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.
Results
1 to 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedJain A, Brooks JR, Alford CC
AHRQ Author: Jain A, Alford CC, Chang CS, Mueller NM, Umscheid CA, Bierman AS
Awareness of racial and ethnic bias and potential solutions to address bias with use of health care algorithms.
This AHRQ-authored study examined the increased use of health care algorithms in health decision tools, and whether including a patient's race or ethnicity among their inputs can lead clinicians and decision-makers to make choices that vary by race and potentially affect inequities. This qualitative survey included 42 organization representatives (e.g., clinical professional societies, universities, government agencies, payers, and health technology organizations) and individuals. The respondents identified 18 algorithms currently in use with the potential for bias. Seven qualitative themes with 31 subthemes were identified including: (1) algorithms are in widespread use and have significant repercussions, (2) bias can result from algorithms whether or not they explicitly include race, (3) clinicians and patients are often unaware of the use of algorithms and potential for bias, (4) race is a social construct used as a proxy for clinical variables, (5) there is a lack of standardization in how race and social determinants of health are collected and defined, (6) bias can be introduced at all stages of algorithm development, and (7) algorithms should be discussed as part of shared decision-making between the patient and clinician.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Jain A, Brooks JR, Alford CC .
Awareness of racial and ethnic bias and potential solutions to address bias with use of health care algorithms.
JAMA Health Forum 2023 Jun 2; 4(6):e231197. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.1197..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Healthcare Delivery, Evidence-Based Practice
Lin JS, Hoffman L, Bean SI
Addressing racism in preventive services: methods report to support the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this report was to articulate the definitional and conceptual issues around racism and health inequity and to describe how racism and health inequities are currently addressed in preventive health. An audit was conducted assessing published literature on policy and position statements addressing racism, a subset of cancer and cardiovascular topics in USPSTF reports, recent systematic reviews on interventions to reduce health inequities, and societies, organizations, agencies, and funding bodies to gather information about how they address racism and health equity. Findings showed that racism is complex and pervasive, operates at multiple interrelated levels, and exerts negative effects on other social determinants and health and well-being through multiple pathways. The most directly relevant and immediately useful guidance identified is that from the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) working group.
AHRQ-funded; 290201600006C.
Citation: Lin JS, Hoffman L, Bean SI .
Addressing racism in preventive services: methods report to support the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2021 Dec 21;326(23):2412-20. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.17579..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Social Determinants of Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Research Methodologies, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Trent SA, George N, Havranek EP
Established evidence-based treatment guidelines help mitigate disparities in quality of emergency care.
Evidence-based guidelines are often cited as a means of ensuring high-quality care for all patients. The objective of this study was to assess whether emergency department (ED) adherence to core evidence-based guidelines differed by patient sex and race/ethnicity and to assess the effect of ED guideline adherence on patient outcomes by sex and race/ethnicity. The investigators concluded that longstanding, nationally reported evidence-based guidelines can help eliminate sex and race/ethnicity disparities in quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS022400.
Citation: Trent SA, George N, Havranek EP .
Established evidence-based treatment guidelines help mitigate disparities in quality of emergency care.
Acad Emerg Med 2021 Sep;28(9):1051-60. doi: 10.1111/acem.14235..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Emergency Department, Disparities, Quality of Care
Sterling MR, Echeverria SE, Commodore-Mensah Y
Health equity and implementation science in heart, lung, blood, and sleep-related research: emerging themes from the 2018 Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop.
This article discusses the key themes from a 2-day workshop that was held at the National Institutes of Health in May 2018 to promote health equity and implementation science in heart, lung, and sleep-related research. This inaugural workshop was named the Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop. Recommendations are offered for the future direction of this research.
AHRQ-funded; HS000066.
Citation: Sterling MR, Echeverria SE, Commodore-Mensah Y .
Health equity and implementation science in heart, lung, blood, and sleep-related research: emerging themes from the 2018 Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2019 Oct;12(10):e005586. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.119.005586..
Keywords: Implementation, Evidence-Based Practice, Disparities, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Respiratory Conditions, Sleep Problems
Spees LP, Wheeler SB, Varia M
Evaluating the urban-rural paradox: the complicated relationship between distance and the receipt of guideline-concordant care among cervical cancer patients.
A recent study suggests that the distance to reach care may affect urban and rural cancer patients differentially; the authors of this article examined whether or not this urban-rural paradox exists among cervical cancer patients. Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2004 to 2013 were identified via a statewide cancer registry linked to multi-payer insurance claims. 62% of the cervical cancer patients received guideline-concordant care. The association between distance and receipt of care differed by type of treatment. The authors conclude that there is evidence supporting the urban-rural paradox.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Spees LP, Wheeler SB, Varia M .
Evaluating the urban-rural paradox: the complicated relationship between distance and the receipt of guideline-concordant care among cervical cancer patients.
Gynecol Oncol 2019 Jan;152(1):112-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.11.010.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Rural Health, Urban Health
Castro FG, Yasui M
Advances in EBI development for diverse populations: towards a science of intervention adaptation.
This introduction examines major issues and challenges as presented in this special issue of Prevention Science, "Challenges to the Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence Based Prevention Interventions for Diverse Populations." The authors describe the Fidelity-Adaptation Dilemma that generated controversies and debates and new perspectives on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) within diverse populations. The five articles in this special issue address many of these controversies and challenges.
AHRQ-funded; HS023007.
Citation: Castro FG, Yasui M .
Advances in EBI development for diverse populations: towards a science of intervention adaptation.
Prev Sci 2017 Aug;18(6):623-29. doi: 10.1007/s11121-017-0809-x.
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Keywords: Communication, Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Implementation
Sofolahan-Oladeinde Y, Mullins CD, Baquet CR
Using community-based participatory research in patient-centered outcomes research to address health disparities in under-represented communities.
The authors proposed ways by which patient-centered outcomes research can effectively use community-based participatory research principles to engage patients in general, and specifically patients from underserved communities, in the hope that this will help to reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS022135.
Citation: Sofolahan-Oladeinde Y, Mullins CD, Baquet CR .
Using community-based participatory research in patient-centered outcomes research to address health disparities in under-represented communities.
J Comp Eff Res 2015 Sep;4(5):515-23. doi: 10.2217/cer.15.31.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Vulnerable Populations
Wasserman M, Renfrew MR, Green AR
AHRQ Author: Brach C
Identifying and preventing medical errors in patients with limited English proficiency: key findings and tools for the field.
This article describes the development, content, and testing of two new evidence-based AHRQ tools for limited English proficiency (LEP) patient safety in the hospital setting. These tools contain recommendations to improve detection and prevention of medical errors across diverse populations and to improve team communication through incorporating interpreters in the care process.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Wasserman M, Renfrew MR, Green AR .
Identifying and preventing medical errors in patients with limited English proficiency: key findings and tools for the field.
J Healthc Qual. 2014 May-Jun;36(3):5-16. doi: 10.1111/jhq.12065..
Keywords: Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient Safety, Clinician-Patient Communication, TeamSTEPPS