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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 25 of 30 Research Studies DisplayedGettel CJ, Canavan ME, D'Onofrio G
Who provides what care? An analysis of clinical focus among the national emergency care workforce.
This study looked at the clinical focus of emergency department (ED) workers using the 2017 Medicare Public Use Files for clinicians receiving reimbursement for emergency care Evaluation & Management (E/M) services for Medicare fee-for-service Part B. Clinicians were categorized as EM physicians, non-EM physicians, and advanced practice providers (APPs). Of the 65,710 unique clinicians providing care, 59.4% were classified as EM physicians, 12.4% as non-EM physicians, and 28.5% as APPs. EM physicians have twice as much clinician median focus in comparison to EM physicians providing emergency care (92.8% vs 45.2) and APPs are focused 100%.
AHRQ-funded; HS023614.
Citation: Gettel CJ, Canavan ME, D'Onofrio G .
Who provides what care? An analysis of clinical focus among the national emergency care workforce.
Am J Emerg Med 2021 Apr;42:228-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.11.069..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider, Medicare
Wilson BL, Butler RJ
Identifying optimal labor and delivery nurse staffing: the case of cesarean births and nursing hours.
Numerous studies have identified a relationship between nurse staffing and adverse patient outcomes in medical / surgical patient populations. However, little is known about the impact of labor and delivery (L&D) nurse staffing and adverse birth outcomes, such as unintended cesarean delivery, in low-risk term-gestation women. In this study the investigators examined nurse staffing patterns on the likelihood of cesarean sections (C-sections) among low- risk, full gestation births and provided a testing framework to distinguish optimal from ineffective levels of nurse staffing.
AHRQ-funded; HS024607.
Citation: Wilson BL, Butler RJ .
Identifying optimal labor and delivery nurse staffing: the case of cesarean births and nursing hours.
Nurs Outlook 2021 Jan-Feb;69(1):84-95. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.07.003..
Keywords: Provider: Nurse, Provider, Workforce, Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Quality of Care, Risk, Women
Cohen C, Baird M, Koirola N
The surgical and anesthesia workforce and provision of surgical services in rural communities: a mixed-methods examination.
This mixed-methods study described the distribution of the surgical and anesthesia workforce and qualitatively explored how such workforce and other factors influenced rural hospitals' provision of surgical services. Using American Hospital Association survey data, the researchers found that within rural counties, 55.1% had no surgeon, 81.2% had no anesthesiologist, and 58.1% had no Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. While rural hospitals reported meeting community needs for elective and noncomplex surgeries, these hospitals continued to face significant challenges providing subspecialty surgeries, emergency surgeries, and 24-hour obstetrical services.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Cohen C, Baird M, Koirola N .
The surgical and anesthesia workforce and provision of surgical services in rural communities: a mixed-methods examination.
J Rural Health 2021 Jan;37(1):45-54. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12417..
Keywords: Rural Health, Access to Care, Surgery, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider: Nurse, Provider, Hospitals
Campbell AM, Mattoni M, Yefimov MN
Improving cognitive workload in radiation therapists: a pilot EEG neurofeedback study.
The authors employed an accelerated alpha-theta neurofeedback (NF) protocol to test if 12 radiation therapy therapists (RTTs) could learn the protocol and exhibit behavior and brain performance-related benefits. Following the 3-week protocol, participants showed a decrease in subjective cognitive workload and a decrease in response time during a performance task, as well as a decrease in desynchrony of the alpha electroencephalogram band. The authors concluded that the RTTs successfully learned the protocol and improved in perceived cognitive workload following 3 weeks of neurofeedback.
AHRQ-funded; HS025597.
Citation: Campbell AM, Mattoni M, Yefimov MN .
Improving cognitive workload in radiation therapists: a pilot EEG neurofeedback study.
Front Psychol 2020 Dec 3;11:571739. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.571739..
Keywords: Provider, Burnout, Stress, Workforce
Shubeck SP, Newman EA, Vitous CA
Hiring practices of US academic surgery departments-challenges and opportunities for more inclusive hiring.
To increase workforce diversity among academic medical centers, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommends multiple inclusive strategies for evaluating and hiring candidates. The objective of this study was to determine (1) usual and inclusive hiring practices used among academic surgery departments and (2) the barriers to utilization of inclusive hiring practices. The investigators concluded that many chairs rely heavily on internal hires or trusted networks, which may limit both demographic and cognitive diversity.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Shubeck SP, Newman EA, Vitous CA .
Hiring practices of US academic surgery departments-challenges and opportunities for more inclusive hiring.
J Surg Res 2020 Oct;254:23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.03.054..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Hospitals
Womack DM, Hribar MR, Steege LM
Registered nurse strain detection using ambient data: an exploratory study of underutilized operational data streams in the hospital workplace.
Registered nurses (RNs) regularly adapt their work to ever-changing situations but routine adaptation transforms into RN strain when service demand exceeds staff capacity and patients are at risk of missed or delayed care. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of ambient workplace data, defined as time-stamped transaction records and log file data produced by non-electronic health record care delivery tools (e.g., nurse call systems, communication devices), as an information channel for automated sensing of RN strain.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Womack DM, Hribar MR, Steege LM .
Registered nurse strain detection using ambient data: an exploratory study of underutilized operational data streams in the hospital workplace.
Appl Clin Inform 2020 Aug;11(4):598-605. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1715829..
Keywords: Provider: Nurse, Provider, Health Information Technology (HIT), Workforce, Burnout
Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J
Organizational support for nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes.
Lack of organizational support in healthcare settings has been linked to high levels of clinician stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Little research exists on organizational support for nurse practitioners. In this study, the researchers investigated the relationship between organizational support and nurse practitioner outcomes, including job satisfaction, intent to leave, and quality of care. The investigators concluded that nurse practitioners from primary care practices with higher levels of organizational support were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, have less intent to leave their jobs, and report better quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024758.
Citation: Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J .
Organizational support for nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes.
Nurs Res 2020 Jul/Aug;69(4):280-88. doi: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000425..
Keywords: Provider: Clinician, Provider, Primary Care, Burnout, Stress, Workforce, Organizational Change
Toledo P, Lewis CR, Lange EMS
Women and underrepresented minorities in academic anesthesiology.
The demographics of the United States is changing with 51% of the population being female, and 32% of the population identifying as an underrepresented minority (URM, ie, African American/black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander). This article provides an overview of the current status of women and URM faculty in academic anesthesiology and provides a framework for academic advancement.
AHRQ-funded; HS025267; HS026169.
Citation: Toledo P, Lewis CR, Lange EMS .
Women and underrepresented minorities in academic anesthesiology.
Anesthesiol Clin 2020 Jun;38(2):449-57. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2020.01.004..
Keywords: Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Education: Academic
Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Grady VM
Indicators of workplace burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
The goal of this study was to examine whether individual behaviors and attitudes towards major disruptive change has an effect on workplace burnout. Using surveys from healthcare professionals, researchers’ findings showed workplace burnout reported by 31.6% of physicians, 17.2% of advanced practice clinicians, 18.9% of clinical support staff, and 17.5% of administrative staff, with all healthcare professional groups having high levels of anxiety. Providers who experienced higher levels of anxiety and withdrawal were more than three times as likely to report burnout compared to those who experienced low levels in these domains.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Goldberg DG, Soylu TG, Grady VM .
Indicators of workplace burnout among physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 May-Jun;33(3):378-85. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190260..
Keywords: Burnout, Primary Care, Provider, Workflow, Workforce
Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J
Physician-nurse practitioner teamwork in primary care practices in New York: a cross-sectional survey.
Primary care practices increasingly rely on the growing workforce of nurse practitioners (NPs) to meet primary care demand. Understanding teamwork between NPs and physicians in primary care practices is critically important. In this study, the investigators assessed teamwork between NPs and physicians practicing within the same primary care practice and determined how teamwork affected their job satisfaction, intent to leave their current job, and quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024758.
Citation: Poghosyan L, Ghaffari A, Liu J .
Physician-nurse practitioner teamwork in primary care practices in New York: a cross-sectional survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Apr;35(4):1021-28. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05509-2..
Keywords: Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Quality of Care
Than C, Chuang E, Washington DL
Understanding gender sensitivity of the health care workforce at the Veterans Health Administration.
Gender sensitivity of providers and staff has assumed increasing importance in closing historical gender disparities in health care quality and outcomes. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented several initiatives intended to improve gender sensitivity of its health care workforce. The current study examined practice- and individual-level characteristics associated with gender sensitivity of primary care providers (PCPs) and staff.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Than C, Chuang E, Washington DL .
Understanding gender sensitivity of the health care workforce at the Veterans Health Administration.
Womens Health Issues 2020 Mar-Apr;30(2):120-27. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.01.001..
Keywords: Workforce, Provider, Primary Care, Disparities, Quality of Care
Jalali A, Martin C, Nelson RE
Provider practice competition and adoption of Medicare's Oncology Care Model.
The purpose of this study was to measure the association between regional market competition among medical oncologists with the initial adoption of the Oncology Care Model (OCM). Findings showed that practices in competitive health care markets were more likely to adopt OCM than in noncompetitive markets. Average practice size, number of practices in a hospital referral region, and the hospital bed rate were positively associated with adoption, whereas the rate of full-time equivalent hospital employees to 1000 residents was negatively associated with adoption. Recommendations included careful monitoring of market-level changes among OCM adopters to ensure that the benefits of the OCM outweigh the negative consequences of possible changes in competition.
AHRQ-funded; HS024714.
Citation: Jalali A, Martin C, Nelson RE .
Provider practice competition and adoption of Medicare's Oncology Care Model.
Med Care 2020 Feb;58(2):154-60. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001243..
Keywords: Medicare, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider
Germack HD, Kandrack R, Martsolf GR
When rural hospitals close, the physician workforce goes.
Researchers examined the relationship between rural hospital closures and the supply of physicians across different specialties in the years leading up to and after a closure. They observed significant annual reductions in the supply of general surgeons in the years leading up to a closure. They also found that rural hospital closures were associated with immediate and persistent decreases in the supply of surgical specialists and long-term decreases in the supply of physicians across multiple specialties. Because this decrease could lead to reduced access to care for rural residents, they recommended that future policy efforts focus on supporting and maintaining health care delivery models that do not depend on hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Germack HD, Kandrack R, Martsolf GR .
When rural hospitals close, the physician workforce goes.
Health Aff 2019 Dec;38(12):2086-94. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00916..
Keywords: Rural Health, Hospitals, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider
Adams DR, Williams NJ, Becker-Haimes EM
Therapist financial strain and turnover: interactions with system-level implementation of evidence-based practices.
In this study, the investigators prospectively examined the relationship between therapist financial strain and turnover in 247 therapists in 28 community mental health agencies. The investigators expected greater therapist financial strain to predict higher turnover and participation in a system-funded evidence-based practice (EBP) training initiative to alleviate this effect. They found that, controlling for covariates, financial strain predicted therapist turnover but not for therapists who participated in an EBP training initiative.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Adams DR, Williams NJ, Becker-Haimes EM .
Therapist financial strain and turnover: interactions with system-level implementation of evidence-based practices.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2019 Nov;46(6):713-23. doi: 10.1007/s10488-019-00949-8..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Evidence-Based Practice, Behavioral Health, Provider, Provider: Clinician, Training, Workforce
Everson J, Richards MR, Buntin MB
Horizontal and vertical integration's role in meaningful use attestation over time.
This study examined rates of attestation and attrition from the meaningful use (MU) program by independent, horizontally integrated, and vertically integrated physicians. The goal was to determine if MU created pressure for independent physicians to join integrated organizations. They compared attestation rates using secondary data from SK&A and Medicare MU Files from 2011-2016 with office-based physicians. The sample size was 291,234 physicians. Forty-nine percent of physicians that remained independent during the period attested to MU at least once during the program, compared with 70% that remained horizontally or vertically integrated. There was also significantly more attrition among independent physicians than those physicians who were integrated.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Everson J, Richards MR, Buntin MB .
Horizontal and vertical integration's role in meaningful use attestation over time.
Health Serv Res 2019 Oct;54(5):1075-83. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13193..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider, Medicare
Kelly LA, McHugh MD, Aiken LH
Nurse Outcomes in Magnet(R) and non-magnet hospitals.
The goal of this study was to determine whether work environments, staffing, and nurse outcomes differ between Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals. Results demonstrated superior nurse work environments in Magnet hospitals compared with non-Magnet hospitals, with better work environments being associated with lower nurse job dissatisfaction and burnout. Three decades of evidence showing superior outcomes for Magnet hospitals place this organizational innovation into a class all of its own as best practice, deserving the attention of hospital leaders, nurses, and the public.
AHRQ-funded; HS017551.
Citation: Kelly LA, McHugh MD, Aiken LH .
Nurse Outcomes in Magnet(R) and non-magnet hospitals.
J Nurs Adm 2019 Oct;49(10S Suppl):S19-s24. doi: 10.1097/nna.0000000000000801..
Keywords: Burnout, Hospitals, Provider, Provider: Nurse, Workforce
White EM, Aiken LH, McHugh MD
Registered nurse burnout, job dissatisfaction, and missed care in nursing homes.
The purpose of this article was to examine the relationship between registered nurse (RN) burnout, job dissatisfaction, and missed care in nursing homes. The investigators concluded that missed nursing care due to inadequate time or resources is common in nursing homes and is associated with RN burnout and job dissatisfaction; they indicated that improved work environments with sufficient staff hold promise for improving care and nurse retention.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: White EM, Aiken LH, McHugh MD .
Registered nurse burnout, job dissatisfaction, and missed care in nursing homes.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Oct;67(10):2065-71. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16051..
Keywords: Provider: Nurse, Provider, Burnout, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Workforce
Kamal AH, Wolf SP, Troy J
Policy changes key to promoting sustainability and growth of the specialty palliative care workforce.
The authors used 2018 clinician survey data to model risk factors associated with palliative care clinicians leaving the field early. Their modeling revealed an impending "workforce valley." They recommended policies that support high-value, team-based palliative care through expansion in all segments of the specialty palliative care workforce, combined with payment reform to encourage the deployment of sustainable teams.
AHRQ-funded; HS023681.
Citation: Kamal AH, Wolf SP, Troy J .
Policy changes key to promoting sustainability and growth of the specialty palliative care workforce.
Health Aff 2019 Jun;38(6):910-18. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00018..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Policy, Provider, Teams, Workforce
de Cordova PB, Rogowski J, Riman KA
Effects of public reporting legislation of nurse staffing: a trend analysis.
The authors examined nurse staffing trends after the New Jersey enactment of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2 H-13) on January 24, 2005, mandating that all health care facilities compile, post, and report staffing information. They found that the number of patients per registered nurse decreased for ten specialties, and conclude that this indicates the importance of public reporting in improving patient safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS024339.
Citation: de Cordova PB, Rogowski J, Riman KA .
Effects of public reporting legislation of nurse staffing: a trend analysis.
Policy Polit Nurs Pract 2019 May;20(2):92-104. doi: 10.1177/1527154419832112..
Keywords: Hospitals, Patient Safety, Workforce, Policy, Provider, Provider: Nurse
Costa DK, Moss M
The cost of caring: emotion, burnout, and psychological distress in critical care clinicians.
This paper comments on emotion, burnout, and psychological distress in critical care clinicians. It stresses that the current management approaches for burnout and other forms of psychological distress are insufficient and discusses possibilities for improvement.
AHRQ-funded; HS024552.
Citation: Costa DK, Moss M .
The cost of caring: emotion, burnout, and psychological distress in critical care clinicians.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018 Jul;15(7):787-90. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201804-269PS..
Keywords: Burnout, Critical Care, Provider, Workforce
Huber MT, Ham SA, Qayyum M
Association between job factors, burnout, and preference for a new job: a nationally representative physician survey.
Investigators used an experimental vignette to test associations between physician demographics, salary, and working with exemplary colleagues on the likelihood of preferring a new job among burned out and non-burned out physicians in various specialties. They found that, among burned out physicians, the opportunity for better salary and colleagues made them more likely to prefer a new job compared to non-burned out physicians, with change in salary associated with the greatest difference. They recommended focusing on improving physician-colleague relationships to improve job retention.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Huber MT, Ham SA, Qayyum M .
Association between job factors, burnout, and preference for a new job: a nationally representative physician survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Jun;33(6):789-91. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4412-z..
Keywords: Burnout, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider
Berridge C, Tyler DA, Miller SC
Staff empowerment practices and CNA retention: findings from a nationally representative nursing home culture change survey.
This article examines whether staff empowerment practices common to nursing home culture change are associated with certified nursing assistant (CNA) retention. It concluded that after adjustment for covariates, a greater staff empowerment practice score was positively associated with greater retention. Compared with the low empowerment category, nursing homes with scores in the medium category had a 44 percent greater likelihood of having higher CNA retention.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Berridge C, Tyler DA, Miller SC .
Staff empowerment practices and CNA retention: findings from a nationally representative nursing home culture change survey.
J Appl Gerontol 2018 Apr;37(4):419-34. doi: 10.1177/0733464816665204.
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Keywords: Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Provider, Provider: Health Personnel, Workforce
Snyder CR, Frogner BK, Skillman SM
Facilitating racial and ethnic diversity in the health workforce.
This study explored changes in the racial and ethnic diversity of the health workforce in the United States over the last decade, and evidence on the effectiveness of programs designed to promote racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S. health workforce. Findings suggested that although the health workforce overall is becoming more diverse, people of color are most often represented among the entry-level, lower-skilled health occupations.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Snyder CR, Frogner BK, Skillman SM .
Facilitating racial and ethnic diversity in the health workforce.
J Allied Health 2018 Spring;47(1):58-65..
Keywords: Provider, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Workforce
Leyenaar JK, Frintner MP
Graduating pediatric residents entering the hospital medicine workforce, 2006-2015.
This study analyzed the population of graduating pediatric residents entering the new subspecialty – pediatric hospital medicine (PHM). Data was analyzed from the American Academic of Pediatrics Annual Survey of Graduating Residents, 2006-2015. A total of 5969 graduates completed the survey, and 10.3% reported that they were entering PHM and 33.9% were reporting subspecialty fellowships. A multivariable analysis was done of the demographics, and a higher rate of residents entering PHM were female, to have children, to report that family factors limited their job selection, and to have higher levels of student debt than residents entering fellowships.
AHRQ-funded; HS024133.
Citation: Leyenaar JK, Frintner MP .
Graduating pediatric residents entering the hospital medicine workforce, 2006-2015.
Acad Pediatr 2018 Mar;18(2):200-07. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2017.05.001..
Keywords: Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Workforce
Kim LY, Rose DE, Soban LM
Primary care tasks associated with provider burnout: findings from a Veterans Health Administration survey.
The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) the extent to which primary care providers (PCPs) share responsibility for 14 discrete primary care tasks with other team members, and (2) which, if any, of the primary care tasks performed by the PCPs (without reliance on team members) are associated with PCP burnout.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Kim LY, Rose DE, Soban LM .
Primary care tasks associated with provider burnout: findings from a Veterans Health Administration survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Jan;33(1):50-56. doi: 10.1007/s11606-017-4188-6..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR), Patient-Centered Healthcare, Primary Care, Provider, Workforce