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
Topics
- Arthritis (5)
- Cancer (1)
- Caregiving (1)
- Care Management (2)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (1)
- Communication (1)
- (-) Comparative Effectiveness (16)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (2)
- Elderly (2)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Home Healthcare (1)
- Medication (8)
- Opioids (5)
- Orthopedics (1)
- Outcomes (6)
- (-) Pain (16)
- Palliative Care (2)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (5)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Life (1)
- Surgery (2)
- Treatments (1)
- Women (1)
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 16 of 16 Research Studies DisplayedAyers DC, Yousef M, Yang W
Age-related differences in pain, function, and quality of life following primary total knee arthroplasty: results from a FORCE-TJR (Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement) cohort.
The purpose of this prospective, multicenter cohort study was to evaluate the differences in pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) reported 1 year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) across varying age groups. The researchers preoperatively assessed 11,602 unilateral primary TKA patients, and collected demographic data, comorbid conditions, and patient-reported outcome measures including the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), KOOS-12, KOOS Joint Replacement, and Short-Form health survey (12-item) and then collected again at 1-year postoperatively. The study found that prior to surgery, patients less than 55 years reported worse KOOS pain (39), function (50), and QoL (18) scores with poor mental health score (47) than other older patient groups. At 1 year after TKA, patients less than 55 years reported lower KOOS pain, function, and QoL scores when compared to patients 75 years or older. The differences in score changes among the age groups were statistically significant but clinically irrelevant. Further statistical analyses revealed that age was a significant predictor for pain, but not for function at 1 year where KOOS pain score was predicted to be higher in patients 75 years or older when compared to patients less than 55 years of age.
AHRQ-funded; HS018910.
Citation: Ayers DC, Yousef M, Yang W .
Age-related differences in pain, function, and quality of life following primary total knee arthroplasty: results from a FORCE-TJR (Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement) cohort.
J Arthroplasty 2023 Jul; 38(7 Suppl 2):S169-S76. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.04.005..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Quality of Life, Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Pain
Meisel ZF, Shofer F, Dolan A
AHRQ Author: Rhodes KV
A multicentered randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of pain treatment communication tools in emergency department patients with back or kidney stone pain.
The purpose of this trial was to compare the effectiveness of three approaches for communicating opioid risk during an emergency department visit for a common painful condition. Participants were adult patients with kidney stone or musculoskeletal back pain, randomly assigned to one of three risk communication strategies: a personalized probabilistic risk visual aid, a visual aid and video narrative, or general risk information. Findings showed that an emergency medicine communication tool incorporating probabilistic risk and patient narratives was more effective than general information in mitigating preferences for opioids in the treatment of pain but was not more effective with respect to opioid use or risk recall.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meisel ZF, Shofer F, Dolan A .
A multicentered randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of pain treatment communication tools in emergency department patients with back or kidney stone pain.
Am J Public Health 2022 Feb;112(S1):S45-s55. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306511..
Keywords: Pain, Emergency Department, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Opioids, Comparative Effectiveness, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Sobieraj DM, Martinez BK, Miao B
Comparative effectiveness of analgesics to reduce acute pain in the prehospital setting.
The objectives of this study were to assess comparative effectiveness and harms of opioid and nonopioid analgesics for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in the prehospital setting. Among the investigators’ conclusions were that as initial analgesia, opioids were no different than ketamine, APAP, and NSAIDs in reducing acute pain in the prehospital setting. Opioids may cause fewer total side effects than ketamine, but more than APAP or NSAIDs.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500012I.
Citation: Sobieraj DM, Martinez BK, Miao B .
Comparative effectiveness of analgesics to reduce acute pain in the prehospital setting.
Prehosp Emerg Care 2020 Mar-Apr;24(2):163-74. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2019.1657213..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Pain, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Reid MC, Henderson CR, Jr., Trachtenberg MA
Implementing a pain self-management protocol in home care: a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial.
The researchers sought to determine the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral pain self-management protocol delivered by physical therapists for use by older adults with activity-limiting pain receiving home care. Their real-world pragmatic trial found no effect of implementation of a pain self-management intervention in a home care setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS020648.
Citation: Reid MC, Henderson CR, Jr., Trachtenberg MA .
Implementing a pain self-management protocol in home care: a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2017 Aug;65(8):1667-75. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14836.
.
.
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Patient Self-Management, Pain, Elderly, Comparative Effectiveness
Beaudoin FL, Gutman R, Merchant RC
Persistent pain after motor vehicle collision: comparative effectiveness of opioids vs nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs prescribed from the emergency department-a propensity matched analysis.
This study evaluated the effect of opioid analgesics vs NSAIDs initiated from the ED on the presence of moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain and ongoing opioid use at 6 weeks in a large cohort of adult ED patients presenting to the ED after motor vehicle collision. No difference in risk for moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain at 6 weeks was observed between those discharged with opioid analgesics vs NSAIDs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Beaudoin FL, Gutman R, Merchant RC .
Persistent pain after motor vehicle collision: comparative effectiveness of opioids vs nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs prescribed from the emergency department-a propensity matched analysis.
Pain 2017 Feb;158(2):289-95. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000756.
.
.
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Emergency Department, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Nguyen UD, Ayers DC, Li W
Preoperative pain and function: profiles of patients selected for total knee arthroplasty.
The researchers examined patient-reported preoperative pain and function profiles to understand symptom severity at the time of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) decision. Of 6,936 patients, 77 percent had high pain and poor function (group 4), 19 percent had high pain "or" poor function (groups 2-3), and 5 percent had little pain and high function before TKA (group 1).
AHRQ-funded; HS018910.
Citation: Nguyen UD, Ayers DC, Li W .
Preoperative pain and function: profiles of patients selected for total knee arthroplasty.
J Arthroplasty 2016 Nov;31(11):2402-07.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2016.04.015.
.
.
Keywords: Pain, Surgery, Arthritis, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Reid MC, Eccleston C, Pillemer K
Management of chronic pain in older adults.
This review summarized recent evidence on the assessment and management of pain in older patients. Evidence is taken from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, individual trials, and clinical guidelines. Based on their review, the authors argue that all older adults with chronic pain should undergo a comprehensive geriatric pain assessment and that a comprehensive assessment can guide selection of treatments most likely to benefit the patient and identify targets for intervention besides pain relief.
AHRQ-funded; HS020648.
Citation: Reid MC, Eccleston C, Pillemer K .
Management of chronic pain in older adults.
BMJ 2015;350:h532. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h532..
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Pain
Bannuru RR, McAlindon TE, Sullivan MC
Effectiveness and implications of alternative placebo treatments: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of osteoarthritis trials.
The researchers evaluated the effects of alternative placebo types on pain outcomes in knee osteoarthritis. Their review concluded that all placebos are not equal, and some can trigger clinically relevant responses. Differential placebo effects can substantially alter estimates of the relative efficacies of active treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS021396.
Citation: Bannuru RR, McAlindon TE, Sullivan MC .
Effectiveness and implications of alternative placebo treatments: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of osteoarthritis trials.
Ann Intern Med 2015 Sep 1;163(5):365-72. doi: 10.7326/m15-0623..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Arthritis, Medication, Pain, Outcomes
Bannuru RR, McAlindon TE, Sullivan MC
Effectiveness and implications of alternative placebo treatments: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of osteoarthritis trials.
The researchers evaluated the effects of alternative placebo types on pain outcomes in knee osteoarthritis. Their review concluded that all placebos are not equal, and some can trigger clinically relevant responses. Differential placebo effects can substantially alter estimates of the relative efficacies of active treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS021396.
Citation: Bannuru RR, McAlindon TE, Sullivan MC .
Effectiveness and implications of alternative placebo treatments: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of osteoarthritis trials.
Ann Intern Med 2015 Sep 1;163(5):365-72. doi: 10.7326/m15-0623..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Arthritis, Medication, Pain, Outcomes
Conover MM, Howell JO, Wu JM
Incidence of opioid-managed pelvic pain after hysteroscopic sterilization versus laparoscopic sterilization, US 2005-2012.
The researchers compared the incidence of opioid-managed pelvic pain within 12 months after hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilization. They found that among women without recent history of childbirth, there was no compelling evidence of a clinically meaningful increase in the incidence of pelvic pain requiring opioids during the year after hysteroscopic sterilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS017950.
Citation: Conover MM, Howell JO, Wu JM .
Incidence of opioid-managed pelvic pain after hysteroscopic sterilization versus laparoscopic sterilization, US 2005-2012.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2015 Aug;24(8):875-84. doi: 10.1002/pds.3766..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Women
Memtsoudis SG, Yoo D, Stundner O
Subsartorial adductor canal vs femoral nerve block for analgesia after total knee replacement.
This study compares both single-shot femoral nerve block (FNB) and adductor canal block (ACB), side to side, in the same patients undergoing bilateral TKA. It found that the use of ACBs vs FNBs in knee arthroplasty patients yielded similar results in absolute pain scores, motor strength and patient satisfaction.
AHRQ-funded; HS021734.
Citation: Memtsoudis SG, Yoo D, Stundner O .
Subsartorial adductor canal vs femoral nerve block for analgesia after total knee replacement.
Int Orthop 2015 Apr;39(4):673-80. doi: 10.1007/s00264-014-2527-3..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Treatments, Outcomes, Patient Experience, Pain
Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB
The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop.
This systematic review evaluated evidence on the effectiveness and harms of long-term (more than 3 months) opiod therapy for chronic pain in adults. It concluded that evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of this therapy for improving chronic pain and function.
AHRQ-funded; 290201200014I
Citation: Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB .
The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop.
Ann Intern Med. 2015 Feb 17;162(4):276-86. doi: 10.7326/M14-2559..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Medication, Opioids, Outcomes, Pain, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Bannuru RR, Schmid CH, Kent DM
Comparative effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
To determine the relative efficacy of the primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatments, the researchers performed a comprehensive review of the literature, using a network meta-analysis design. Their comparison of seven different medications found that intra-articular (IA) treatments (IA corticosteroids, IA hyaluronic acid) were superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
AHRQ-funded; HS021396; HS018574
Citation: Bannuru RR, Schmid CH, Kent DM .
Comparative effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Ann Intern Med. 2015 Jan 6;162(1):46-54. doi: 10.7326/M14-1231..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Medication, Arthritis, Outcomes, Pain
Cagle JG, Zimmerman S, Cohen LW
EMPOWER: an intervention to address barriers to pain management in hospice.
The researchers tested the preliminary efficacy of the Effective Management of Pain: Overcoming Worries to Enable Relief (EMPOWER) intervention. At two weeks, caregivers in the intervention group reported better knowledge about pain management, fewer concerns about pain and pain medications, lower patient pain over the past week, and trended toward improvement in most other areas under study. EMPOWER had a greater effect for black subjects vs. whites on reducing concern about stigma. At three months, the intervention group trended better on most study outcomes. The researchers concluded that EMPOWER is a promising model to reduce barriers to pain management in hospice.
AHRQ-funded; HS019068.
Citation: Cagle JG, Zimmerman S, Cohen LW .
EMPOWER: an intervention to address barriers to pain management in hospice.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2015 Jan;49(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.05.007.
.
.
Keywords: Care Management, Caregiving, Comparative Effectiveness, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Medication, Pain, Palliative Care
Goode AP, Shi XA, Gracely RH
Associations between pressure-pain threshold, symptoms, and radiographic knee and hip osteoarthritis.
The researchers sought to determine the association between generalized evoked pressure pain sensitivity with distal pressure–pain threshold and the presence, severity, or number of involved knee/hip joints with radiographic osteoarthritis or related symptoms. They found that as a participant’s sensitivity for pressure pain decreased, there were several significant associations with presence, severity, and number of joints with symptoms, regardless of the knee or hip joint.
AHRQ-funded; HS019479
Citation: Goode AP, Shi XA, Gracely RH .
Associations between pressure-pain threshold, symptoms, and radiographic knee and hip osteoarthritis.
Arthritis Care Res. 2014 Oct;66(10):1513-9. doi: 10.1002/acr.22321.
Keywords: Arthritis, Pain, Comparative Effectiveness
Martinez KA, Aslakson RA, Wilson RF
A systematic review of health care interventions for pain in patients with advanced cancer.
The authors sought to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of pain-focused interventions in patients with advanced cancer. In nineteen studies, they found moderate strength of evidence that pain management in advanced cancer can be improved using health care interventions, particularly nurse-led patient-centered interventions.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710061.
Citation: Martinez KA, Aslakson RA, Wilson RF .
A systematic review of health care interventions for pain in patients with advanced cancer.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2014 Feb;31(1):79-86. doi: 10.1177/1049909113476129.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Pain, Palliative Care, Quality Improvement