Research Activities

March 2008, No. 331

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Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

New patient safety proposed regulation aims to improve health care quality and patient safety

Patient Safety and Quality

Hospital incident reporting systems often miss physician high-risk procedure and prescribing errors
Studies reveal factors contributing to technical errors in surgery and medical errors made by physician trainees
Most employers review but do not use quality data when selecting health care plans
Physicians say counseling and education would be useful in reducing their stress after medical errors occur

Health Information Technology

Care quality is not necessarily better with electronic health records

Child/Adolescent Health

Collaboration between hospital and community palliative care services can improve care for dying children
Parents of hospitalized children with chronic illnesses report fewer care-related problems than other parents
Pediatricians often do not pursue answers to questions that arise during medical visits

Elderly/Long-term Care

Few nursing home residents receive medications and supplements for osteoporosis

Outcomes/Effectiveness Research

Outcomes vary for prostate cancer patients choosing surgery, and no treatment was proven superior overall
Simulation improves caregivers' performance but whether it improves patient outcomes is still uncertain

Chronic Disease

Patients with diabetes and depression tend to skip self-care behaviors that would help keep their diabetes in check
Sensitization to indoor allergens is not linked to increased asthma problems among inner-city adults

Emergency Medicine

Studies examine emergency communication, use of defibrillators, and benefit of ED pharmacists
Rural emergency departments have a high rate of medication errors with the potential to harm children
More than half a million patients visit the emergency department for severe sepsis each year
Limiting out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation to experienced rescuers would limit the practice

Access to Care

A short homeless period among youth "aged out" of the foster care system affects care access, but not health
Varied regional rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease episodes may be due to medical system factors

Acute Care/Hospitalization

Hospitalists can reduce hospital stays and costs for children with common pediatric conditions like asthma
Crash site data along with pelvic x-rays may aid triage of motor vehicle crash victims with pelvic fractures

Agency News and Notes

HHS Secretary awards health leaders with special distinction for improving the quality and value of health care

Agency News and Numbers

Agency News and Numbers
Diabetes, cholesterol, and anti-obesity drugs top spending

Announcements

AHRQ releases consumer financial incentives guide for employers and other health care purchasers
AHRQ awards grants for Health Services Research Dissertation (R36)

Research Briefs

Research Briefs
New publications are available from AHRQ
Visit the AHRQ Patient Safety Network Web Site

AHRQ Publication No. 08-0033
Current as of March 2008

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Internet Citation:

Research Activities Newsletter. March 2008, No. 331. AHRQ Publication No. 08-0033. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/mar08/

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