Research Activities, July 2012, No. 383

Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

Experts seek better diagnosis and treatment for women's urinary incontinence and chronic pelvic pain
From the Director
Urinary Incontinence—New Hope

Patient Safety and Quality

High-volume hospitals have low rates of adverse events for high-risk surgeries
Complications and in-hospital deaths more frequent among patients who undergo anterior rather than posterior spine fusion
Adjusting hospital admissions by day can help with overcrowding in children's hospitals

Market Forces

Perceived reputation and other factors influence consumers' hospital choices
Market competition has only marginal effect on hospital performance for heart failure

Acute Care/Hospitalization

Many surgeons do not discuss advance directives with their patients before surgery
Large vessel occlusion after a mini stroke predicts functional decline

Chronic Disease

Tumor necrosis factor-antagonists in patients with autoimmune diseases showed no overall increased risk of hospitalizations for serious infections than non-biologic drugs
Costly, ineffective tests used more often than more effective, but inexpensive tests to diagnose peripheral neuropathy
Depressed patients with anxiety who fail initial antidepressant therapy may benefit from adding a second drug

Men's Health

"Tough guy" mentality prevents some men from seeking help for depression
Black male prisoners in North Carolina have considerably lower mortality rates than black residents of that State

 

Child/Adolescent Health

Study looks at impact of FDA suicide risk advisory on antidepressant prescribing in children
Implementing a clinical practice guideline helps children with pneumonia get proper antibiotics
Study identifies signals that may predict infant neurological impairment
Having a usual source of care promotes preventive health counseling for children

Elderly Health/Long-Term Care

Study results argue against decisions about screening colonoscopy based on age alone
Key treatments for high blood pressure and high blood lipids do not reduce elderly patients' risk of limited mobility
Study identifies demographic and clinical factors related to fractures among older Americans

Health Care Costs and Financing

Rise in prescription copays puts different patients at risk for nonadherence to medications

Health Information Technology

Electronic health records can help detect diagnostic errors in primary care

Primary Care

Primary care practices can boost clinical preventive services with electronic health records and quality improvement support
Although the patient-centered medical home is a promising model of care, more studies are needed to assess its effectiveness

Disparities/Minority Health

Hard-of-hearing individuals more likely to report difficulties in accessing care
Tool assesses the readiness of black churches to engage in health disparities research

Agency News and Notes

Study projects savings by Affordable Care Act to individual health insurance policyholders
Web videonovela series helps Spanish-speaking patients compare treatments for diabetes
Limited evidence prevents firm conclusions on rheumatoid arthritis drug therapies
AHRQ report finds teamwork and followup as strengths of medical offices but work pressure and pace are problematic
Consumer and clinician summaries now available on chronic pelvic pain treatment options

Announcements

Podcast series discusses the AHRQ Quality Indicators™ Toolkit for Hospitals
New patient decision aid and other resources available on osteoporosis medications
New clinician research summary available on adjunctive devices for acute coronary syndrome
Call for papers for special issue of Health Services Research on mixed methods in health care delivery system research

Research Briefs

Research Briefs

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