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Significant increases in drug copayments may reduce patients' use of needed medications
Less than half of older women who have suffered fractures due to osteoporosis are treated properly to prevent further fractures Better monitoring of the cardiac drug amiodarone among outpatients could improve its safety More frequent visits to the doctor are associated with increased safety monitoring for toxicity among chronic NSAID users
Early surgery reduces hip fracture pain Study finds substantial mortality after a long-term followup period among patients with community-acquired pneumonia Researchers find no adverse perinatal outcomes associated with respiratory hospitalizations of pregnant women during flu season
Jaundice and feeding problems are not associated with short hospital stays, as long as newborns are evaluated at 3 or 4 days of life Even with advances in surgery, deaths among children with single ventricle congenital heart disease remain high Studies examine hospital mortality rates and long-term outcomes of very low birthweight babies Continued staff education and improved processes in physicians' offices can enhance preventive care for children Researchers examine the diagnosis, testing, and treatment of bronchiolitis in infants National survey reveals how primary care doctors identify and manage young children with developmental delays Pediatricians will play a central role in caring for children in the event of a terrorist attack Wage inequality is associated with infant mortality rates in wealthy industrialized countries
QI approaches improved diabetes care in Midwest community health centers in 1 year Conference participants outline research agenda for pediatric outpatient safety
Greater severity of peripheral arterial disease among blacks may account for their high rate of amputations
Referrals for physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions vary and may indicate problems with access to care Deaf and hearing-impaired patients suggest ways doctors can improve communication to improve care quality and safety Significant pain is common among hospitalized patients, even those at low risk for pain A user-friendly computer touchscreen enables low literacy cancer patients to more accurately report quality of life outcomes Practices that allot more time for acute care visits and promote immunization have higher adult vaccination rates
Doctors should target chronic disease and functioning among frail older patients to lower the risk of hospitalization More than half of assisted living facilities will not admit individuals who have moderate cognitive impairment or behavioral problems or need assistance with transfer
Improved pain management could reduce use of outpatient care and associated costs for patients with HIV disease
Health care costs are lower in Minnesota than in other States due mostly to structural factors, not financial incentives Increased State Medicaid reimbursement for nursing home care reduces residents' risk of being hospitalized Researchers find New York SCHIP improves health care access, continuity, and quality State governments assumed an increasing role in funding home care after passage of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act Use of medical care in the Nation is greatest among the wealthy, and income-related inequality in use is highest among seniors Young and healthy individuals fare better than moderately sick individuals with consumer-directed health benefits Greater HMO penetration in an area reduces the number of preventable hospitalizations
Preventive Services Task Force issues new recommendations
AHRQ issues new evidence reports on responding to bioterrorism and use of fish oil supplements to fight heart disease AHRQ names third Child and Adolescent Health Scholar
Research Briefs
Current as of May 2004 AHRQ Publication No. 04-0053
Internet Citation:
Research Activities newsletter. May 2004, No. 285. AHRQ Publication No. 04-0053. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/may04/
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