Research Activities, September 2010, No. 361

Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

AHRQ State Snapshots expanded to include new data on health insurance

Safety/Quality of Care

Assessment of hospital computerized physician order entry systems finds many medication errors are missed
Detailed, up-to-date medication lists help prevent errors
Physician champions key to successful quality improvement projects
Physicians' use of "we" during patient visits does not necessarily foster patient-physician partnership

Disparities/Minority Health

Blacks with lung cancer have higher mortality rates than whites
Geographic information system reveals primary care needs of Hispanics
Minority pediatricians are more likely to care for minority children

Child/Adolescent Health

Public insurance linked to longer perception of disease burden among children with asthma
Iron and zinc co-supplementation seems to be most helpful for children in developing countries
Physicians report care barriers for young adults with childhood onset chronic diseases

Chronic Disease

Certain patients with lupus are more likely to end up in the emergency department three or more times a year
Impact of anti-arthritis drug on lipid levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear
Hydroxychloroquine still underused by patients with lupus, but use more likely if treated by rheumatologists
Being overweight does not have a negative impact on quality of life after a kidney transplant
Evidence-based care processes are associated with improved outcomes for heart failure
Predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with metabolic syndrome depends on definition used for the syndrome

Mental Health

Some patients with bipolar disorder pray and meditate more than others

Primary Care

Study shows Guided Care benefits family caregivers, chronically ill older adults, and physicians, and may reduce costs
Patients more likely to follow medication regimens if they share their doctor's beliefs about causes of health outcomes
Primary care doctors prefer additional medical record information when making decisions about patient test results

Health Information Technology

Electronic prescribing with clinical decision support reduces medication errors in community-based practices
Electronic prescribing improves safety, but with a small increase in physician time

Access to Care

Relative inefficiency of rural critical access hospitals must be balanced against their contributions to care access and quality
Requiring proof of citizenship cuts participation in Oregon's Medicaid family planning program

Women's Health

Awareness of turning points shared by abused women can help health care workers provide counseling
Obstetrician malpractice claims lead to small reduction in inpatient deliveries, but not C-section rates
Satisfaction after hysterectomy linked to quality of life improvements

Elderly/Long-Term Care

Benefits of chemotherapy for elderly patients with lung cancer must be weighed against risk of long-term toxicities
Measure of inappropriate prescribing predicts risk of adverse drug events in older adults
Early followup with a physician reduces readmissions for Medicare patients hospitalized for heart failure

Agency News and Notes

Heart bypass surgery death rates drop sharply
Use of physical restraint in nursing homes cut by half in 8 years
Cost of family coverage provided by employers 1.5 times more in 2009 than in 2000
Mental disorders and/or substance abuse related to one of every eight emergency department cases
Price tag for treating back problems now totals $30.5 billion
Blacks hospitalized for high blood pressure five times more often than whites
New study finds rotator cuff injuries treatable, but evidence unclear whether surgery is preferable

Announcements

Atul Gawande is plenary speaker at AHRQ's annual conference September 26-29
Patient-centered medical home Web site launched
AHRQ tool that measures patients' home health care experiences to be implemented by CMS
Introducing the electronic Preventive Services Selector Widget
AHRQ adds new guides to supplement ischemic heart disease comparative effectiveness review

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