National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (5)
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- Rural/Inner-City Residents (4)
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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 18 of 18 Research Studies DisplayedJiang Henke, RM RM, Fingar KR
AHRQ Author: Jiang HJ, Liang
Mortality for time-sensitive conditions at urban vs rural hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The objectives of this interrupted time-series analysis cohort study were to examine whether in-hospital mortality not related to COVID-19 changed during the pandemic for time-sensitive conditions and to assess variations by urban versus rural hospital location. Data for adult discharges from 3813 U.S. hospitals was taken from the HCUP State Inpatient Databases. The results indicated that in-hospital mortality for time-sensitive conditions increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, for sepsis, pneumonia in both rural and urban hospitals, acute myocardial infarction and gastrointestinal hemorrhage at urban hospitals, and hip fracture at rural hospitals. No significant change was found in mortality for stroke overall. The researchers concluded that strategies tailored to differing needs of urban and rural hospitals may help reduce the likelihood of excess deaths during future public health crises.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201800001C.
Citation: Jiang Henke, RM RM, Fingar KR .
Mortality for time-sensitive conditions at urban vs rural hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2024 Mar 4; 7(3):e241838. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.1838..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), COVID-19, Mortality, Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
MacDougall H, Hanson S, Interrante JD
Rural-urban differences in health care unaffordability during the postpartum period.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore health care unaffordability for rural and urban residents and by postpartum status. The study found that postpartum people reported statistically significantly higher rates of inability to pay medical bills when compared with non-postpartum people. Rural residents also reported higher rates of inability to pay their medical bills and having problems paying medical bills as compared with urban residents. In adjusted models, the predicted probability of being unable to pay medical bills among postpartum respondents was 12.8%, which was higher than among non-postpartum respondents. Similarly, postpartum respondents had higher predicted probabilities of reporting problems paying medical bills (18.4%) than compared with non-postpartum respondents. IN adjusted models, residency in a rural area was not significantly related with the health care unaffordability outcome measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: MacDougall H, Hanson S, Interrante JD .
Rural-urban differences in health care unaffordability during the postpartum period.
Med Care 2023 Sep; 61(9):595-600. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001888..
Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Maternal Care, Healthcare Costs, Women, Access to Care
Hatch BA, Kenzie E, Ramalingam N
Impact of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on the primary care workforce and differences between rural and urban settings to inform future policy decision-making.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine how vaccine mandates affect the healthcare workforce. Between October 28, 2021- November 18, 2021, following implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare personnel, the researchers conducted a survey of Oregon primary care clinic staff. The survey included 19 questions that assessed the clinic-level effects of the vaccination mandate. Study outcomes included job loss among staff, receipt of an approved vaccination waiver, new vaccination among staff, and the perceived significance of the policy on clinic staffing. Staff from 80 clinics across 28 counties completed surveys, representing 38 rural and 42 urban clinics. The study found that clinics reported job loss (46%), use of vaccination waivers (51%), and newly vaccinated staff (60%). Significantly more rural clinics (compared to urban) used medical and/or religious vaccination waivers (71% vs 33%) and reported significant impact on clinic staffing (45% vs 21%). There was also a non-significant trend toward more job loss for rural compared to urban clinics (53% vs. 41%). Qualitative analysis revealed a decrease in clinic morale and mixed opinions of the vaccination mandate.
AHRQ-funded; HS027080.
Citation: Hatch BA, Kenzie E, Ramalingam N .
Impact of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on the primary care workforce and differences between rural and urban settings to inform future policy decision-making.
PLoS One 2023 Jun 27; 18(6):e0287553. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287553..
Keywords: COVID-19, Vaccination, Primary Care, Policy, Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
McDaniel CE, Leyenaar JK, Bryan MA
Urban-rural disparities in interfacility transfers for children during COVID-19.
This study’s goal was to identify temporal trends and differences in urban and rural pediatric interfacility transfers (IFTs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of IFT among children <18 years from January 2019 to June 2022 using the Pediatric Health Information System. They calculated observed-to-expected (O-E) ratios of pre-pandemic (March 2019-Feb 2020) transfers compared to pandemic year 1 (March 2020-Feb 2021) and year 2 (March 2021-February 2022) using Poisson modeling. The O-E ratio of IFT in year 1 for urban children was 14.0% and 14.8% for rural children compared to pre-pandemic. In year 2, transfers rebounded with IFTs for rural-residing children increasing more than urban-residing children (101.7%) compared to 90.7%. For mental-health indications in year 2, rural transfer ratios were higher than urban, 126% compared to 113.7%.
AHRQ-funded; HS028683.
Citation: McDaniel CE, Leyenaar JK, Bryan MA .
Urban-rural disparities in interfacility transfers for children during COVID-19.
J Rural Health 2023 Jun; 39(3):611-16. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12746..
Keywords: COVID-19, Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Tan MS, Heise CW, Gallo T
Relationship between a risk score for QT interval prolongation and mortality across rural and urban inpatient facilities.
The objectives of this retrospective observational study were to evaluate the relationship between a modified Tisdale QTc-risk score (QTc-RS), inpatient mortality, and length of stay in a broad inpatient population with an order for a medication with a known risk of torsades de pointes (TdP). Inpatient data from 28 healthcare facilities in the western US were used. The results indicated that there is a strong relationship between increased mortality as well as longer duration of hospitalization with an increasing QTc-RS.
AHRQ-funded; HS026662.
Citation: Tan MS, Heise CW, Gallo T .
Relationship between a risk score for QT interval prolongation and mortality across rural and urban inpatient facilities.
J Electrocardiol 2023 Mar;77:4-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2022.11.008.
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Mortality, Rural Health, Urban Health, Risk
Barton AJ, Amura CR, Willems EL
Patient and provider perceptions of COVID-19-driven telehealth use from nurse-led care models in rural, frontier, and urban Colorado communities.
The aim of this study was to describe the patient and provider encounter in the unexpected telehealth application that took place with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and providers from 3 nurse-led models of care (federally qualified health centers, nurse midwifery practices, and the Nurse-Family partnership program) in Colorado were surveyed. Data from the Patient Attitude toward Telehealth survey and Provider Perceptions about Telehealth were collected. Patients who resided in urban areas utilized telehealth with greater frequency than in rural or frontier areas. Across each of the 5 domains assessed, rural/frontier patients had significantly lower attitude scores than urban patients. The mode of Telehealth employed differed across location, with video calls utilized more frequently by urban providers, and phone calls utilized by rural/frontier providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS028085.
Citation: Barton AJ, Amura CR, Willems EL .
Patient and provider perceptions of COVID-19-driven telehealth use from nurse-led care models in rural, frontier, and urban Colorado communities.
J Patient Exp 2023 Jan 25; 10:23743735231151546. doi: 10.1177/23743735231151546..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Primary Care, Patient Experience, Rural Health, Urban Health, Vulnerable Populations, Provider: Nurse
Fraze TK, Lewis VA, Wood A
Configuration and delivery of primary care in rural and urban settings.
This study examined configuration and delivery of rural primary care of Medicare beneficiaries compared to more urban settings. The study included over 27 million participants with qualifying visits who were assigned to practices. The authors characterized practices’ structures, capabilities, and payment reform participation and measured beneficiary utilization by rurality. Rural practices were smaller, more primary care dominant and system owned with more beneficiaries per practice. Rural area beneficiaries were more likely to be from high-poverty areas and disabled. There was less engagement in quality-focused payment programs than in metropolitan practices. There was less preventive care, such as fewer beneficiaries with diabetes receiving an eye exam, fewer mammograms, and higher overall and condition-specific readmissions. While most isolated beneficiaries traveled to more urban practices for outpatient care, those receiving care in rural practices had similar outpatient and inpatient utilization to urban counterparts except for readmissions and quality metrics that rely on services outside of primary care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Fraze TK, Lewis VA, Wood A .
Configuration and delivery of primary care in rural and urban settings.
J Gen Intern Med 2022 Sep;37(12):3045-53. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07472-x..
Keywords: Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Rural Health, Urban Health, Medicare
Greenwood-Ericksen M, Kamdar N, Lin P
Association of rural and critical access hospital status with patient outcomes after emergency department visits among Medicare beneficiaries.
This study compared 30-day mortality rates after emergency department (ED) visits to rural or critical access hospitals (CAHs) compared to urban hospitals for Medicare beneficiaries. A 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries was used from January 2011 to October 31, 2015. The primary outcome measured was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcome examined was ED visits with and without rehospitalization. Mortality rates were comparable with both groups, although patients in rural EDs experienced more transfers and less hospitalization.
AHRQ-funded; HS024160.
Citation: Greenwood-Ericksen M, Kamdar N, Lin P .
Association of rural and critical access hospital status with patient outcomes after emergency department visits among Medicare beneficiaries.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Nov;4(11):e2134980. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.34980..
Keywords: Hospitals, Rural Health, Urban Health, Emergency Department, Mortality, Outcomes
Hoffmann JA, Hall M, Lorenz D
Emergency department visits for suicidal ideation and self-harm in rural and urban youths.
The authors sought to compare emergency department (ED) visit rates for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm among youth by urban-rural location of residence. Data was taken from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. They found that, compared with youths living in urban areas, youths living in rural areas had higher ED visit rates for self-harm, including self-inflicted firearm injuries. The researchers recommended preventive approaches for self-harm based in community and ED settings in order to help address these differences.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Hoffmann JA, Hall M, Lorenz D .
Emergency department visits for suicidal ideation and self-harm in rural and urban youths.
J Pediatr 2021 Nov;238:282-89.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.07.013..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Behavioral Health, Rural Health, Urban Health, Healthcare Utilization
Anderson MC, Evans E, Zonfrillo MR
Rural/urban differences in discharge from rehabilitation in older adults with traumatic brain injury.
This study compared differences in outcomes for older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rural and urban settings by 1) comparing the rates of successful community discharge; and 2) reasons for not achieving successful discharge. This retrospective national cohort study looked at skilled nursing facility (SNF) patients aged 66 and older using Medicare inpatient claims with Minimum Data Set assessments. A total of 11,771 SNFs were identified with a total population of 61,021 Medicare beneficiaries discharged to a SNF following hospitalization for TBI between 2011 and 2015. Patients in rural settings had lower rates of successful discharge compared with patients in urban settings (52.1% vs 58.5%). Reasons for unsuccessful discharge differed between rural and urban settings with rural patients less likely to discharged from SNF within 100 days although they were less likely to be rehospitalized within 30 days of SNF discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Anderson MC, Evans E, Zonfrillo MR .
Rural/urban differences in discharge from rehabilitation in older adults with traumatic brain injury.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jun;69(6):1601-08. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17065..
Keywords: Elderly, Brain Injury, Trauma, Rural Health, Urban Health, Rehabilitation, Nursing Homes
Kirby JB, Yabroff KR
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB
Rural-urban differences in access to primary care: beyond the usual source of care provider.
This study used 2014-2016 MEPS data to analyze differences between rural and urban areas to primary care access beyond the usual source of care provider. While rural residents were more likely to have a usual source of care, they were less likely to have a provider with office hours on nights and weekends.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Yabroff KR .
Rural-urban differences in access to primary care: beyond the usual source of care provider.
Am J Prev Med 2020 Jan;58(1):89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.08.026..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Access to Care, Primary Care, Rural Health, Urban Health, Health Services Research (HSR)
Spees LP, Brewster WR, Varia MA
Examining urban and rural differences in how distance to care influences the initiation and completion of treatment among insured cervical cancer patients.
Although rural cancer patients encounter substantial barriers to care, they more often report receiving timely care than urban patients. In this study, the investigators examined whether geographic distance, a contributor to urban-rural health disparities, differentially influenced treatment initiation and completion among insured urban and rural cervical cancer patients. The investigators found that geographic distance differentially influenced the initiation and completion of treatment among urban and rural cervical cancer patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Spees LP, Brewster WR, Varia MA .
Examining urban and rural differences in how distance to care influences the initiation and completion of treatment among insured cervical cancer patients.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2019 May;28(5):882-89. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.Epi-18-0945..
Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Disparities, Access to Care, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer
Spees LP, Wheeler SB, Varia M
Evaluating the urban-rural paradox: the complicated relationship between distance and the receipt of guideline-concordant care among cervical cancer patients.
A recent study suggests that the distance to reach care may affect urban and rural cancer patients differentially; the authors of this article examined whether or not this urban-rural paradox exists among cervical cancer patients. Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2004 to 2013 were identified via a statewide cancer registry linked to multi-payer insurance claims. 62% of the cervical cancer patients received guideline-concordant care. The association between distance and receipt of care differed by type of treatment. The authors conclude that there is evidence supporting the urban-rural paradox.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Spees LP, Wheeler SB, Varia M .
Evaluating the urban-rural paradox: the complicated relationship between distance and the receipt of guideline-concordant care among cervical cancer patients.
Gynecol Oncol 2019 Jan;152(1):112-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.11.010.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Rural Health, Urban Health
Baernholdt M, Hinton ID
Fall rates in urban and rural nursing units: does location matter?
This paper discusses a study of fall rates in 65 rural hospitals with 222 nursing units and 560 urban hospitals with 4274 nursing units. The authors found that geographic region, unit type, and nurse staffing, education, experience, and outcomes were associated with fall rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS023147.
Citation: Baernholdt M, Hinton ID .
Fall rates in urban and rural nursing units: does location matter?
J Nurs Care Qual 2018 Oct/Dec;33(4):326-33. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000319..
Keywords: Falls, Patient Safety, Rural Health, Urban Health
Williams D, Jr., Holmes M
Rural health care costs: are they higher and why might they differ from urban health care costs?
Do health care costs differ between rural and urban populations, and if so, why might that be? Rural Americans are more vulnerable than their urban counterparts, which could lead one to suspect rural health care costs are higher. However, the answer may differ depending on how costs are measured and who is paying.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Williams D, Jr., Holmes M .
Rural health care costs: are they higher and why might they differ from urban health care costs?
N C Med J 2018 Jan-Feb;79(1):51-55. doi: 10.18043/ncm.79.1.51.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Rural Health, Urban Health
Baernholdt M, Hinton ID, Guofen Y
A national comparison of rural/urban pressure ulcer and fall rates.
Despite recent decline in hospital acquired conditions (HACs), rates for pressure ulcers (PURs) and falls (FRs) remain at levels that require improvement. Contextual factors and care processes may impact HACs. Using the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI®) this study examined differences in care processes and community, hospital, and nursing unit characteristics that influence PURs and FRs in 4238 rural and urban nursing units.
AHRQ-funded; HS023147.
Citation: Baernholdt M, Hinton ID, Guofen Y .
A national comparison of rural/urban pressure ulcer and fall rates.
Online J Issues Nurs 2017 May;22(2):1-12. doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol22No02PPT60..
Keywords: Injuries and Wounds, Nursing, Patient Safety, Pressure Ulcers, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Rural Health, Urban Health
Caldwell JT, Ford CL, Wallace SP
Intersection of living in a rural versus urban area and race/ethnicity in explaining access to health care in the United States.
The researchers examined whether living in a rural versus urban area differentially exposes populations to social conditions associated with disparities in access to health care. They cocluded that rural status confers additional disadvantage for most of the health care use measures, independently of poverty and health care supply.
AHRQ-funded; HS022811.
Citation: Caldwell JT, Ford CL, Wallace SP .
Intersection of living in a rural versus urban area and race/ethnicity in explaining access to health care in the United States.
Am J Public Health 2016 Aug;106(8):1463-9. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303212.
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Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Access to Care, Social Determinants of Health
Cochran GL, Horn SD
Potential effect of coding differences on comparisons of rural and urban outcomes.
To investigate the concern that systematic differences in coding exist, the researchers conducted a small pilot study. Their study compared rural and urban disease severity for four common diagnoses in a Midwestern urban academic medical center and eight critical access hospitals (CAHs). They found significantly fewer comorbidities (identified according to ICD-9 codes) in rural subjects, despite their being approximately 15 years older than subjects in the urban comparator group.
AHRQ-funded; HS018059.
Citation: Cochran GL, Horn SD .
Potential effect of coding differences on comparisons of rural and urban outcomes.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2015 Oct;63(10):2210-2. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13692..
Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Comparative Effectiveness, Outcomes