Search all AHRQ sites
Menu
SHARE:
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: 
AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
Results
1 to 11 of 11 Research Studies DisplayedGyftopoulos S, Smith SW, Simon E
Qualitative study to understand ordering of CT angiography to diagnose pulmonary embolism in the emergency room setting.
The purpose of the study was to better understand, using semi-structured interviews, the decision making behind the ordering of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department. The authors found that EM providers were the main drivers of CTPA ordering, and there was a marginalized role for the radiologist. Experience- and gestalt-based heuristics were the main influencers of CTPA ordering.
AHRQ-funded; HS024376.
Citation: Gyftopoulos S, Smith SW, Simon E .
Qualitative study to understand ordering of CT angiography to diagnose pulmonary embolism in the emergency room setting.
J Am Coll Radiol 2018 Sep;15(9):1276-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2017.08.022..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Imaging
Kessler R, Stowell JR, Vogel JA
Effect of interventional program on the utilization of PACS in point-of-care ultrasound.
The study’s objective was to determine if a simple interventional program would influence the utilization of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in point-of-care ultrasound. It concluded that a simple interventional program for emergency physicians can significantly increase and sustain the utilization of PACS for point-of-care ultrasound.
AHRQ-funded; HS023901.
Citation: Kessler R, Stowell JR, Vogel JA .
Effect of interventional program on the utilization of PACS in point-of-care ultrasound.
J Digit Imaging 2016 Dec;29(6):701-05. doi: 10.1007/s10278-016-9893-x.
.
.
Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Imaging, Healthcare Utilization, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Melnick ER, O'Brien EG, Kovalerchik O
The association between physician empathy and variation in imaging use.
This paper's objective was to describe empathy in a cohort of emergency physicians and evaluate its association with CT utilization. The authors found that, on the four psychometric scales used, performance was not predictive of risk-adjusted CT utilization in the emergency department. They concluded that the underlying physician-based factors that mediate interphysician variation remain to be clearly identified.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Melnick ER, O'Brien EG, Kovalerchik O .
The association between physician empathy and variation in imaging use.
Acad Emerg Med 2016 Aug;23(8):895-904. doi: 10.1111/acem.13017.
.
.
Keywords: Decision Making, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Practice Patterns
Moore CL, Broder J, Gunn ML
Comparative effectiveness research: alternatives to "traditional" computed tomography use in the acute care setting.
The goal was to seek consensus in identifying and prioritizing research questions and themes that involve the comparative effectiveness of "traditional" computed tomography use versus alternative diagnostic strategies in the acute care setting. A modified Delphi technique was used that included input from emergency physicians, emergency radiologists, medical physicists, and an industry expert to achieve this.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271; HS023498.
Citation: Moore CL, Broder J, Gunn ML .
Comparative effectiveness research: alternatives to "traditional" computed tomography use in the acute care setting.
Acad Emerg Med 2015 Dec;22(12):1465-73. doi: 10.1111/acem.12831.
.
.
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Imaging, Critical Care, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Lewiss RE, Chan W, Sheng AY
Research priorities in the utilization and interpretation of diagnostic imaging: Education, assessment, and competency.
A group of radiologists, physicists, and emergency physicians convened at the 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference to discuss and prioritize a research agenda related to education, assessment, and competency in ordering and interpreting diagnostic imaging. In this article, the authors review the supporting reliability and validity evidence and make specific recommendations for future research on the education, competency, and assessment of learning diagnostic imaging.
AHRQ-funded; HS023498.
Citation: Lewiss RE, Chan W, Sheng AY .
Research priorities in the utilization and interpretation of diagnostic imaging: Education, assessment, and competency.
Acad Emerg Med 2015 Dec;22(12):1447-54. doi: 10.1111/acem.12833.
.
.
Keywords: Imaging, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Health Services Research (HSR)
Melnick ER, Shafer K, Rodulfo N
Understanding overuse of computed tomography for minor head injury in the emergency department: a triangulated qualitative study.
The objective was to identify nonclinical, human factors that promote or inhibit the appropriate use of computed tomography (CT) in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with minor head injury. Five core domains emerged from the analysis: establishing trust, anxiety (patient and provider), constraints related to ED practice, the influence of others, and patient expectations.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Melnick ER, Shafer K, Rodulfo N .
Understanding overuse of computed tomography for minor head injury in the emergency department: a triangulated qualitative study.
Acad Emerg Med 2015 Dec;22(12):1474-83. doi: 10.1111/acem.12824.
.
.
Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Imaging, Brain Injury, Decision Making, Health Services Research (HSR)
Marin JR, Wang L, Winger DG
Variation in computed tomography imaging for pediatric injury-related emergency visits.
This study assessed variation in the use of computed tomography (CT) for pediatric injury-related emergency department (ED) visits. It found wide variation in CT imaging for pediatric injury-related visits not attributable solely to case mix. In multivariable analysis of nonpediatric EDs, trauma centers and nonacademic EDs were associated with CT use. Higher pediatric volume was associated with any CT use.
AHRQ-funded; HS023498.
Citation: Marin JR, Wang L, Winger DG .
Variation in computed tomography imaging for pediatric injury-related emergency visits.
J Pediatr 2015 Oct;167(4):897-904.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.06.052..
Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Children/Adolescents, Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Imaging
Smith-Bindman R, Moghadassi M, Griffey RT
Computed tomography radiation dose in patients with suspected urolithiasis.
The researchers determined the radiation doses of CT scans for suspected urolithiasis in the emergency department setting. They found that less than 8 percent of patients received appropriately low-dose CT for suspected urolithiasis. Furthermore, they found a 200-fold variation in dose between patients and a 5-fold variation in median dose across hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS019312.
Citation: Smith-Bindman R, Moghadassi M, Griffey RT .
Computed tomography radiation dose in patients with suspected urolithiasis.
JAMA Intern Med 2015 Aug;175(8):1413-6. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.2697..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Guidelines, Imaging, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Melnick ER, Keegan J, Taylor RA
Redefining overuse to include costs: a decision analysis for computed tomography in minor head injury.
This study was conducted to (1) determine the testing threshold for head computed tomography (CT) in minor head injury in the emergency department using decision analysis with and without costs included in the analysis. If only effectiveness is considered, current clinical decision rules might not provide a sufficient degree of certainty to ensure identification of all patients for whom the benefits of CT outweigh its risks.
AHRQ-funded; HS021271.
Citation: Melnick ER, Keegan J, Taylor RA .
Redefining overuse to include costs: a decision analysis for computed tomography in minor head injury.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2015 Jul;41(7):313-22..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Imaging, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Moore CL, Daniels B, Ghita M
Accuracy of reduced-dose computed tomography for ureteral stones in emergency department patients.
The researchers compared the sensitivity and specificity of reduced-dose computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of clinically important urologic causes of kidney stones likely to require intervention within a 90-day follow-up period. In 201 patients with a range of body mass indexes who received both regular and reduced dose scans contemporaneously, reduced-dose CT were 96% sensitive for stones requiring intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS018322.
Citation: Moore CL, Daniels B, Ghita M .
Accuracy of reduced-dose computed tomography for ureteral stones in emergency department patients.
Ann Emerg Med 2015 Feb;65(2):189-98.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2014.09.008..
Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Department, Kidney Disease and Health, Imaging
Samim M, Goss S, Luty S
Incidental findings on CT for suspected renal colic in emergency department patients: prevalence and types in 5,383 consecutive examinations.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence, importance, and types of incidental findings (IF) in non-enhanced CT scans performed for suspected renal colic, based on ACR white papers and other accepted radiographic recommendations. It found that important IF occurred in 12.7% of non-enhanced CT scans performed for suspected renal colic in the emergency department and are more common in older individuals.
AHRQ-funded; HS018322.
Citation: Samim M, Goss S, Luty S .
Incidental findings on CT for suspected renal colic in emergency department patients: prevalence and types in 5,383 consecutive examinations.
J Am Coll Radiol 2015 Jan;12(1):63-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2014.07.026..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Imaging, Elderly
