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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 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedHitsman B, Matthews PA, Papandonatos GD B, Matthews PA, Papandonatos GD
An EHR-automated and theory-based population health management intervention for smoking cessation in diverse low-income patients of safety-net health centers: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to test the initial effectiveness of an electronic health record (EHR)-automated population health management (PHM) intervention for smoking cessation among adult patients. The researchers included 190 participants from a federally qualified health center in Chicago who self-identified as smokers as documented in the electronic health records and who completed a longitudinal "needs assessment of health behaviors to strengthen health programs and services” baseline survey. Participants were then randomly assigned to the PHM intervention (N=97) or the enhanced usual care (EUC) group (N=93). Primary outcomes were treatment engagement, utilization, and self-reported smoking cessation. In the PHM group, 25.8% of participants engaged in treatment, 21.6% used treatment, and 16.3% were abstinent at 28 weeks. There was no engagement of the quitline among EUC participants, and an abstinence rate of 6.4%. The researchers concluded that a PHM approach that can address unique barriers for low-income individuals may be an important addition to clinic-based care.
AHRQ-funded; HS021141.
Citation: Hitsman B, Matthews PA, Papandonatos GD B, Matthews PA, Papandonatos GD .
An EHR-automated and theory-based population health management intervention for smoking cessation in diverse low-income patients of safety-net health centers: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Transl Behav Med 2022 Oct 7;12(9):892-99. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibac026..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Tobacco Use, Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation, Low-Income
Glynn A, Hernandez I, Roberts ET
Consequences of forgoing prescription drug subsidies among low-income Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.
This study’s objective was to estimate the take-up of the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and examine differences in out-of-pocket costs and prescription drug use between LIS enrollees and LIS-eligible non-enrollees. Data from the Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare administrative data from 2008 to 2016 was used. The authors first estimated LIS take-up stratified by income (≤100% of the Federal Poverty Level [FPL] and >100% to ≤150% of FPL). Second, to assess the consequences of forgoing the LIS among near-poor beneficiaries (incomes >100% to ≤150% of FPL), they conducted propensity score-weighted regression analyses to compare out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug use, and cost-related medication non-adherence among LIS enrollees and LIS-eligible non-enrollees. Among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, 68.1% of those considered near-poor (incomes >100% to ≤150% of FPL) received the LIS, compared to 90.3% of those with incomes ≤100% of FPL. Among near-poor beneficiaries, LIS-eligible non-enrollees incurred higher annual out-of-pocket drug spending ($518], filled 7.3 fewer prescriptions for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia drugs, and were 8.9 percentage points more likely to report skipping drugs due to cost. all compared to LIS enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Glynn A, Hernandez I, Roberts ET .
Consequences of forgoing prescription drug subsidies among low-income Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.
Health Serv Res 2022 Oct;57(5):1136-44. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13990..
Keywords: Medication, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Low-Income, Medicare, Healthcare Costs
Holcomb J, Ferguson GM, Sun J
Stakeholder engagement in adoption, implementation, and sustainment of an evidence-based intervention to increase mammography adherence among low-income women.
The purpose of this document review study was to create a conceptual framework to guide stakeholder engagement in an evidence-based intervention to increase mammography appointment adherence in underserved and low-income women. The document review results were aligned with the constructs of the conceptual framework and an application of stakeholder engagement in an evidence-based mammography intervention. The researchers concluded that both the conceptual framework constructs and the stakeholder engagement strategies can be utilized across a range of organizations, programs, and settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS023255.
Citation: Holcomb J, Ferguson GM, Sun J .
Stakeholder engagement in adoption, implementation, and sustainment of an evidence-based intervention to increase mammography adherence among low-income women.
J Cancer Educ 2022 Oct;37(5):1486-95. doi: 10.1007/s13187-021-01988-2..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Screening, Imaging, Women, Low-Income, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Kim N, Jacobson M
Comparison of catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenditure among older adults in the United States and South Korea: what affects the apparent difference?
In the United States seniors aged 65 and older have Medicare and almost-universal coverage, and in South Korea all residents have national health insurance. The purpose of this study was to compare catastrophic out-of-pocket medical spending (defined as out-of-pocket medical spending over the past two years that exceeded 50% of household income) among adults 65 and older in the United States with the same senior-aged population in South Korea. The study found that the proportion of participants with catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenditures was 5.8% in the US and 3.0% in South Korea. The researchers concluded that exposure to that level of expenditures was significantly higher in the US than South Korea, with the difference attributed to unobservable system level factors rather than observable sociodemographic characteristics.
AHRQ-funded; HS026488.
Citation: Kim N, Jacobson M .
Comparison of catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenditure among older adults in the United States and South Korea: what affects the apparent difference?
BMC Health Serv Res 2022 Sep 26;22(1):1202. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08575-1..
Keywords: Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Low-Income
Fung V, Yang Z, Cook BL
Changes in insurance coverage continuity after Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid eligibility for young adults with low income in Massachusetts.
The purpose of this cohort study was to describe changes in insurance coverage continuity for Medicaid enrollees who turned age 19 years before and after eligibility policy changes from the 2014 Medicaid expansion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Between November 1, 2020, and May 12, 2022 the researchers analyzed data from the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database (2012 to 2016) to compare coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries turning age 19 years before and after Medicaid expansion. A total of 41,247 young adults turning age 18 to 19 years in the baseline year were included in the study. The researchers found that enrollees who turned age 19 after vs before the Medicaid eligibility expansion were less likely to have 3 or more uninsured months at18 to 19 years of age and 19 to 20 years of age and more likely to have continuous insurance coverage for 12 or more months. Differences in the likelihood of having 3 or more uninsured months decreased at 20 to 21 years of age, when both groups had access to Medicaid. The study concluded that among Medicaid enrollees entering adulthood, the expansion of Medicaid to lower-income adults through the 2014 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was associated with a decreased possibility of becoming uninsured.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Fung V, Yang Z, Cook BL .
Changes in insurance coverage continuity after Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid eligibility for young adults with low income in Massachusetts.
JAMA Health Forum 2022 Jul;3(7):e221996. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.1996..
Keywords: Young Adults, Health Insurance, Policy, Medicaid, Access to Care, Low-Income
Cha P, Escarce JJ
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion: a difference-in-differences study of spillover participation in SNAP.
Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act increased access to insurance coverage to adults under 138% of the federal poverty level and connected individuals to SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Food Program – formerly the Food Stamp Program). The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of Medicaid expansion on SNAP participation among 414,000 individuals across the U.S. The study found that there was a 2.9% increase in SNAP participation produced by Medicaid expansion among individuals living under 138% of the federal poverty level. In subgroup analyses the researchers discovered a 5% increase in households without children below 75% of the federal poverty level, and an increase in SNAP households with zero dollars in income. The study concluded that the impact of the Medicaid expansion on access to SNAP participation was the greatest in very-low-income individuals, and that the impact of Medicaid expansion reaches beyond healthcare by increasing access to other supports like food which is a social determinant of health.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Cha P, Escarce JJ .
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion: a difference-in-differences study of spillover participation in SNAP.
PLoS One 2022 May 4;17(5):e0267244. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267244..
Keywords: Medicaid, Nutrition, Low-Income, Health Insurance
Chang L, Rees CA, Michelson KA
Association of socioeconomic characteristics with where children receive emergency care.
This study’s objective was to characterize national associations of neighborhood income and insurance type for children with the characteristics of emergency departments (EDs) from which they receive care. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of ED visits by children from 2014 to 2017 using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Emergency department characteristics were characterized by pediatric volume category. There was a total of 107.6 million ED visits from 2014 to 2017. Children outside of the wealthiest neighborhood income quartile had lower proportions of visits to high-volume pediatric EDs and greater proportions of visits to low-volume pediatric EDs than children in the wealthiest quartile. Publicly insured children were modestly more likely to visit higher-volume pediatric EDs than privately insurance and uninsured children. This association appears to be principally driven by urban-rural differences in access to pediatric emergency care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026503.
Citation: Chang L, Rees CA, Michelson KA .
Association of socioeconomic characteristics with where children receive emergency care.
Pediatr Emerg Care 2022 Jan;38(1):e264-e67. doi: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002244..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Health Insurance, Uninsured, Low-Income
Bastani R, Glenn BA, Singhal R
Increasing HPV vaccination among low-income, ethnic minority adolescents: effects of a multicomponent system intervention through a county health department hotline.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has cancer prevention benefits, yet low uptake. The purpose of the study was to evaluate an intervention intended to improve vaccine uptake in low-income, ethnic minority adolescents using a telephone hotline to seek county health department services. The researchers recruited participants through randomization of health department hotline callers who were caregivers of never-vaccinated adolescents aged 11-17. The intervention included multi-lingual print and telephone education and personalized referral to a low cost or free provider of vaccines. Participants completed baseline, 3-month, and 9-month telephone surveys. The study found that by the end of the 9-month follow up period, the HPV vaccination rates had increased, however there were no differences between the intervention (45%) and control (42%) groups. The researchers also observed significant improvements in perceived HPV knowledge, perceived HPV risk, and barriers to vaccination. The study concluded that the county hotline intervention did not produce a greater increase in HPV vaccine rates in the intervention group than the group without the intervention. The study authors recommend that future studies should evaluate interventions which are more intensive and address accessing and using services in complex, safety net settings. The authors also noted that because 44% of unvaccinated adolescents in both the intervention and control groups received at least one dose of the vaccine during the study period, investigators of future studies should be aware of the potential priming effects of participation in the study, which may impact the results of interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Bastani R, Glenn BA, Singhal R .
Increasing HPV vaccination among low-income, ethnic minority adolescents: effects of a multicomponent system intervention through a county health department hotline.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022 Jan;31(1):175-82. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.Epi-20-1578..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Vaccination, Low-Income, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sexual Health, Prevention