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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Care Management (2)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (1)
- Communication (2)
- Community-Based Practice (1)
- Dental and Oral Health (2)
- Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing) (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Guidelines (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (1)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Medication (17)
- Medication: Safety (5)
- (-) Opioids (17)
- Pain (4)
- Patient Safety (4)
- Policy (1)
- Practice Patterns (5)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (3)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- (-) Provider (17)
- Provider: Clinician (2)
- Provider: Nurse (1)
- Provider: Pharmacist (7)
- Provider: Physician (4)
- Provider: Physician Assistant (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Risk (1)
- Sickle Cell Disease (1)
- Substance Abuse (7)
- Tools & Toolkits (1)
- Training (1)
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 DisplayedEverson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and trends in opioid prescribing. Results suggested that an increased use of EPCS was not associated with decreased opioid prescribing or a decrease in the amount prescribed and may have been associated with a small increase in opioid prescribing. Recommendations included levers to ensure that EPCS is integrated with outside data and that information is actively used to inform prescribing decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW .
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2027951. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27951..
Keywords: Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Militello LG, Hurley RW, Cook RL
Primary care clinicians' beliefs and strategies for managing chronic pain in an era of a national opioid epidemic.
Investigators sought a better understanding of primary care clinicians’ approaches to managing patients with chronic pain and explored implications for technological and administrative interventions. They found that primary care clinicians’ beliefs about opioid therapy generally align with the clinical evidence but may have some important gaps, suggesting the potential value of interventions that include improved access to research findings, organizational changes to support spending time with patients to develop rapport, and the need for innovative clinical cognitive support.
AHRQ-funded; HS023306.
Citation: Militello LG, Hurley RW, Cook RL .
Primary care clinicians' beliefs and strategies for managing chronic pain in an era of a national opioid epidemic.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Dec;35(12):3542-48. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06178-2..
Keywords: Primary Care, Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider, Care Management
Alley L, Novak K, Havlin T
Development and pilot of a prescription drug monitoring program and communication intervention for pharmacists
The authors developed the Resources Encouraging Safe Prescription Opioid and Naloxone Dispensing (RESPOND) Toolkit to enhance community pharmacists' understanding of their role in addressing opioid safety; to improve integration of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) into daily workflow; and to enhance communication between pharmacists, prescribers, and patients. In this paper, they described the development of the RESPOND Toolkit and summarized their findings from initial pilot testing. They concluded that the RESPOND Toolkit has promise as an effective and scalable approach to providing community pharmacist-tailored training to promote behavioral shifts supporting opioid safety for patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024227.
Citation: Alley L, Novak K, Havlin T .
Development and pilot of a prescription drug monitoring program and communication intervention for pharmacists
Res Social Adm Pharm 2020 Oct;16(10):1422-30. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.12.023..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Tools & Toolkits, Communication, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider, Training
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
Lozada MJ, Raji MA, Goodwin JS
Opioid prescribing by primary care providers: a cross-sectional analysis of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physician prescribing patterns.
The purpose of this study was to identify prescription opioid over-prescribers by comparing prescribing patterns of primary care physicians (MDs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs). Participants were a national sample of 2015 Medicare Part D enrollees. Findings showed that most NPs/PAs prescribed opioids in a pattern similar to MDs, but NPs/PAs had more outliers who prescribed high-frequency, high-dose opioids than did MDs. Recommendations included efforts to reduce opioid overprescribing including targeted provider education, risk stratification, and state legislation.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Lozada MJ, Raji MA, Goodwin JS .
Opioid prescribing by primary care providers: a cross-sectional analysis of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physician prescribing patterns.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Sep;35(9):2584-92. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05823-0..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Primary Care, Practice Patterns, Medication: Safety, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Physician, Provider: Physician Assistant, Provider
McClellan C, Flottemesch TJ, Ali MM
AHRQ Author: McClellan C
Physician networks and potentially inappropriate opioid prescriptions.
The authors examined associations between care networks defined by shared patients and problematic opioid prescribing using four behaviors defined by the CDC guidelines. They found that greater provider integration was associated with a lower risk of a provider's patients repeatedly having potentially inappropriate prescription fills; however, the association with a provider having any potentially problematic prescription was more ambiguous.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: McClellan C, Flottemesch TJ, Ali MM .
Physician networks and potentially inappropriate opioid prescriptions.
J Addict Dis 2020 Jul-Sep;38(3):301-10. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2020.1760655..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Substance Abuse, Patient Safety, Provider
Suda KJ, Zhou J, Rowan SA
Overprescribing of opioids to adults by dentists in the U.S., 2011-2015.
Dentists prescribe 1 in 10 opioid prescriptions in the U.S. When opioids are necessary, national guidelines recommend the prescription of low-dose opioids for a short duration. This study assessed the appropriate prescribing of opioids by dentists before guideline implementation. The investigators concluded that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 2 opioids prescribed to adult dental patients are overprescribed.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Suda KJ, Zhou J, Rowan SA .
Overprescribing of opioids to adults by dentists in the U.S., 2011-2015.
Am J Prev Med 2020 Apr;58(4):473-86. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.006..
Keywords: Opioids, Dental and Oral Health, Provider, Practice Patterns, Medication
Burstein D, Baird J, Bratberg J
Pharmacist attitudes toward pharmacy-based naloxone: a cross-sectional survey study.
This study examined pharmacist attitudes towards recommending pharmacy-based naloxone (PBN). The authors looked at the influence of gender, practice setting, number of years of practice, state location, and PBN involvement. Barriers and facilitators were also assessed. A 71-question survey was mailed to approximately 2900 licensed pharmacists in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and was open from April 5, 2016 until July 13, 2016. Out of those 2900, 402 responded (13%) and 245 were included in the analyses. The majority (79%) identified as White and 127 (51.8%) indicated that they had dispensed naloxone, with 85 having done so in the past 30 days. The results of the cross-sectional survey was used to develop the Opioid Overdose Prevention Attitude (OOPA) scale which consists of 3 subscales: Opioid Overdose Prevention Attitude, Public Health Attitude, and Naxolone Dispensing Attitude. Pharmacists working in a pharmacy that had a standing order or collaborative practice agreement to dispense naxolone without a physician’s prescription had a more positive attitude than other pharmacists.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Burstein D, Baird J, Bratberg J .
Pharmacist attitudes toward pharmacy-based naloxone: a cross-sectional survey study.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2020 Mar-Apr;60(2):304-10. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2019.11.004.
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Keywords: Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Prevention
Larach DB, Waljee JF, Hu HM
Patterns of initial opioid prescribing to opioid-naive patients.
Researchers sought to determine the proportion of initial opioid prescriptions for opioid-naive patients prescribed by surgeons, dentists, and emergency physicians. Data from a nationwide insurance claims dataset was used to study US adults aged 18 to 64 years. Over the study period, the researchers found that surgical patients received the highest proportion of potent opioids. They concluded that initial opioid prescribing attributable to surgical and dental care was increasing relative to primary and chronic pain care. They recommended evidence-based guideline development for surgical and dental prescribing in order to curb iatrogenic opioid morbidity and mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS023313.
Citation: Larach DB, Waljee JF, Hu HM .
Patterns of initial opioid prescribing to opioid-naive patients.
Ann Surg 2020 Feb;271(2):290-95. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002969..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider
Kurian S, Baloy B, Baird J
Attitudes and perceptions of naloxone dispensing among a sample of Massachusetts community pharmacy technicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Kurian S, Baloy B, Baird J .
Attitudes and perceptions of naloxone dispensing among a sample of Massachusetts community pharmacy technicians.
J Am Pharm Assoc 2019 Nov-Dec;59(6):824-31. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2019.08.009..
Keywords: Medication, Medication: Safety, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider, Patient Safety
Bach P, Hartung D
Leveraging the role of community pharmacists in the prevention, surveillance, and treatment of opioid use disorders.
This narrative review explores the literature describing novel programs designed to capitalize on the role of the community pharmacist in helping to reduce opioid-related harms, as well as evaluations of existing practices already in place in the US and elsewhere around the world. Specific approaches examined include strategies to facilitate pharmacist monitoring for problematic opioid use, to increase pharmacy-based harm reduction efforts (including naloxone distribution and needle exchange programs), and to involve community pharmacists in the dispensation of opioid agonist therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS024227; 2902015000091.
Citation: Bach P, Hartung D .
Leveraging the role of community pharmacists in the prevention, surveillance, and treatment of opioid use disorders.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2019 Sep 2;14(1):30. doi: 10.1186/s13722-019-0158-0..
Keywords: Medication, Opioids, Provider, Provider: Pharmacist, Substance Abuse
McCarthy DM, Russell AM , Effler MR
Implementation fidelity of patient-centered prescription label to promote opioid safe use.
The authors assessed implementation of a patient-centered "PRN" (as needed) label entitled "Take-Wait-Stop" (TWS) with three deconstructed steps replacing traditional wording. They found that exact intervention adherence was not achieved in the majority of cases, limiting impact, but that community pharmacies were responsive to new instructions, with higher implementation reliability requiring additional supports.
AHRQ-funded; HS023459.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Russell AM , Effler MR .
Implementation fidelity of patient-centered prescription label to promote opioid safe use.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2019 Sep;28(9):1251-57. doi: 10.1002/pds.4795..
Keywords: Opioids, Patient Safety, Health Literacy, Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider
Ike B, Baldwin LM, Sutton S
Staff and clinician work-life perceptions after implementing systems-based improvements to opioid management.
The authors assessed the impact of implementing the Six Building Blocks on the work-life of primary care providers and staff. Six rural and rural-serving primary care organizations implemented the Six Building Blocks, with assistance from practice facilitators, clinical experts, and informatics specialists. The authors found that clinicians and staff reported improvement in their work-life after implementing the Six Building Blocks Program to improve opioid medication management and recommended further research on patient experiences specific to practice redesign programs.
AHRQ-funded; HS023750.
Citation: Ike B, Baldwin LM, Sutton S .
Staff and clinician work-life perceptions after implementing systems-based improvements to opioid management.
J Am Board Fam Med 2019 Sep-Oct;32(5):715-23. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2019.05.190027.
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Keywords: Opioids, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Care Management, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Quality Improvement, Medication, Provider, Clinician-Patient Communication
Donovan E, Case P, Bratberg JP
Beliefs associated with pharmacy-based naloxone: a qualitative study of pharmacy-based naloxone purchasers and people at risk for opioid overdose.
The purpose of this study was to understand factors that impact the likelihood of obtaining pharmacy-based naloxone. Results showed that several themes emerged from the interview data: individual, interpersonal, pharmacy, community, and societal, suggesting that these factors can be used to inform interventions seeking to increase the provision of pharmacy-based naloxone.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Donovan E, Case P, Bratberg JP .
Beliefs associated with pharmacy-based naloxone: a qualitative study of pharmacy-based naloxone purchasers and people at risk for opioid overdose.
J Urban Health 2019 Jun;96(3):367-78. doi: 10.1007/s11524-019-00349-1..
Keywords: Medication, Provider, Provider: Pharmacist, Opioids, Risk, Substance Abuse
Suda KJ, Durkin MJ, Calip GS
Comparison of opioid prescribing by dentists in the United States and England.
The goal of this cross-sectional study was to compare opioid prescribing rates by dentists in the US and England, using data on prescriptions dispensed from outpatient pharmacies and health care settings in 2016 by dentists in both countries. Findings show that the proportion of prescriptions for opioids written by US dentists was 37 times greater than the proportion written by English dentists. US dentists also had a higher number of opioid prescriptions per 1000 population and number of prescriptions per dentist. Dihydrocodeine was the only opioid prescribed by English dentists, while US dentists prescribed a range of opioids containing hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol, as well as long-acting opioids. The researchers conclude that US dentists adopt measures similar to those used in England to reduce dental opioid prescribing in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Suda KJ, Durkin MJ, Calip GS .
Comparison of opioid prescribing by dentists in the United States and England.
JAMA Netw Open 2019 May 3;2(5):e194303. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4303..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Practice Patterns, Provider
Knight LMJ, Onsomu EO, Bosworth HB
Exploring emergency department provider experiences with and perceptions of weight-based versus individualized vaso-occlusive treatment protocols in sickle cell disease.
This study compared perceptions of nurses and physicians on protocols to treat sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) in emergency rooms (ERs). Two different protocols were used for VOEs: weight –based and individualized vaso-occlusive. Nurses were less satisfied with clarity of the protocols than physicians. Pain management protocol perceptions differed widely between physicians, residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses.
AHRQ-funded; HS024501.
Citation: Knight LMJ, Onsomu EO, Bosworth HB .
Exploring emergency department provider experiences with and perceptions of weight-based versus individualized vaso-occlusive treatment protocols in sickle cell disease.
Adv Emerg Nurs J 2019 Jan/Mar;41(1):86-97. doi: 10.1097/tme.0000000000000232..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Provider, Sickle Cell Disease
Meisel ZF, Metlay JP, Sinnenberg L
A randomized trial testing the effect of narrative vignettes versus guideline summaries on provider response to a professional organization clinical policy for safe opioid prescribing.
The authors compared whether narrative vignettes embedded in the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) daily e-newsletter improved dissemination of the clinical policy to ACEP members, and engagement of members with the clinical policy, compared with traditional summary text. They found that the vignettes outperformed traditional guideline text in promoting engagement with an evidence-based clinical guideline related to opioid prescriptions.
AHRQ-funded; HS021956.
Citation: Meisel ZF, Metlay JP, Sinnenberg L .
A randomized trial testing the effect of narrative vignettes versus guideline summaries on provider response to a professional organization clinical policy for safe opioid prescribing.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Dec;68(6):719-28. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.03.007.
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Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Policy, Provider