132-44. doi: 10.1177/1556264615571558.
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Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Healthcare Delivery, Quality Improvement, Research Methodologies
Abramson RG, Burton KR, Yu JP
Methods and challenges in quantitative imaging biomarker development.
In this article, the Association of University Radiologists Radiology Research Alliance Quantitative Imaging Task Force reviews current issues in quantitative imaging (QI) biomarker research, discusses motivations for advancing QI, defines key terms, presents a framework for QI biomarker research, and outlines challenges in QI biomarker development.
AHRQ-funded; 290201200007I.
Citation: Abramson RG, Burton KR, Yu JP .
Methods and challenges in quantitative imaging biomarker development.
Acad Radiol 2015 Jan;22(1):25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.09.001.
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Keywords: Imaging, Quality Improvement, Research Methodologies