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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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedHua CL, Cornell PY, Zimmerman S
Trends in serious mental illness in US assisted living compared to nursing homes and the community: 2007-2017.
This study examined trends in the prevalence of serious mental illness (SMI) in assisted living (AL) communities in the United States over time and in relationship to characteristics such as dual eligibility and health conditions. Using Medicare data, findings showed that the prevalence of SMI in AL increased by 54% from 2007 to 2017. Residents with SMI were more likely to be dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid than residents without SMI. Approximately 10% of AL communities had over half of the sample's AL residents with SMI.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Hua CL, Cornell PY, Zimmerman S .
Trends in serious mental illness in US assisted living compared to nursing homes and the community: 2007-2017.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2021 May;29(5):434-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2020.09.011..
Keywords: Elderly, Behavioral Health, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Medicare
Orth J, Li Y, Simning A
Severe behavioral health manifestations in nursing homes: associations with service availability?
The objective of this study was to examine associations between availability of behavioral health (BH) services and the presence of severe depression, suicidal ideation (SI), and severe aggressive behaviors (ABs) among nursing home (NH) residents. 2017 survey data on BH service availability was obtained from 1,051 NHs and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) to identify long-term stay residents in these facilities (n = 101,238). Odds of severe depression were 21% higher when NHs reported inadequate BH staff education as well as 13% higher for SI and 10% higher for severe ABs among residents in facilities reporting inadequate facility infrastructure. Facility-level factors such as staffing, training, and turnover were also statistically significant associations with these severe BH manifestations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024923.
Citation: Orth J, Li Y, Simning A .
Severe behavioral health manifestations in nursing homes: associations with service availability?
J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Nov;68(11):2643-49. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16772..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Depression, Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Chatterjee S, Bali V, Carnahan RM
Anticholinergic burden and risk of cognitive impairment in elderly nursing home residents with depression.
This study evaluated whether elderly nursing home residents with mild depression and intact cognition experienced cognitive impairment after using anticholinergic drugs. The study was a population-based nested case-control study using Minimum Data Set (MDS)-linked Medicare data where the base cohort were patients 65 years and older with depression who had intact cognition. Cumulative anticholinergic burden was measured within 30, 60, and 90 days preceding the event (cognitive measurement) date using the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS). The end sample compared 3707 cases with mild-to-moderate cognition to 3707 matched controls with intact cognition. There was no association with cumulative anticholinergic exposure at 30 days with cognitive impairment, but the odds of cognitive impairment increased with exposure 60 and 90 days before the event date. This study concludes there should be concern in using anticholinergic drugs for longer than 30 days with elderly nursing home residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS021264.
Citation: Chatterjee S, Bali V, Carnahan RM .
Anticholinergic burden and risk of cognitive impairment in elderly nursing home residents with depression.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2020 Mar;16(3):329-35. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.05.020..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Depression, Behavioral Health, Medication, Neurological Disorders, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Patient Safety
McCreedy E, Ogarek JA, Thomas KS
The minimum data set agitated and reactive behavior scale: measuring behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia.
Researchers in this study test the internal consistency and construct validity of the Agitated and Reactive Behavior Scale (ARBS), a measure created to measure agitated and aggressive behaviors in dementia residents at nursing homes (NHs). This cross-sectional study used data from the 2016 national sample of 15,326 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-certified NHs. The sample included 489,854 new admissions and 765,367 long-stay residents (defined as 90 days or more) all diagnosed with dementia. The ARBS is a composite measure of physical and verbal agitation or aggressiveness towards other people; other behavioral symptoms not directed at other people; and rejection of care. The study found that 1) the ARBS score has borderline-adequate internal consistency in the national population of NH residents with dementia; 2) only 18% of new admissions, and 21% of long-stay residents with dementia displayed any aggressive or agitated behaviors in the previous week; and 3) the ARBS demonstrated good construct validity. Conclusions were that nationally available MDS data may significantly underestimate the prevalence of agitated and aggressive behaviors among NH dementia patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: McCreedy E, Ogarek JA, Thomas KS .
The minimum data set agitated and reactive behavior scale: measuring behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Dec;20(12):1548-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.08.030..
Keywords: Elderly, Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Behavioral Health
Orth J, Li Y, Simning A
Providing behavioral health services in nursing homes is difficult: findings from a national survey.
This study evaluated access to behavioral health services in nursing homes (NHs). A random sample of 2996 NHs in the United States was identified. Two structured surveys were developed with questions on service availability, quality, satisfaction, staffing, staff education, turnover and service barriers. The surveys were mailed to administrators and directors of nursing in NHs between July and December 2017. The results showed that over 30% reported having inadequate coordination of care between NHs and community providers, and 26.2% had inadequate infrastructure for resident referrals or transport. Staff education was the most important factor associated with subpar provision of behavioral health services in nursing homes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024923.
Citation: Orth J, Li Y, Simning A .
Providing behavioral health services in nursing homes is difficult: findings from a national survey.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Aug;67(8):1713-17. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16017..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Delivery
McCreedy EM, Weinstein BE, Chodosh J
Hearing loss: why does it matter for nursing homes?
This paper examines the impact of hearing loss on residents in nursing home settings and provides an estimate of prevalence using the Minimum Data Set (MDS v.3.0). They outline steps to mitigate hearing loss and discuss solutions that may be inexpensive and low-tech.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: McCreedy EM, Weinstein BE, Chodosh J .
Hearing loss: why does it matter for nursing homes?
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Apr;19(4):323-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.12.007..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Elderly, Quality of Life, Depression, Behavioral Health