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November 2008, No. 339
Contents
About Research Activities
Feature Story
AHRQ awards $3 million to help reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections
Patient Safety and Quality
Organizational style influences clinical departmental differences in dealing with patient safety
The rate of care quality improvement has slowed, but nurses are well-positioned to advocate for quality, equitable care
Child/Adolescent Health
Infant health determines parental satisfaction with neonatal intensive care
Behavioral modification programs help obese children manage their weight
Bronchiolitis-related outpatient and hospital visits have risen markedly among Medicaid-insured infants in Tennessee
Women's Health
Less receipt of effective treatment by elderly black women with ovarian cancer may underlie their poorer survival
Centers that offer screening mammograms only and have a breast specialist on site provide more accurate readings
Elderly/Long-Term Care
Hospital stay duration and cost for the elderly with non-dementia psychiatric illnesses varies by care settings
Some U.S. nursing homes need more specific evacuation plans to better respond to natural or other disasters
New care tracking tool helps identify nursing home patients at risk for pressure ulcers
Changes in cost to patients reduce new use of antidepressants among the elderly, but have less impact on continued use
Disparities/Minority Health
Pediatricians show less implicit race bias than others
Minority children are half as likely as white children to receive specialized therapies
Outcomes/Effectiveness Research
Prostate removal is better than radiation or watchful waiting for elderly men with local/regional prostate cancer
Study of the benefit of prophylactic antibiotics prior to major surgery raises questions about pay for performance
Pancreatic surgery with islet cell autotransplant is safe and effective to treat the pain of chronic pancreatitis
Cirrhosis of the liver does not increase risk during surgical repair of umbilical hernias, unless the procedure is an emergency
Unplanned bowel resections during hernia operations lead to more complications and longer stays
Mental Health
Underserved blacks and Hispanics with depression often use complementary and alternative medicine for their symptoms
Screening for alcohol misuse among emergency department patients may uncover depression
Primary Care Research
Studies examine ways to improve delivery of colorectal cancer screening in primary care practice
Studies suggest that large-scale strategies may be needed to reduce overuse of antibiotics in U.S. communities
Pharmaceutical Research
Women are dispensed more drugs than men during their reproductive years
Stool cultures are rarely used in diarrhea cases
Health Care Costs and Financing
Quality partnerships yield advances in collaboration
Introduction of a multitiered formulary decreases antidepressant use
Public Health Preparedness
Most Federal health centers are not integrated in their community's emergency preparedness plans
Complementary/Alternative Medicine
Skeptical patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia are likely to use alternative medicine
Agency News and Notes
Patients' hospital bills jumped $70 billion in just one year
Modified insulin is most effective for controlling postmeal blood sugar levels
Hispanics are hospitalized at higher rates for potentially preventable hospitalizations than whites in both wealthy and poor communities
Hospitalizations for osteoarthritis are rising sharply
More U.S. children are getting government dental insurance
Announcements
HHS issues interim guidance for Patient Safety Organizations
Task Force finds several methods equally effective for colorectal cancer screening
New Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2008 is available
Two new resources can help consumers and clinicians prevent dangerous blood clots
New computer-based tools will help make best use of genetic breast cancer tests
Research Briefs
Research Briefs
Visit the AHRQ Patient Safety Network Web Site
AHRQ Publication No. 09-RA002
Current as of November 2008
Internet Citation:
Research Activities Newsletter. November 2008, No. 339. AHRQ Publication No. 09-RA002. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/research/nov08/
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