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
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Access to Care (2)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Communication (1)
- (-) Community-Based Practice (19)
- Community Partnerships (2)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) (1)
- Cultural Competence (1)
- Diabetes (1)
- Disparities (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (3)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (2)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (4)
- Healthcare Utilization (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (5)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Promotion (2)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Implementation (5)
- Lifestyle Changes (1)
- Low-Income (1)
- Medication (3)
- Nursing (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Obesity (1)
- Opioids (2)
- Outcomes (1)
- Palliative Care (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Self-Management (2)
- Policy (1)
- Prevention (2)
- Primary Care (6)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (2)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Pharmacist (2)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (6)
- Risk (1)
- Rural Health (2)
- Screening (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (4)
- Social Stigma (1)
- Substance Abuse (2)
- Teams (2)
- Telehealth (1)
- Vulnerable Populations (2)
- Women (2)
- Workforce (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 19 of 19 Research Studies DisplayedMyong C, Hull P, Price M
The impact of funding for federally qualified health centers on utilization and emergency department visits in Massachusetts.
This retrospective study examined the impact of funding for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on utilization and emergency department (ED) visits in Massachusetts. The authors theorized that greater funding for FQHCs could increase the local availability of clinic-based care and reduce more costly resource use, such as ED visits. Data from the Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database (APCD) 2010-2013 was used that included enrollees in 559 Massachusetts ZIP codes (2010 numbers 6,173,563). They calculated shift-share predictions of changes in FQHC funding at the ZIP code-level for FQHCs that received Community Health Center funds in any year. They found that a standard deviation increase in prior year FQHC funding (31%) was associated with a 2.3% increase in enrollees with FQHC visits and a 1.3% decrease in enrollees at EDs. However, there were no significant changes in emergent ED visit rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS025378.
Citation: Myong C, Hull P, Price M .
The impact of funding for federally qualified health centers on utilization and emergency department visits in Massachusetts.
PLoS One 2020 Dec 3;15(12):e0243279. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243279..
Keywords: Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Utilization, Emergency Department, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Vulnerable Populations, Policy
Green TC, Bratberg J, Baird J
Rurality and differences in pharmacy characteristics and community factors associated with provision of naloxone in the pharmacy.
Researchers studied pharmacy-level naloxone dispensed from one large US community pharmacy chain from the 1st quarter of 2013 to the 2nd quarter of 2017, examining associations between naloxone provision and pharmacy-level characteristics and community factors in two US states, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. They found that more rural pharmacies, pharmacies with higher volumes of all prescriptions and of buprenorphine, that sell more nonprescription syringes, that have drive-throughs and longer weekend hours, and that are located in communities with younger age distributions were associated with increased likelihood of ever dispensing naloxone and a greater number of naloxone doses dispensed. They concluded that pharmacy naloxone dispensing may be an especially effective strategy to alter the overdose risk environment in rural communities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Green TC, Bratberg J, Baird J .
Rurality and differences in pharmacy characteristics and community factors associated with provision of naloxone in the pharmacy.
Int J Drug Policy 2020 Nov;85:102602. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.11.010..
Keywords: Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Community-Based Practice, Rural Health
Vasan A, Morgan JW, Mitra N
Effects of a standardized community health worker intervention on hospitalization among disadvantaged patients with multiple chronic conditions: a pooled analysis of three clinical trials.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a standardized community health worker (CHW) intervention on hospitalization. The investigators concluded that data from three randomized clinical trials across multiple settings showed that a standardized CHW intervention reduced total hospital days and hospitalizations outside the primary health system. They indicated that this study was the largest analysis of randomized trials to demonstrate reductions in hospitalization with a health system-based social intervention.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Vasan A, Morgan JW, Mitra N .
Effects of a standardized community health worker intervention on hospitalization among disadvantaged patients with multiple chronic conditions: a pooled analysis of three clinical trials.
Health Serv Res 2020 Oct;55(Suppl 2):894-901. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13321..
Keywords: Hospitalization, Chronic Conditions, Vulnerable Populations, Social Determinants of Health, Community-Based Practice
Presley C, Agne A, Shelton T
Mobile-enhanced peer support for African Americans with Type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.
This study compared the effectiveness of a community-based diabetes self-management education (DSME) plus mobile health (mHealth)-enhanced peer support intervention to community-based DSME alone for African American adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. This randomized controlled trial took place in Jefferson County, Alabama within a safety-net healthcare system with a group diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hemoglobin A1C ≥ 7.5%. The intervention group reviewed community-based DSME plus 6 months of mHealth-enhanced peer support, including 12 weekly phone calls, then 3 monthly calls from community health workers. The control group received community based DSME only. Primary outcomes were lower A1C and secondary outcomes were lower diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy or confidence in their ability to manage diabetes, and social support. Of 120 participants selected, 97 completed the study. Both groups experienced clinical meaning reduction in A1C. Participants in the intervention group experienced a significantly larger reduction in diabetes distress compared to the control group.
AHRQ-funded; HS019465.
Citation: Presley C, Agne A, Shelton T .
Mobile-enhanced peer support for African Americans with Type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Oct;35(10):2889-96. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06011-w..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Self-Management, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Community-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Donovan E, Bratberg J, Baird J
Pharmacy leaders' beliefs about how pharmacies can support a sustainable approach to providing naloxone to the community.
The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how leaders in pharmacy organizations perceive pharmacies and pharmacy staff can optimize dispensing of naloxone. Five main themes emerged: importance of staff training to increase comfort; strength through coordination of efforts; pharmacies acting as community leaders in the opioid crisis; persisting stigma; ongoing workflow challenges. These results uniquely reflect the experiences and insights of pharmacy leaders implementing public health initiatives during the opioid crisis and can be used for gaining insight into how pharmacists can efficiently provide naloxone to their communities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Donovan E, Bratberg J, Baird J .
Pharmacy leaders' beliefs about how pharmacies can support a sustainable approach to providing naloxone to the community.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2020 Oct;16(10):1493-97. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.01.006..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Provider, Community-Based Practice, Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse
Walter AW, Julce C, Sidduri N AW, Julce C, Sidduri N
Study protocol for the implementation of the Gabby Preconception Care System - an evidence-based, health information technology intervention for Black and African American women.
This hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness cohort study aimed at evaluating appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility implementation outcomes, while also systematically examining the clinical effectiveness of a preconception care (PCC) intervention, the Gabby System, for Black and African American women receiving health services in community-based sites. Contextual factors that influenced uptake and appropriate implementation strategies were identified to inform future scalability of the intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS025131.
Citation: Walter AW, Julce C, Sidduri N AW, Julce C, Sidduri N .
Study protocol for the implementation of the Gabby Preconception Care System - an evidence-based, health information technology intervention for Black and African American women.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Sep 21;20(1):889. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05726-0..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women, Health Information Technology (HIT), Evidence-Based Practice, Community-Based Practice, Implementation
Nagykaldi Z, Scheid D, Zhao YD
A sustainable model for preventive services in rural counties: the healthier together study.
The Healthier Together study aimed to implement and evaluate a sustainable, rural community-based patient outreach model for preventive care provided through primary care practices located in 3 rural counties in Oklahoma. Forty-four eligible clinician practices participated in the study. Results showed that, although health care is under-resourced and segmented in many rural counties, when stakeholder partnerships are established, they may be able to achieve and economically sustain community-wide health improvement by creating a win-win situation for all partners.
AHRQ-funded; HS023237.
Citation: Nagykaldi Z, Scheid D, Zhao YD .
A sustainable model for preventive services in rural counties: the healthier together study.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Sep-Oct;33(5):698-706. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.05.190357..
Keywords: Rural Health, Prevention, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Community-Based Practice
Makelarski JA, DePumpo M, Boyd K
Implementation of systematic community resource referrals at small primary care practices to promote cardiovascular disease self-management.
The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes from implementation of a community resource referral system into small clinical practices to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. HealtheRx-H3, a printed list of resources for patients, was created. It was feasible to create practice-specific HealtheRx-H3s; however, systematic distribution of HealtheRx-H3s using digital electronic health record integration was found to be infeasible. Successful implementation of quality improvement strategies to systematize community resource referral solutions was feasible at small practices, but more research was recommended in order to understand what motivates small practices to participate in implementation of these solutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: Makelarski JA, DePumpo M, Boyd K .
Implementation of systematic community resource referrals at small primary care practices to promote cardiovascular disease self-management.
J Healthc Qual 2020 Sep/Oct;42(5):278-86. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000234..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Risk, Community-Based Practice, Patient Self-Management, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Primary Care, Implementation, Lifestyle Changes
Green TC, Donovan E, Klug B
Revisiting pharmacy-based naloxone with pharmacists and naloxone consumers in 2 states: 2017 perspectives and evolving approaches.
The authors sought to examine similarities and differences in experiences obtaining naloxone at the pharmacy over a 1-year period in 2 states, and to explore reactions from people with opioid use disorder, patients taking opioids for chronic pain, caregivers of opioid users, and pharmacists to communication tools and patient outreach materials designed to improve naloxone uptake. Through focus groups in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, they found that experiences dispensing naloxone are quickly evolving, and a greater diversity of patients are obtaining pharmacy naloxone. They concluded that persistent stigma-related concerns underscore the need for tools to help pharmacists offer naloxone, facilitate patient requests, and provide reassurance when getting naloxone.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Green TC, Donovan E, Klug B .
Revisiting pharmacy-based naloxone with pharmacists and naloxone consumers in 2 states: 2017 perspectives and evolving approaches.
J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2020 Sep-Oct;60(5):740-49. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.03.005..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Social Stigma, Access to Care
Loo S, Grasso C, Glushkina J
Capturing relevant patient data in clinical encounters through integration of an electronic patient-reported outcome system into routine primary care in a Boston Community Health Center: development and implementation study.
This study’s goal was to implement an electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) system that administers key health questionnaires in an urban community health center in Boston, Massachusetts. The system was integrated with the EHR so that medical providers could review and arbitrate patient responses in during the patient’s visit. Findings showed that this program demonstrated that implementation of an ePRO system in a primary care setting is feasible, allowing for facilitation of patient-provider communication and care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026154.
Citation: Loo S, Grasso C, Glushkina J .
Capturing relevant patient data in clinical encounters through integration of an electronic patient-reported outcome system into routine primary care in a Boston Community Health Center: development and implementation study.
J Med Internet Res 2020 Aug 19;22(8):e16778. doi: 10.2196/16778..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Primary Care, Community-Based Practice, Implementation
Payán DD, Maggard-Gibbons M, Flórez KR
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Risk for Breast Cancer (CUIDARSE): a randomized controlled trial of a health communication intervention for Latinas.
Latinas in the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer (BC) compared to non-Latinas. Literacy-appropriate and culturally sensitive cancer communication interventions can help address existing racial/ethnic BC disparities. In this study, the investigators formatively developed a new BC prevention brochure for Spanish-speaking Latinas (≥35 years) and conducted a randomized controlled trial of a health communication intervention for Latinas.
AHRQ-funded; HS019264.
Citation: Payán DD, Maggard-Gibbons M, Flórez KR .
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Risk for Breast Cancer (CUIDARSE): a randomized controlled trial of a health communication intervention for Latinas.
Health Educ Behav 2020 Aug;47(4):569-80. doi: 10.1177/1090198120920529..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Cultural Competence, Health Promotion, Communication, Women, Community-Based Practice
Payán DD, Derose KP, Flórez KR
The food environment in 3 neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, California: access, availability, quality, and marketing practices.
The authors developed a mapping component as part of a multilevel church-based intervention that used community-based participatory research to prevent obesity in African American and Latino churches in South Los Angeles. They developed neighborhood maps of local food environments and provided churches with standardized information on food access, availability, quality, and marketing practices. Including several tables as well as discussion, they stated that local food environment maps that are paired with data can inform community-based strategies to prevent obesity and food insecurity.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Payán DD, Derose KP, Flórez KR .
The food environment in 3 neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, California: access, availability, quality, and marketing practices.
Prev Chronic Dis 2020 Jul 16;17:E61. doi: 10.5888/pcd17.200028.
.
.
Keywords: Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Prevention, Prevention, Community Partnerships, Community-Based Practice, Nutrition
Islam N, Rogers ES, Schoenthaler EA
A cross-cutting workforce solution for implementing community-clinical linkage models.
This article discusses the use of employing community health workers (CHWs) in primary care practices to create community-clinical linkage models to address the underlying role of social determinants of health and achieve health equity. Federal initiatives such as EvidenceNOW and Million Hearts have supported a renewed focus on small, independently owned practices. These initiatives emphasize the role of practice facilitation. The authors drew from the literature and propose that small, independently owned practices strategically employ practice facilitators to help integrate CHWs into their primary care teams. These facilitators help provide a “population health management” infrastructure to develop effective partnerships. Several ways that practice facilitation can help do this is outlined in this paper.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Islam N, Rogers ES, Schoenthaler EA .
A cross-cutting workforce solution for implementing community-clinical linkage models.
Am J Public Health 2020 Jul;110(S2):S191-s93. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305692..
Keywords: Community-Based Practice, Primary Care, Workforce, Primary Care: Models of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Kubi B, Enumah ZO, Lee KT
Theory-based development of an implementation intervention using community health workers to increase palliative care use.
This study used the Behavior Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework models to help design an implementation intervention using community health workers (CHWs) to increase palliative care use in African American communities. There were two phases to the study. In Phase 1, focus group sessions were conducted to identify barriers and facilitators of palliative care use. Phase 2 consisted of a stakeholder meeting to select intervention content and prioritize modes of delivery after applying the framework. There were 15 stakeholders total that participated in the study. Interventions identified were designed to improve patient capability and motivation, physician capability and motivation, and increase patient opportunities to use palliative care services. The strategies were all facilitated by CHWs and included creation and dissemination of brochures, empowerment and activation of patients to initiate goals-of-care discussions, outreach to community churches, and expanding patient social support.
AHRQ-funded; HS024736.
Citation: Kubi B, Enumah ZO, Lee KT .
Theory-based development of an implementation intervention using community health workers to increase palliative care use.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2020 Jul;60(1):10-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.02.009..
Keywords: Community-Based Practice, Palliative Care, Healthcare Utilization, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Implementation, Disparities, Healthcare Delivery
Wallace AS, Luther B, Guo JW
Implementing a social determinants screening and referral infrastructure during routine emergency department visits, Utah, 2017-2018.
Emergency departments see a disproportionate share of low-income and uninsured patients. In this study, the investigators developed and evaluated a process for identifying social needs among emergency department patients, for facilitating access to community-based resources, and for integrating clinical and community-based data. They leveraged an academic-community partnership to develop a social needs screening tool and referral process.
AHRQ-funded; HS026505.
Citation: Wallace AS, Luther B, Guo JW .
Implementing a social determinants screening and referral infrastructure during routine emergency department visits, Utah, 2017-2018.
Prev Chronic Dis 2020 Jun 18;17:E45. doi: 10.5888/pcd17.190339..
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Emergency Department, Screening, Community-Based Practice, Community Partnerships
Whitley MD, Payán DD, Flórez KR
Feasibility and acceptability of a mobile messaging program within a church-based healthy living intervention for African Americans and Latinos.
Church-based programs can act on multiple levels to improve dietary and physical activity behaviors among African Americans and Latinos. However, the effectiveness of these interventions may be limited due to challenges in reaching all congregants or influencing behavior outside of the church setting. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile messaging program within a church-based healthy living intervention for African Americans and Latinos.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Whitley MD, Payán DD, Flórez KR .
Feasibility and acceptability of a mobile messaging program within a church-based healthy living intervention for African Americans and Latinos.
Health Informatics J 2020 Jun;26(2):880-96. doi: 10.1177/1460458219853408..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Community-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Promotion
Fiori KP, Rehm CD, Sanderson D
Integrating social needs screening and community health workers in primary care: the community linkage to care program.
This study used logistic regression to identify factors associated with successful social service uptake in an urban pediatric practice. Out of 4948 households screened for social needs from December 2017 to November 2018, 20% self-reported at least one factor. Only 43% of the 287 households with unmet needs reported social service uptake. Greater than 4 outreach encounters were significantly associated with successful referrals. This study suggests the need for additional research and an opportunity for further program optimization.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Fiori KP, Rehm CD, Sanderson D .
Integrating social needs screening and community health workers in primary care: the community linkage to care program.
Clin Pediatr 2020 Jun;59(6):547-56. doi: 10.1177/0009922820908589..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Community-Based Practice, Primary Care, Social Determinants of Health, Implementation, Low-Income
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
Nembhard IM, Buta E, Lee YSH
A quasi-experiment assessing the six-months effects of a nurse care coordination program on patient care experiences and clinician teamwork in community health centers.
The authors assessed effects of adding care coordination formally to nurses’ roles on care experiences of high-risk patients and clinician teamwork during the first 6 months of use. They conducted a quasi-experimental study in which changes in staff and patient experiences at six community health center practice locations that introduced the added-role approach for high-risk patients were compared to changes in six locations without the program in the same health system. They found that there were some positive effects of adding care coordination to nurses' role within 6 months of implementation, suggesting value in this improvement strategy. They concluded that addressing compatibility between coordination and other job demands is important when implementing this approach to coordination.
AHRQ-funded; HS016978.
Citation: Nembhard IM, Buta E, Lee YSH .
A quasi-experiment assessing the six-months effects of a nurse care coordination program on patient care experiences and clinician teamwork in community health centers.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Feb 24;20(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-4986-0..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Care Coordination, Nursing, Patient Experience, Community-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Teams