Audio Podcasts
AHRQ Podcast on Health Care Quality (MP3 Download, 8.9 MB; Transcript)
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Fact Sheets
Blood Thinner Pills: Using Them Safely
Cardiovascular Diseases: Patient Brochures and Clinician Fact Sheets
Do You Smoke? Do You Want to Quit?
Five Steps to Safer Health Care
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors
Understanding Your Body
Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots
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Health Care Choices
Be More Involved in Your Health Care: Tips for Patients
Consumer Health Informatics and Patient Decisionmaking
Environmental Scan of Instruments to Inform Consumer Choice in Assisted Living Facilities
Expanding Patient-Centered Care To Empower Patients and Assist Providers
Having Surgery? What You Need to Know
Navigating the Health Care System: Advice from Dr. Clancy
Next Steps After Your Diagnosis: Finding Information and Support
Questions Are the Answer
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Put Prevention Into Practice
Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age
Men: Stay Healthy at 50+
Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults
Pocket Guide to Good Health for Children
Women: Stay Healthy at Any Age
Women: Stay Healthy at 50+
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Quick Tips
Quick Tips—When Getting Medical Tests
Quick Tips—When Getting a Prescription
Quick Tips—When Planning for Surgery
Quick Tips—When Talking with You Doctor
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Research Findings
Agency Press Releases
Research Activities, October 2012:
Giving consumers easy-to-understand information on health care quality and costs boosts the choice of high-value care
Videonovela for Hispanics on managing diabetes uses family drama to educate patients and families
Research Activities, September 2012:
Radionovela promotes awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer vaccine among Hispanic parents
Clinician and patient resources now available on ADHD treatment options
Research Activities, July 2012:
Web videonovela series helps Spanish-speaking patients compare treatments for diabetes
Consumer and clinician summaries now available on chronic pelvic pain treatment options
Research Activities, May 2012:
Curricular modules teach budding pharmacists how to engage patients with low health literacy
Muscle training effective in treating urinary incontinence for women
Consumers choose "high-value" health care providers when given combined cost and quality information
Research Activities, April 2012:
C-reactive protein testing is not more effective than an educational intervention to decrease antibiotic prescriptions for patients seen for acute cough
Self-measured blood pressure monitoring to manage hypertension may offer a small benefit
Research Activities, March 2012:
Watching patient stories on DVDs improves blood pressure control among blacks
Research Activities, February 2012:
The effects of direct-to-consumer drug advertising on statin use depends on the person's experience with the statin
Educational intervention helps doctors and patients split statin tablets to save money for patients and payers
Research Activities, January 2012:
Medical residents can use quality improvement methods to promote obesity screening
New AHRQ campaign encourages Hispanics to work with their doctors to make the best treatment decisions
Research Activities, December 2011:
Many challenges remain in the design and use of consumer health informatics interventions
Research Activities, November 2011:
AHRQ’s annual conference focuses on innovation and collaboration
AHRQ initiative encourages better two-way communication between clinicians and patients
Research Activities, October 2011:
Transparency enhances physician communication with patients
A structured goal-setting approach can improve care outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes
Research Activities, July 2011:
Chronic Care Model linked to exercise discussions during primary care office visits for diabetes
Empowerment approach to diabetes education works better than the traditional didactic approach
Research Activities, May 2011:
Patient Web portals improve diabetes care and outcomes
Emergency department patients and visitors are most interested in education about stress and depression
Research Activities, April 2011:
Patients with limited health literacy less likely to use an Internet portal for diabetes and other health information
Research Activities, March 2011:
Better adherence to diabetes medications means fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits
Research Activities, February 2011:
Regular home blood pressure measurement raises the likelihood of blood pressure control among Korean Americans
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Research Activities, December 2010:
Men and blacks less likely to be aware of cancer screening benefits
Research Activities, November 2010:
Pharmacy intervention for patients with limited literacy evokes positive responses from patients and pharmacists
Internet-based personal health records helpful to most HIV/AIDS patients who used them
Research Activities, October 2010:
Parents continue to weigh vaccine benefits with adverse effects when deciding to vaccinate their children
Research Activities, July 2010:
Simplified drug warnings improve patients' understanding of what to do or avoid when given a particular prescription
Research Activities, June 2010:
Patient tool helps determine adherence to asthma medication
Personality factors play a role in responsiveness to disease self-management programs
Research Activities, May 2010:
Some patients are more satisfied when they are given usually unnecessary antibiotics for upper respiratory infections
Racial and ethnic minority groups are less aware than whites of genetic testing for cancer risk
While young women are knowledgeable about the HPV vaccine, many have yet to be vaccinated to prevent cervical cancer
Team-based care of patients with hypertension improves control of blood pressure
Research Activities, April 2010:
Providing customized clinical information to patients and physicians does not improve diabetes care
Counseling education does not significantly boost residents' dietary counseling of patients with diabetes
Lack of time, resources to blame for primary care doctors rarely counseling women on birth-defect-causing drugs
Research Activities, March 2010:
Wellness education and physical therapy improve health and functioning of persons with multiple sclerosis
Inner-city minority adults with chronic asthma are more likely to take inhaled medicine if they believe in its benefits
Research Activities, January 2010:
Web-based programs help patients with diabetes feel empowered to take care of themselves
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Research Activities, December 2009:
Better educational materials are needed to boost the health literacy of individuals who are deaf
Research Activities, November 2009:
Chronic disease self-management program improves illness management for up to 6 months, then effectiveness wanes
Research Activities, October 2009:
New video helps patients use blood thinner pills safely and effectively
New guides can help pregnant women and doctors compare treatments for gestational diabetes
Research Activities, September 2009:
AHRQ launches monthly health advice column and enhanced Web site in Spanish
Research Activities, August 2009:
AHRQ uses multimedia tools to educate consumers
Research Activities, May 2009:
AHRQ and the Ad Council encourage consumers to ask questions and get more involved in their health care
New plain language guides on the comparison of insulin treatments for Type 2 diabetes are available
Research Activities, March 2009:
Educating patients before hospital discharge reduces readmissions, emergency department visits, and saves money
Risk of bleeding events is reduced among patients who report receiving instructions in warfarin use
Impact of direct-to-consumer advertising on drug use varies depending on the drug, scope of advertising, and culture
Research Activities, January 2009:
Less than half of consumer Web sites are updated to reflect new recommendations on antibiotic use for ear infections
Improved healthfinder.gov makes health information quicker to find and easier to use
New Web resource aims to connect primary care, public health providers, and patients
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