National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedKanters AE, Vu JV, Schuman AD AE, Vu JV, Schuman AD
Completeness of operative reports for rectal cancer surgery.
This study examined the completeness of operative reports for rectal cancer surgery and whether they contain the key elements recommended by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. Ten hospitals in Michigan submitted rectal cancer operative reports from June-December 2018. These reports were analyzed for completeness and to identify key elements in the synoptic operative template. Out of 110 reports, 31 contained all 24 elements and they all used a synoptic template. Overall, 62 reported used a synoptic template and 48 did not.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Kanters AE, Vu JV, Schuman AD AE, Vu JV, Schuman AD .
Completeness of operative reports for rectal cancer surgery.
Am J Surg 2020 Jul;220(1):165-69. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.09.036..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Kanters AE, Cleary RK, Obi SH
Uptake of total mesorectal excision and total mesorectal excision grading for rectal cancer: a statewide study.
Investigators sought to assess trends in total mesorectal excision performance and grading in Michigan hospitals. They found that the rates of total mesorectal excision performance and grade assignment were widely variable throughout the state of Michigan. Overall, grade assignment remained very low, suggesting an opportunity for quality improvement projects to increase total mesorectal excision performance and grading, involving both the surgeons and pathologists for effective implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Kanters AE, Cleary RK, Obi SH .
Uptake of total mesorectal excision and total mesorectal excision grading for rectal cancer: a statewide study.
Dis Colon Rectum 2020 Jan;63(1):53-59. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000001526..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Davis MM, Gunn R, Pham R
Key collaborative factors when Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations work with primary care clinics to improve colorectal cancer screening: relationships, data, and quality improvement infrastructure.
This study focused on ways that Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are implementing interventions with primary care clinics to improve colorectal cancer screening. The researchers conducted a comparative case study of 14 Medicaid ACOs in Oregon and their contracted primary care clinics. They focused on interventions that reduced structural barriers (12 ACOs), delivered provider assessment and feedback (11 ACOs), and provided patient reminders (7 ACOs). There was an unintended consequence of potential exclusion of smaller clinics and metric focus and fatigue.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Davis MM, Gunn R, Pham R .
Key collaborative factors when Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations work with primary care clinics to improve colorectal cancer screening: relationships, data, and quality improvement infrastructure.
Prev Chronic Dis 2019 Aug 15;16:E107. doi: 10.5888/pcd16.180395..
Keywords: Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Screening, Colonoscopy, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Care Coordination, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Antunez AG, Kanters AE, Regenbogen SE
Evaluation of access to hospitals most ready to achieve national accreditation for rectal cancer treatment.
This cohort study looked at hospitals’ readiness to be part of the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), and what types of hospitals are most likely to receive NAPRC accreditation. A total of 1315 American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer-accredited hospitals from the National Cancer Database were sorted into 4 cohorts from 2011 to 2015. They were organized by high versus low volume, adherence to process standards, and patient and hospital characteristics and oncologic outcomes were compared. Among those hospitals, 38 (2.9%) met proposed thresholds for all 5 NAPRC process standards, and 220 (16.7%) met the threshold on 4 standards. Low-adherence hospitals were more likely to serve patients who were older, as well more public insurance recipients, or were black or Hispanic.
ARHQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Antunez AG, Kanters AE, Regenbogen SE .
Evaluation of access to hospitals most ready to achieve national accreditation for rectal cancer treatment.
JAMA Surg 2019 Jun;154(6):516-23. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2018.5521..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Merkow RP, Kmiecik TE, Bentrem DJ
Effect of including cancer-specific variables on models examining short-term outcomes.
The objectives of this paper were 1) to examine differences between existing American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) variables and cancer registry variables, and 2) to determine whether the addition of cancer-specific variables improves modeling of short-term outcomes. The researchers found that, although advanced disease stage and neoadjuvant therapy variables were predictors of short-term outcomes, their inclusion did not improve the models.
AHRQ-funded; HS021857.
Citation: Merkow RP, Kmiecik TE, Bentrem DJ .
Effect of including cancer-specific variables on models examining short-term outcomes.
Cancer 2013 Apr 1;119(7):1412-9. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27891.
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Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Outcomes, Quality Improvement, Registries