Research Activities

January 2003, No. 269

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Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

Study in large HMO found that infants discharged 1 day after birth fared as well as those with longer hospital stays

Outcomes/Effectiveness Research

Patients with hip fracture who leave the hospital too soon are at risk for worse outcomes
Patients undergoing hip replacement surgery fare better when their surgeons perform 10 or more of these surgeries per year
Researchers examine strategies to improve asthma outcomes

Clinical Decisionmaking

Older women who have breast cancer recover faster and have a more positive outlook when they are offered treatment choices
Florida physicians are more aggressive in screening and treating men for prostate cancer than colleagues in other States
Frequent users of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may need medications to prevent associated ulcers
Many doctors lack basic knowledge about venous thromboembolism and how to treat it
Researchers confirm guidelines for use of imaging to diagnose low back pain
Testing for maternal group B streptococci during labor is more cost effective than current screening strategies
Obstetricians don't always follow guidelines for preventing group B streptococcal infection neonates

Children's Health

Among children undergoing heart surgery, girls are far more likely than boys to die in the hospital
Tennessee data indicate significant use of oral steroids among Medicaid-insured children
Social worker-based intervention reduces symptom days and is cost effective for inner city children with asthma
Parents prefer an on-call pediatrician to a nurse advice service to discuss their child's medical problems
Study demonstrates a powerful association between decreasing social class and poor health and behavior problems in children
Researchers link cigarette smoking in adolescents with excessive television viewing

Health Insurance

Being uninsured for just 2 years adversely affects the health of adults in late middle age

Minority Health

Workplace factors, length of U.S. residence, and language barriers contribute to lack of insurance among Hispanics
Despite greater poverty, less education, and less access to care, Hispanics tend to have similar or better health than whites
Black race and low levels of education are associated with health disparities such as higher death rates

Health Care Quality

Medicare enrollees who have disabilities are most dissatisfied with not being able to get to a doctor and the high cost of care
Patients who are dissatisfied with their usual source of care may seek costly nonurgent care in the emergency department
Federal program provides a national approach to therapeutics education and research through a public-private partnership
Adding CAHPS® data to standard enrollment materials does not affect health plan choice among new Medicaid enrollees

HIV/AIDS Research

Underfunded State-operated AIDS drug assistance programs are struggling to provide medications to those in need

Health Care Workplace

Sharps-related injuries cause substantial anxiety in health care workers
Physician retention may depend on preventing their dissatisfaction with pay and community relationships
Behavioral health care workers need increased training to meet the changing realities of today's practice
Researchers identify characteristics and training of complementary and alternative medical providers

Agency News and Notes

HHS Secretary appoints new members to AHRQ's National Advisory Council
Task Force recommends dietary counseling for adults with high cholesterol and other risk factors for chronic disease
AHRQ releases evidence reports on autopsy and other topics

Announcements

AHRQ factbook shows that childbirth and depression are leading reasons for hospitalization of younger women
New AHRQ data indicate that people with chronic conditions continue to smoke
New from NTIS
Case studies show how findings from AHRQ-supported research are being used by the Federal Government
New MEPS products now available

Research Briefs

Current as of January 2003
AHRQ Publication No. 03-0015

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Internet Citation:

Research Activities newsletter. January 2003, No. 269. AHRQ Publication No. 03-0015. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/jan03/

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