National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Autism (1)
- Back Health and Pain (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cancer (3)
- Caregiving (1)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (9)
- (-) Communication (17)
- Critical Care (1)
- Decision Making (2)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (16)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (2)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (2)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (3)
- Health Promotion (1)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (1)
- Imaging (3)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Pain (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Clinician (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Rural/Inner-City Residents (1)
- Screening (1)
- Simulation (1)
- Social Stigma (2)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (1)
- Urban Health (1)
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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 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedDoty AM, Rising KL, Hsiao T
"Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you": how resident physicians communicate diagnostic uncertainty to patients during emergency department discharge.
This study’s objective was to describe how emergency medicine resident physicians discuss diagnostic uncertainty during a simulated emergency department (ED) discharge discussion. Most residents in the simulation explained the evaluation revealed no cause for symptoms, noted concerning diagnoses that were excluded, and acknowledged both symptoms and patients’ feelings. However, 28% of residents did not discuss diagnostic uncertainty in any form. All residents were reassuring. Those who did discuss diagnostic uncertainty used explicit and implicit language with similar frequency.
AHRQ-funded; HS025651.
Citation: Doty AM, Rising KL, Hsiao T .
"Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you": how resident physicians communicate diagnostic uncertainty to patients during emergency department discharge.
Patient Educ Couns 2022 Jul;105(7):2053-57. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.12.002..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Emergency Department, Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
McCarthy DM, Formella KT, Ou EZ
There's an app for that: teaching residents to communicate diagnostic uncertainty through a mobile gaming application.
The purpose of this study was to improve doctor-patient communication by assessing the utilization of a mobile application (app) for teaching physician communication skills about diagnostic uncertainty, obtaining feedback on app utilization, and evaluating the association between app use and mastery of skills. Emergency medicine resident physicians were randomized to receive immediate or delayed access to an educational curriculum focused on diagnostic uncertainty which included a web-based interactive model and an app. Only 31.2% of the 109 participants used the app, with senior residents more likely to use the app than junior residents. Researchers report that of those who used the app, reviews were positive, with 76% indicating the app facilitated their learning. The study found that in the trial there was no significant correlation between the utilization of the app and mastery of the communication skill. The researchers concluded that without mandated use and evidence of effectiveness, apps should not be offered to physicians as an educational option and training opportunity for improving communication skills.
AHRQ-funded; HS025651.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Formella KT, Ou EZ .
There's an app for that: teaching residents to communicate diagnostic uncertainty through a mobile gaming application.
Patient Educ Couns 2022 Jun;105(6):1463-69. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.09.038..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Meyer AND, Giardina TD, Khawaja L
Patient and clinician experiences of uncertainty in the diagnostic process: current understanding and future directions,.
The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on diagnosis-related uncertainty in patients and clinicians. The researchers describe 1) where patients and clinicians encounter uncertainty within the diagnostic process, 2) how uncertainty affects the diagnostic process, 3) origins of uncertainty related to probability/risk, ambiguity, or complexity, and 4) strategies for managing uncertainty. The study found that every step in the diagnostic process involves uncertainty. The researchers’ recommendations of strategies for general management included: acknowledging uncertainty, obtaining more information from patients, creating diagnostic safety nets such as educating patients about observing red flags, utilizing worst/ best case scenario planning, and communicating diagnostic uncertainty to patients, families, and colleagues. The study also delineated possible strategies specific to various aspects of diagnostic uncertainty.
AHRQ-funded; HS025474.
Citation: Meyer AND, Giardina TD, Khawaja L .
Patient and clinician experiences of uncertainty in the diagnostic process: current understanding and future directions,.
Patient Educ Couns 2021 Nov;104(11):2606-15. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.07.028..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Cifra Cifra, CL Dukes, KC Ayres, et al.
Referral communication for pediatric intensive care unit admission and the diagnosis of critically ill children: a pilot ethnography.
This pilot study’s goal was to determine the feasibility of using focused ethnography to understand the relationship between referral communication and the diagnostic process for critically ill children. Findings showed that focused ethnography in the pediatric intensive care unit is feasible to investigate relationships between clinician referral communication and the diagnostic process for critically ill children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026965.
Citation: Cifra Cifra, CL Dukes, KC Ayres, et al..
Referral communication for pediatric intensive care unit admission and the diagnosis of critically ill children: a pilot ethnography.
J Crit Care 2021 Jun;63:246-49. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.09.011..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Communication, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Cook A, Quinn ED, Rowland C
Exploring expressive communication skills in a cross-sectional sample of individuals with a dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome.
The authors hypothesized that individuals with a comorbid diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder would have significantly lower Communication Matrix scores and specifically social communication scores than individuals with DS alone. They found that, in a sample of 4,782 individuals with DS, scores for individuals with a comorbid diagnosis were on average 18.01 points and 7.26 points lower for total score and social score, respectively, as compared to individuals with DS alone.
AHRQ-funded; K12 HS026370; 1013200.
Citation: Cook A, Quinn ED, Rowland C .
Exploring expressive communication skills in a cross-sectional sample of individuals with a dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome.
Am J Intellect Dev Disabil 2021 Mar 1;126(2):97-113. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-126.2.97..
Keywords: Autism, Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Fenton JJ, Jerant A, Franks P
Watchful waiting as a strategy to reduce low-value spinal imaging: study protocol for a randomized trial.
This paper describes the protocol that will be used for an upcoming randomized control trial to determine the effectiveness of teaching clinicians how to advise watchful waiting when patients request low-value spinal imaging for acute low back pain. The authors will recruit 8-10 primary care and urgent care clinics in Sacramento, California. The study will last 3-6 months and during this time clinicians in the intervention group with receive 3 visits with standardized patient instructors (SPIs) portraying patients with acute back pain. The SPIs will instruct clinicians in a 3-step model emphasizing trust, empathic communication, and negotiation of a watchful waiting approach. The primary outcome looked for will a decreased post-intervention rate of spinal imaging among actual patients with acute back pain compared to the rate of imaging during the baseline period. Secondary outcomes will include use of targeted communication techniques during a follow-up visit with an SP.
AHRQ-funded; HS026415.
Citation: Fenton JJ, Jerant A, Franks P .
Watchful waiting as a strategy to reduce low-value spinal imaging: study protocol for a randomized trial.
Trials 2021 Feb 27;22(1):167. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05106-x..
Keywords: Back Health and Pain, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Imaging, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Rogith D, Satterly T, Singh H
Application of human factors methods to understand missed follow-up of abnormal test results.
This study demonstrated application of human factors methods for understanding causes for lack of timely follow-up of abnormal test results ("missed results") in outpatient settings. The investigators identified 30 cases of missed test results by querying electronic health record data, developed a critical decision method based interview guide to understand decision-making processes, and interviewed physicians who ordered these tests. They analyzed transcribed responses, developed a CI-based flow model, and conducted a fault tree analysis to identify hierarchical relationships between factors that delayed action.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087; HS022901.
Citation: Rogith D, Satterly T, Singh H .
Application of human factors methods to understand missed follow-up of abnormal test results.
Appl Clin Inform 2020 Oct;11(5):692-98. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1716537..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication
McCarthy DM, Powell RE, Cameron KA
Simulation-based mastery learning compared to standard education for discussing diagnostic uncertainty with patients in the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Uncertainty Communication Education Module (UCEM) in improving physician communications. Patients' understanding of the care they received has implications for care quality, safety, and patient satisfaction, especially when they are discharged without a definitive diagnosis. Developing a patient-centered diagnostic uncertainty communication strategy will improve safety of acute care discharges. This trial has been designed to have a low-resource, scalable intervention that would allow for widespread dissemination and uptake.
AHRQ-funded; HS025651.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Powell RE, Cameron KA .
Simulation-based mastery learning compared to standard education for discussing diagnostic uncertainty with patients in the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial.
BMC Med Educ 2020 Feb 19;20(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s12909-020-1926-y..
Keywords: Education: Continuing Medical Education, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Emergency Department, Simulation, Provider: Physician, Provider
Quinn M, Forman J, Harrod M
Electronic health records, communication, and data sharing: challenges and opportunities for improving the diagnostic process.
Diagnosis requires that clinicians communicate and share patient information in an efficient manner. Advances in electronic health records (EHRs) and health information technologies have created challenges and opportunities for such communication. In this multi-method, focused ethnographic study of physicians on general medicine inpatient units in two teaching hospitals, the investigators found that existing communication technologies and EHR-based data sharing processes were perceived as barriers to diagnosis. In particular, reliance on paging systems and lack of face-to-face communication among clinicians created obstacles to sustained thinking and discussion of diagnostic decision-making.
AHRQ-funded; HS022835; HS024385.
Citation: Quinn M, Forman J, Harrod M .
Electronic health records, communication, and data sharing: challenges and opportunities for improving the diagnostic process.
Diagnosis 2019 Aug 27;6(3):241-48. doi: 10.1515/dx-2018-0036.
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Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Communication
Hammer MM, Kapoor N, Desai SP
Adoption of a closed-loop communication tool to establish and execute a collaborative follow-up plan for incidental pulmonary nodules.
The purpose of this study was to assess radiologists' adoption of a closed-loop communication and tracking system, Result Alert and Development of Automated Resolution (RADAR), for incidental pulmonary nodules and to measure its effect on the completeness of radiologists' follow-up recommendations. Results showed that a closed-loop communication system that enables establishing and executing a collaborative follow-up plan for incidental pulmonary nodules can be adopted and improves the quality of radiologists' follow-up recommendations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024722.
Citation: Hammer MM, Kapoor N, Desai SP .
Adoption of a closed-loop communication tool to establish and execute a collaborative follow-up plan for incidental pulmonary nodules.
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2019 May;212(5):1077-81. doi: 10.2214/ajr.18.20692..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Communication
Payan DD, Florez KR, Bogart LM
Promoting health from the pulpit: a process evaluation of HIV sermons to reduce HIV stigma and promote testing in African American and Latino churches.
This study explored implementation of an HIV sermon as part of a multi-component intervention in three churches (Latino Catholic, Latino Pentecostal, and African American Baptist) in high HIV prevalence areas of Los Angeles County, California. The investigators found large variation in fidelity to communicating key HIV messages from the sermon guide. They concluded that structured training of clergy may be necessary to implement the more theoretically driven stigma reduction cues included in the sermon guide.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Payan DD, Florez KR, Bogart LM .
Promoting health from the pulpit: a process evaluation of HIV sermons to reduce HIV stigma and promote testing in African American and Latino churches.
Health Commun 2019 Jan;34(1):11-20. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2017.1384352..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Social Stigma, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Health Promotion, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Communication, Prevention
Davies L, Petitti DB, Martin L
Defining, estimating, and communicating overdiagnosis in cancer screening.
Overdiagnosis represents one harm of too much medicine, but the concept can be confusing. Because the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issues screening recommendations aimed largely at healthy persons, it has a particular interest in understanding harms related to screening, especially but not limited to overdiagnosis. In support of the USPSTF, the authors summarize the knowledge and provide guidance on defining, estimating, and communicating overdiagnosis in cancer screening.
AHRQ-funded; 290201200015I; 290201600006C.
Citation: Davies L, Petitti DB, Martin L .
Defining, estimating, and communicating overdiagnosis in cancer screening.
Ann Intern Med 2018 Jul 3;169(1):36-43. doi: 10.7326/m18-0694..
Keywords: Cancer, Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Screening, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
Bardach NS, Burkhart Q, Richardson LP
Hospital-based quality measures for pediatric mental health care.
The objective of this study was to develop and test medical record-based measures used to assess quality of pediatric mental health care in the emergency department (ED) and inpatient settings. The investigators drafted an evidence-based set of pediatric mental health care quality measures for the ED and inpatient settings and used them to identify sex and race disparities and substantial hospital variation.
AHRQ-funded; HS020506.
Citation: Bardach NS, Burkhart Q, Richardson LP .
Hospital-based quality measures for pediatric mental health care.
Pediatrics 2018 Jun;141(6). doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-3554..
Keywords: Cancer, Caregiving, Children/Adolescents, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient Experience, Patient and Family Engagement
Clarity C, Sarkar U, Lee J
Clinician perspectives on the management of abnormal subcritical tests in an urban academic safety-net health care system.
Missed or delayed follow-up of abnormal subcritical tests (tests that do not require immediate medical attention) can lead to poor patient outcomes. Safety-net health systems with limited resources and socially complex patients are vulnerable to safety gaps resulting from delayed management. In this study, clinician perspectives to identify system challenges, vulnerable situations, and potential solutions, were sought in focus groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS023558.
Citation: Clarity C, Sarkar U, Lee J .
Clinician perspectives on the management of abnormal subcritical tests in an urban academic safety-net health care system.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2017 Oct;43(10):517-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.05.007..
Keywords: Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient Safety, Vulnerable Populations, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Communication, Provider: Clinician
Sulzer SH, Muenchow E, Potvin A
Improving patient-centered communication of the borderline personality disorder diagnosis.
This study aimed to understand how clinicians communicate the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) with patients, and compare these practices with patient communication preferences. It found that the majority of clinicians sampled did not actively share the BPD diagnosis with their patients, while the majority of patients wanted to be told that they had the disorder, as well as have their providers discuss the stigma they would face.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Sulzer SH, Muenchow E, Potvin A .
Improving patient-centered communication of the borderline personality disorder diagnosis.
J Ment Health 2016;25(1):5-9. doi: 10.3109/09638237.2015.1022253.
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Keywords: Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Behavioral Health, Clinician-Patient Communication, Social Stigma
Meyer AN, Murphy DR, Singh H
Communicating findings of delayed diagnostic evaluation to primary care providers.
In this study, researchers examined the effectiveness of various communication strategies to inform primary care practitioners (PCPs) about the delayed follow-up of cancer-related abnormal or "red-flag" findings. They found that strategies (emails, phone calls, contacting clinic directors) to communicate to PCPs information on delayed follow-up of findings suspicious for cancer were useful, but not fail-safe.
AHRQ-funded; HS022901.
Citation: Meyer AN, Murphy DR, Singh H .
Communicating findings of delayed diagnostic evaluation to primary care providers.
J Am Board Fam Med 2016 Jul-Aug;29(4):469-73. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2016.04.150363.
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Keywords: Cancer, Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Primary Care
Al-Mutairi A, Meyer AN, Chang P
Lack of timely follow-up of abnormal imaging results and radiologists' recommendations.
This study tested the association between information contained in radiologists’ reports and follow-up outcomes. It found that abnormal imaging results with recommendations for further imaging are more vulnerable to lack of timely follow-up. Expression of “doubt” in the radiology reports did not affect follow-up actions.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087.
Citation: Al-Mutairi A, Meyer AN, Chang P .
Lack of timely follow-up of abnormal imaging results and radiologists' recommendations.
J Am Coll Radiol 2015 Apr;12(4):385-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2014.09.031..
Keywords: Communication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Clinician-Patient Communication