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
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (1)
- (-) Care Management (12)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (4)
- Diabetes (1)
- Elderly (3)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Long-Term Care (2)
- Medicare (2)
- Medication (5)
- Nursing Homes (2)
- Opioids (2)
- Outcomes (1)
- Pain (2)
- Palliative Care (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (2)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- (-) Practice Patterns (12)
- Primary Care (3)
- Provider (2)
- Provider: Physician (3)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Skin Conditions (1)
- Teams (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 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedCotter JM, Tyler A, Reese J
Steroid variability in pediatric inpatient asthmatics: survey on provider preferences of dexamethasone versus prednisone.
This study looked at pediatric emergency department (ED) inpatient use of dexamethasone versus prednisone by providers for asthma treatment. A survey was distributed to providers who care for inpatient asthmatics. Ninety-two providers completed the survey. When patients received dexamethasone in the ED, 44% continued dexamethasone, 14% switched to prednisone, 2% stopped steroid use, and 40% said it depended on the circumstances. Hospitalists were significantly more likely to continue dexamethasone than pulmonologists (61% versus 15%). Switching to prednisone included factors such as severity of exacerbation (73%) and asthma history (47%). Just over half of providers (5f1%) felt uncomfortable using dexamethasone because of “minimal data to support [its] use inpatient.”
AHRQ-funded; HS026512.
Citation: Cotter JM, Tyler A, Reese J .
Steroid variability in pediatric inpatient asthmatics: survey on provider preferences of dexamethasone versus prednisone.
J Asthma 2020 Sep;57(9):942-48. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2019.1622713..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Medication, Inpatient Care, Care Management, Hospitalization, Emergency Department, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider
Fishbein AB, Hamideh N, Lor J
Management of atopic dermatitis in children younger than two years of age by community pediatricians: a survey and chart review.
The authors characterized primary care providers' (PCPs) practice patterns for atopic dermatitis (AD) in children under 2 years of age and determined the need for AD guidelines for PCPs focused on this age group. They found that PCP management of AD in children under 2 years of age is different from that of older children, with possible underuse of medium/high-potency topical corticosteroids. They recommended clear guidelines for this age group.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Fishbein AB, Hamideh N, Lor J .
Management of atopic dermatitis in children younger than two years of age by community pediatricians: a survey and chart review.
J Pediatr 2020 Jun;221:138-44.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.02.015..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Skin Conditions, Provider: Physician, Practice Patterns, Primary Care, Medication, Care Management
Esfandiari NH, Reyes-Gastelum D, Hawley ST
Patient requests for tests and treatments impact physician management of hypothyroidism.
Researchers investigated physician-reported barriers to managing thyroid hormone therapy; randomly surveyed physicians were members of the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Family Practice, and the American Geriatrics Society. The researchers found that physicians reported patient requests for tests and treatments as a common barrier to appropriate thyroid hormone management. They concluded that understanding physician-reported barriers to thyroid hormone management and factors associated with physician perception that patient requests are a barrier is key to improving patient care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024512.
Citation: Esfandiari NH, Reyes-Gastelum D, Hawley ST .
Patient requests for tests and treatments impact physician management of hypothyroidism.
Thyroid 2019 Nov;29(11):1536-44. doi: 10.1089/thy.2019.0383..
Keywords: Care Management, Provider: Physician, Provider, Practice Patterns
Modi PK, Kaufman SR, Herrel LA
Practice-level adoption of conservative management for prostate cancer.
In this study, the authors describe the longitudinal adoption of conservative management (ie, the absence of treatment) for prostate cancer among urology group practices in the United States and identify group practice features that influence this adoption. The investigators found that there was increasing variation among group practices in the use of conservative management for prostate cancer. They indicated that this underscores the need for a better understanding of practice-level factors that influence prostate cancer management.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Modi PK, Kaufman SR, Herrel LA .
Practice-level adoption of conservative management for prostate cancer.
J Oncol Pract 2019 Oct;15(10):e863-e69. doi: 10.1200/jop.19.00088.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Practice Patterns, Care Management
Miake-Lye IM, Chuang E, Rodriguez HP
Random or predictable?: Adoption patterns of chronic care management practices in physician organizations.
This exploratory paper leverages the natural variation in uptake to describe inter-organizational patterns in adoption of care management practices (CMPs) and to better understand how adoption choices may be related to one another. Within disease focus scales, patient reminders were ranked as the most adoptable CMP, while clinician feedback and patient education were ranked the least adoptable.
AHRQ-funded; HS024176.
Citation: Miake-Lye IM, Chuang E, Rodriguez HP .
Random or predictable?: Adoption patterns of chronic care management practices in physician organizations.
Implement Sci 2017 Aug 24;12(1):106. doi: 10.1186/s13012-017-0639-z.
.
.
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Practice Patterns
Fain KM, Alexander GC, Dore DD
Frequency and predictors of analgesic prescribing in U.S. nursing home residents with persistent pain.
The purpose of this study was to quantify prescription analgesic use of elderly nursing home (NH) residents with persistent noncancer pain and to identify individual and facility traits associated with no treatment. The investigators concluded that through 2008, pain remained undertreated in NHs, especially in certain subpopulations, including cognitively impaired and older residents. The authors suggest that changes in pain management practice and policies may be necessary to target these vulnerable residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Fain KM, Alexander GC, Dore DD .
Frequency and predictors of analgesic prescribing in U.S. nursing home residents with persistent pain.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2017 Feb;65(2):286-93. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14512..
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Opioids, Pain, Practice Patterns
Fain KM, Castillo-Salgado C, Dore DD
Inappropriate fentanyl prescribing among nursing home residents in the United States.
In this cross-sectional study, the investigators quantified transdermal fentanyl prescribing in elderly nursing home residents without prior opioid use or persistent pain, and the association of individual and facility traits with opioid-naive prescribing. The investigators concluded that most nursing home residents initiating transdermal fentanyl did not have persistent pain and many were opioid-naive. They suggest that changes in prescribing practices may be necessary to ensure Food and Drug Administration warnings are followed, particularly for vulnerable subgroups, such as the cognitively impaired.
AHRQ-funded; HS018960.
Citation: Fain KM, Castillo-Salgado C, Dore DD .
Inappropriate fentanyl prescribing among nursing home residents in the United States.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2017 Feb;18(2):138-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2016.08.015..
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medication, Nursing Homes, Opioids, Pain, Practice Patterns
Chung S, Zhao B, Lauderdale D
Initiation of treatment for incident diabetes: evidence from the electronic health records in an ambulatory care setting.
The researchers examined patterns and predictors of initiation of treatment for incident diabetes in an ambulatory care setting in the US. They found that only half of patients were treated during the first year following diabetes incidence, and only 20% of patients received both medication prescription and lifestyle modification interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS019815.
Citation: Chung S, Zhao B, Lauderdale D .
Initiation of treatment for incident diabetes: evidence from the electronic health records in an ambulatory care setting.
Prim Care Diabetes 2015 Feb;9(1):23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2014.04.005..
Keywords: Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Care Management, Diabetes, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Primary Care, Practice Patterns
Howard HA, Malouin R, Callow-Rucker M
Care managers and knowledge shift in primary care patient-centered medical home transformation.
Based on a health insurance company-sponsored primary care transformation project, this study explores the perceptions of care management from the perspective of providers and practice staff to examine shifts in knowledge and their broader implications for primary care. It demonstrates how the diffusion of clinical power and knowledge production redefine primary care relationships to patients, as traditional hierarchies shift to team-based care.
AHRQ-funded; HS020046; HS01795.
Citation: Howard HA, Malouin R, Callow-Rucker M .
Care managers and knowledge shift in primary care patient-centered medical home transformation.
Hum Organ 2016 Spring;75(1):10-20..
Keywords: Care Management, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Teams
Wang SY, Hall J, Pollack CE
Trends in end-of-life cancer care in the Medicare program.
The researchers sought to examine contemporary trends in end-of-life cancer care and geographic variation of end-of-life care aggressiveness among Medicare beneficiaries. They found that the proportion of beneficiaries receiving at least one potentially aggressive end-of-life intervention increased in repeated hospitalization, repeated ED visits, ICU admissions, and late hospice enrollment but declined in in-hospital death. End-of-life chemotherapy use did not change significantly over time. They concluded that despite growing focus on providing appropriate end-of-life care, there has not been an improvement in aggressive end-of-life cancer care in the Medicare program.
AHRQ-funded; HS023900.
Citation: Wang SY, Hall J, Pollack CE .
Trends in end-of-life cancer care in the Medicare program.
J Geriatr Oncol 2016 Mar;7(2):116-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2015.11.007.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Care Management, Elderly, Medicare, Palliative Care, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Practice Patterns
Dauw CA, Alruwaily AF, Bierlein MJ
Provider variation in the quality of metabolic stone management.
The researchers quantified the degree of variation in repeat 24-hour urine testing attributable to providers and assessed differences in repeat testing rates between specialist and primary care physicians. They found, that, while most variation in follow-up testing was attributable to the patient, the provider contribution was nontrivial (18 percent). The specialty of the ordering provider was also important.
AHRQ-funded; HS020927.
Citation: Dauw CA, Alruwaily AF, Bierlein MJ .
Provider variation in the quality of metabolic stone management.
J Urol 2015 Mar;193(3):885-90. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.09.111..
Keywords: Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Practice Patterns
Schroeder MC, Robinson JG, Chapman CG
Use of statins by Medicare beneficiaries post myocardial infarction: poor physician quality or patient-centered care?
This study assessed whether patterns of statin use by Medicare beneficiaries post-discharge may be due to a mix of high-quality and low-quality physicians. It found that the distribution of statin fill rates across physicians was normal, with no clear distinctions in physician quality. Physicians, especially cardiologists, with relatively younger and healthier patient populations had higher rates of statin use.
AHRQ-funded; HS019574.
Citation: Schroeder MC, Robinson JG, Chapman CG .
Use of statins by Medicare beneficiaries post myocardial infarction: poor physician quality or patient-centered care?
Inquiry 2015 Feb 27;52. doi: 10.1177/0046958015571131..
Keywords: Care Management, Medication, Heart Disease and Health, Medicare, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Practice Patterns