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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 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedChisolm DJ, Dugan JA, Figueroa JF
Improving health equity through health care systems research.
This study’s objective was to describe health equity research priorities for health care delivery systems and delineate a research and action agenda that generates evidence-based solutions to persistent racial and ethnic inequities in health outcomes. This project was conducted as a component of the AHRQ stakeholder engaged process to develop an Equity Agenda and Action Plan to guide priority setting to advance health equity. The stakeholders included experts from academia, health care organizations, industry, and government. Five priority themes were derived iteratively through experts from academia, health care organizations, industry, and government. They identified six priority themes for research; (1) institutional leadership, culture, and workforce; (2) data-driven, culturally tailored care; (3) health equity targeted performance incentives; (4) health equity-informed approaches to health system consolidation and access; (5) whole person care; (6) and whole community investment. They also suggested cross-cutting themes regarding research workforce and research timelines.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Chisolm DJ, Dugan JA, Figueroa JF .
Improving health equity through health care systems research.
Health Serv Res 2023 Dec; 58(suppl 3):289-99. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14192..
Keywords: Health Systems, Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, Healthcare Delivery
Sullivan SS, Ledwin KM, Hewner S
A clinical classification framework for identifying persons with high social and medical needs: the COMPLEXedex-social determinants of health (SDH).
The purpose of this two-phase retrospective, descriptive cohort study was to incorporate nursing expertise into a clinical definition of high-need cases and create a clinical classification algorithm for implementing nursing interventions. The researchers utilized 2019 data to build an algorithm (n = 19,20,848) and 2021 data to test the algorithm in adults 18 years old or greater (n = 15,99,176). The researchers developed the COMPLEXedex-SDH algorithm to improve health equity and outcomes, and identified these populations: cross-cohort needs (10.9%); high-need persons (cross-cohort needs and other social determinants) (17.7%); suboptimal health care utilization for persons with medical complexity (13.8%); high need persons with suboptimal health care utilization (6.2%).
AHRQ-funded; HS028000.
Citation: Sullivan SS, Ledwin KM, Hewner S .
A clinical classification framework for identifying persons with high social and medical needs: the COMPLEXedex-social determinants of health (SDH).
Nurs Outlook 2023 Sep-Oct; 71(5):102044. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102044..
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Disparities, Healthcare Delivery
Shi M, Fiori K, Kim RS
Social needs assessment and linkage to community health workers in a large urban hospital system.
The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of successful linkage with a community health worker (CHW) in patients with social needs. The researchers utilized a cross-sectional analysis of social needs assessments administered in an urban health system between April 2018 and December 2019. Social needs in the study included safety, getting along with household members, housing quality, housing instability, food insecurity, care for dependents, healthcare cost, healthcare related transportation, utilities, and legal assistance. Patients were entered into a separate database when they encountered a CHW. The main outcome was a successful "linkage," which was defined as having a positive social needs assessment in the medical record with a corresponding record in the CHW database. The study found that 25% of patients with at least 1 social need accepting help were linked to a CHW. Positive predictors included female gender, Spanish language preference compared to English, and having a food-related need. Negative predictors included age 18 to 65 and 0 to 5 compared to over 65, non-Hispanic White race compared to Hispanic race, and having needs of getting along with household members and safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Shi M, Fiori K, Kim RS .
Social needs assessment and linkage to community health workers in a large urban hospital system.
J Prim Care Community Health 2023 Jan-Dec; 14:21501319231166918. doi: 10.1177/21501319231166918..
Keywords: Urban Health, Healthcare Delivery, Social Determinants of Health, Community-Based Practice, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Beidler LB, Razon N, Lang H
"More than just giving them a piece of paper": interviews with primary care on social needs referrals to community-based organizations.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe primary care practice’s referrals to community-based organizations. The researchers utilized semi-structured interviews with 50 healthcare administrators in charge of social care efforts within their organization. Fifty diverse United States healthcare organizations and agencies were included. The study found that social needs referrals were an essential element of administrator’s social care activities. Administrators described the optimal referral program as one which places limited burden on care teams, provides patients with customized referrals, and facilitates closed-loop referrals. The researchers identified three key challenges organizations encounter when trying to implement the optimal referrals program: 1) developing and maintaining resources lists; 2) aligning referrals with patient needs; and 3) measuring the efficacy of referrals. Administrators The study concluded that primary care practice referrals to community-based organizations were used to improve patients' social conditions, but administrators report challenges providing customized and current information to their patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Beidler LB, Razon N, Lang H .
"More than just giving them a piece of paper": interviews with primary care on social needs referrals to community-based organizations.
J Gen Intern Med 2022 Dec;37(16):4160-67. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07531-3..
Keywords: Primary Care, Social Determinants of Health, Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery
Cohen DJ, Wyte-Lake T, Dorr DA
Unmet information needs of clinical teams delivering care to complex patients and design strategies to address those needs.
The authors sought to identify the unmet information needs of clinical teams delivering care to patients with complex medical, social, and economic needs, and to propose principles for redesigning electronic health records (EHR) to address these needs. They concluded that developing EHR tools that are simple, accessible, easy to use, and able to be updated by a range of professionals is critical. They recommended that the identified information needs and design principles inform developers and implementers working in community health centers and other settings where complex patients receive care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023324.
Citation: Cohen DJ, Wyte-Lake T, Dorr DA .
Unmet information needs of clinical teams delivering care to complex patients and design strategies to address those needs.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2020 May;27(5):690-99. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa010..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Teams, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Social Determinants of Health, Community-Based Practice, Primary Care
Ellis RJ, Schlick CJR, Feinglass J
Failure to administer recommended chemotherapy: acceptable variation or cancer care quality blind spot?
This study examined hospital variation in cancer patients who did not receive recommended chemotherapy. Patients with breast, colon, and lung cancers who did not receive chemotherapy from 2000 to 2015 were identified from the National Cancer Database. A total of 183,148 patients at 1281 hospitals were included. For breast cancer, 3.5% of patients failed to receive recommended chemotherapy, and 6.6% with colon, and 10.7% with lung cancer. Sociodemographic factors showed that patients were less likely to receive chemotherapy if they were uninsured or on Medicaid, as were non-Hispanic black patients with both breast and colon cancer. There was also significant hospital variation with failure to administer as high as 21.8% for breast, 40.2% for colon, and 40.0% for lung cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078; HS026385.
Citation: Ellis RJ, Schlick CJR, Feinglass J .
Failure to administer recommended chemotherapy: acceptable variation or cancer care quality blind spot?
BMJ Qual Saf 2020 Feb;29(2):103-12. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009742..
Keywords: Treatments, Cancer, Healthcare Delivery, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Social Determinants of Health, Vulnerable Populations, Uninsured, Hospitals, Quality of Care
Kaufman A, Dickinson WP, Fagnan LJ
The role of health extension in practice transformation and community health improvement: lessons from 5 case studies.
The states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington stand out in stretching the boundaries of health extension; their stories reveal lessons learned regarding the successes and challenges. All states saw the need for long-term, sustained fundraising beyond grants in an environment expecting a short-term return on investment, and they were challenged operating in a shifting health system landscape where the creativity and personal relationships built with small primary care practices was hindered when these practices were purchased by larger health delivery systems.
AHRQ-funded; HS020890; HS020972; HS23904; HS023908.
Citation: Kaufman A, Dickinson WP, Fagnan LJ .
The role of health extension in practice transformation and community health improvement: lessons from 5 case studies.
Ann Fam Med 2019 Aug 12;17(Suppl 1):S67-s72. doi: 10.1370/afm.2409..
Keywords: Community-Based Practice, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Delivery, Organizational Change, Primary Care, Social Determinants of Health, Practice Improvement
Trinacty CM, LaWall E, Ashton M
Adding social determinants in the electronic health record in clinical care in Hawai'i: supporting community-clinical linkages in patient care.
Given its distinctive history, culture, and location, Hawai'i has unique social factors impacting population health. Local health systems are striving to address these issues to meet their patients' health needs. Yet the evidence on precisely how health care systems and communities may work together to achieve these goals are limited both generally and specifically in the Hawai'i context. This article described real-world efforts by 3 local health care delivery systems that integrated the identification of social needs into clinical care using the electronic health record (EHR).
AHRQ-funded; HS023185.
Citation: Trinacty CM, LaWall E, Ashton M .
Adding social determinants in the electronic health record in clinical care in Hawai'i: supporting community-clinical linkages in patient care.
Hawaii J Med Public Health 2019 Jun;78(6 Suppl 1):46-51..
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Vulnerable Populations
Fiori K, Patel M, Sanderson D
From policy statement to practice: integrating social needs screening and referral assistance with community health workers in an urban academic health center.
The authors described their experience implementing a novel social needs screening program at an academic pediatric clinic. They found that, on average, 76% of providers had their patients screened on more than half of eligible well-child visits. Their experience suggested that screening for social needs at well-child visits is feasible as part of routine primary care. They recommended that success would best be achieved by leveraging resources, obtaining provider buy-in, and defining program components to sustain activities.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Fiori K, Patel M, Sanderson D .
From policy statement to practice: integrating social needs screening and referral assistance with community health workers in an urban academic health center.
J Prim Care Community Health 2019 Jan-Dec;10:2150132719899207. doi: 10.1177/2150132719899207..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Implementation, Screening, Social Determinants of Health, Urban Health, Workflow, Primary Care
McClintock HF, Bogner HR
Incorporating patients' social determinants of health into hypertension and depression care: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
The objective of this study was to carry out a randomized controlled pilot trial to test the effectiveness of an integrated intervention for hypertension and depression incorporating patients' social determinants of health (enhanced intervention) versus an integrated intervention alone (basic intervention). The pilot trial results indicate integrated care management that addresses the social determinants of health for patients with hypertension and depression may be effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS023445.
Citation: McClintock HF, Bogner HR .
Incorporating patients' social determinants of health into hypertension and depression care: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Community Ment Health J 2017 Aug;53(6):703-10. doi: 10.1007/s10597-017-0131-x.
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Keywords: Depression, Behavioral Health, Blood Pressure, Social Determinants of Health, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Healthcare Delivery
Fraze T, Lewis VA, Rodriguez HP
Housing, transportation, and food: how ACOs seek to improve population health by addressing nonmedical needs of patients.
The authors examined how accountable care organizations (ACOs) addressed the nonmedical needs of their patients. They found that ACOs most commonly addressed the need for transportation, housing, and food insecurity, which they identified through the primary care visit or care transformation programs. They concluded that their findings offer insights into how health care organizations such as ACOs integrate themselves with nonmedical organizations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024792.
Citation: Fraze T, Lewis VA, Rodriguez HP .
Housing, transportation, and food: how ACOs seek to improve population health by addressing nonmedical needs of patients.
Health Aff 2016 Nov;35(11):2109-15. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0727.
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Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Health Insurance, Healthcare Delivery, Primary Care, Public Health
Fierman AH, Beck AF, Chung EK
AHRQ Author: Mistry KB
Redesigning health care practices to address childhood poverty.
Child health providers are considering ways to redesign their practices in order to mitigate the negative effects of poverty on children and support the efforts of families to lift themselves out of poverty. The authors highlight the ongoing work of the Health Care Delivery Subcommittee of the Academic Pediatric Association Task Force on Child Poverty in defining the ways in which child health care practice can be adapted to improve the approach to addressing child poverty.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Fierman AH, Beck AF, Chung EK .
Redesigning health care practices to address childhood poverty.
Acad Pediatr 2016 Apr;16(3 Suppl):S136-46. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2016.01.004.
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Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Children/Adolescents, Low-Income, Social Determinants of Health