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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 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedChyr LC, DeGroot L, Waldfogel JM
Implementation and effectiveness of integrating palliative care into ambulatory care of noncancer serious chronic illness: mixed methods review and meta-analysis.
The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of models for integrating palliative care into ambulatory care for adults with noncancer serious chronic illness. Between January 2000 to May 2020, the researchers reviewed 3 electronic databases and included qualitative, mixed methods studies, and randomized and nonrandomized controlled trial studies. Quantitative analysis included 14 studies of 2,934 US adult patients. The study found that when compared to usual care the models assessed were not more effective for improving patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) or for patient depressive symptom scores. Qualitative analysis included 5 studies of 146 patients. There was variance in patient preferences for appropriate timing of palliative care; barriers to implementation included costs, additional visits, and travel. The researchers concluded that models were not more effective than usual care for improving HRQOL or depressive symptom scores and may have little to no effect on decreasing overall symptom burden but were more effective for increasing AD documentation.
AHRQ-funded; 2902015000061
Citation: Chyr LC, DeGroot L, Waldfogel JM .
Implementation and effectiveness of integrating palliative care into ambulatory care of noncancer serious chronic illness: mixed methods review and meta-analysis.
Ann Fam Med 2022 Jan-Feb;20(1):77-83. doi: 10.1370/afm.2754..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Palliative Care, Implementation, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality of Life
Kamal AH, Bausewein C, Casarett DJ
Standards, guidelines, and quality measures for successful specialty palliative care integration into oncology: current approaches and future directions.
This review paper discusses the need to integrate specialty palliative care into oncology and that there is robust evidence that it improves patient and health system outcomes. Three of the most cited standards/guidelines are discussed as well as quality measures related to integrated palliative and oncology care. They also recommend changes to the quality measurement framework for palliative care and a new way to match palliative care services to patients with advanced cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Kamal AH, Bausewein C, Casarett DJ .
Standards, guidelines, and quality measures for successful specialty palliative care integration into oncology: current approaches and future directions.
J Clin Oncol 2020 Mar 20;38(9):987-94. doi: 10.1200/jco.18.02440..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Cancer, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Rhodes RL, Ukoha NCE, Williams KA
Understanding underuse of advance care planning among a cohort of African American patients with advanced cancer: formative research that examines gaps in intent to discuss options for care.
Advance care planning (ACP), palliative care (PC), and hospice are often underutilized by African Americans. This study assessed the impact of stage of intent to discuss ACP options as key potential barriers. The investigators concluded that despite being hospitalized with advanced cancer and having poor prognosis, intent to discuss ACP options, PC, and hospice in this population was variable, and completion of these activities was low.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Rhodes RL, Ukoha NCE, Williams KA .
Understanding underuse of advance care planning among a cohort of African American patients with advanced cancer: formative research that examines gaps in intent to discuss options for care.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2019 Dec;36(12):1057-62. doi: 10.1177/1049909119843276..
Keywords: Cancer, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Kukulka K, Washington KT, Govindarajan R
Stakeholder perspectives on the biopsychosocial and spiritual realities of living with ALS: implications for palliative care teams.
The purpose of this study was to generate a rich description of the realities of living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), equipping palliative care teams with an in-depth understanding of the experiences and needs of patients with ALS and their family caregivers. Study findings illustrated the intricacies of living with ALS and the importance of eliciting individualized values when caring for patients with ALS and their families. The investigators concluded that the complex biopsychosocial needs experienced by patients and family caregivers suggested numerous opportunities for meaningful palliative care involvement.
AHRQ-funded; HS022140.
Citation: Kukulka K, Washington KT, Govindarajan R .
Stakeholder perspectives on the biopsychosocial and spiritual realities of living with ALS: implications for palliative care teams.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2019 Oct;36(10):851-57. doi: 10.1177/1049909119834493..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Neurological Disorders, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient and Family Engagement, Caregiving
Swetz KM, Kamal AH
Palliative Care
This article reviews the basics of effective communication, symptom management, and end-of-life care and provides an overview of current evidence to support patient-centered palliative care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Swetz KM, Kamal AH .
Palliative Care
Ann Intern Med 2018 Mar 6;168(5):Itc33-itc48. doi: 10.7326/aitc201803060..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Kamal AH, Kirkland KB, Meier DE
A person-centered, registry-based learning health system for palliative care: a path to coproducing better outcomes, experience, value, and science.
In this paper, the authors discuss measurement of the impact of palliative care, which is critical for determining what works for which patients in what settings, to learn, improve care, and ensure access to high value care for people with serious illness. The authors described an approach to codesigning and implementing a palliative care registry that functions as a learning health system, by combining patient and family inputs and clinical data to support person-centered care, quality improvement, accountability, transparency, and scientific research.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Kamal AH, Kirkland KB, Meier DE .
A person-centered, registry-based learning health system for palliative care: a path to coproducing better outcomes, experience, value, and science.
J Palliat Med 2018 Mar;21(S2):S61-s67. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0354..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Learning Health Systems, Registries, Patient and Family Engagement
Khandelwal N, Curtis JR, Freedman VA
How often is end-of-life care in the United States inconsistent with patients' goals of care?
The purpose of this study was to document the proportion of bereaved respondents who reported care inconsistent with patients' wishes and characterize the predictors of end-of-life care associated with inconsistent care. The study found that one in eight respondents stated care in the last months of life was inconsistent with patients' wishes; such care was associated with worse ratings of care, pain management, and communication with clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Khandelwal N, Curtis JR, Freedman VA .
How often is end-of-life care in the United States inconsistent with patients' goals of care?
J Palliat Med 2017 Dec;20(12):1400-04. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0065..
Keywords: Care Management, Healthcare Delivery, Elderly, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality of Care
Harrison KL, Dzeng E, Ritchie CS
Addressing palliative care clinician burnout in organizations: a workforce necessity, an ethical imperative.
Clinician burnout reduces the capacity for providers and health systems to deliver timely, high quality, patient-centered care and increases the risk that clinicians will leave practice. Efforts to mitigate and prevent burnout currently focus on individual clinicians. However, analysis of the problem of burnout should be expanded to include both individual- and systems-level factors as well as solutions; comprehensive interventions must address both.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Harrison KL, Dzeng E, Ritchie CS .
Addressing palliative care clinician burnout in organizations: a workforce necessity, an ethical imperative.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2017 Jun;53(6):1091-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.01.007.
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Keywords: Burnout, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider
Rocque GB, Dionne-Odom JN, Sylvia Huang CH
Implementation and impact of patient lay navigator-led advance care planning conversations.
Advance care planning (ACP) improves alignment between patient preferences for life-sustaining treatment and care received at end of life (EOL). This study evaluated implementation of lay navigator-led ACP and concluded that a navigator-led ACP program was feasible and may be associated with lower rates of resource utilization near EOL.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Rocque GB, Dionne-Odom JN, Sylvia Huang CH .
Implementation and impact of patient lay navigator-led advance care planning conversations.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2017 Apr;53(4):682-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.11.012.
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Keywords: Communication, Elderly, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Provider: Health Personnel
Kamal AH, Kavalieratos D, Bull J
Usability and acceptability of the QDACT-PC, an electronic point-of-care system for standardized quality monitoring in palliative care.
The researchers performed usability testing of the Quality Data Collection Tool for Palliative Care (QDACT-PC), a novel, point-of-care quality monitoring tool for palliative care. They found that testing the QDACT-PC reveals equivalence with paper for data collection time, but with less burden overall for electronic methods across other domains of usability.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Kamal AH, Kavalieratos D, Bull J .
Usability and acceptability of the QDACT-PC, an electronic point-of-care system for standardized quality monitoring in palliative care.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2015 Nov;50(5):615-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.05.013.
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Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Quality of Care, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality Measures