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Methods Minute
The Methods Minute is a bi-monthly newsletter which provides highlights, additions, and news on HSRMethods.org. Below is a list of the features, highlights, and PDF version from the current edition of the Methods Minute. Past editions of the Methods Minute are also available for download as PDFs.
April 2012 Methods Minute
Highlights
New Online Course in Patient Safety Research
A new free online course, offered by the World Health Organization (WHO), introduces the basic elements of patient safety research and informs participants of the core principles of patient safety research. The course is divided into eight sessions and is viewable via streaming video. Faculty for the course is Dr. David Bates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Dr. Albert Wu from Johns Hopkins University.
NIA Adds Genetic Data to Health and Retirement Study
Genetic data from approximately 13,000 individuals was added to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Health and Retirement Study. The data are composed of approximately 2.5 million genetic markers from each person and are immediately available for analysis by qualified researchers.
Updates to HHS Measure Inventory Released
In an ongoing effort to stay up-to-date on the latest quality measures, new measures for quality measurement, improvement, and reporting were added to the HHS Measure Inventory and existing measures were revised, withdrawn, or verified as current.
CHCF Launches Data Design Challenge
The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) launched a new competition called The Picture of Health: A Data Design Challenge. Successful entrants will creatively explore how CHCF might depict data in a compelling and comprehensive manner, targeting policymakers and the public. Submissions are due by 5:00pm EDT on May 16, 2012 and winners will be announced by June 5, 2012
Recent Publications and Presentations
New Reports Released by AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC’s)
AcademyHealth Releases New Issue Brief on PHSSR and HSRProj
On behalf of the National Library of Medicine’s Health Services Research Projects-in-Progress (HSRProj) program, AcademyHealth staff regularly develops HSRProj Updates that provide an overview of currently funded research in the field of HSR based on records found in the HSRProj database. Recently, AcademyHealth staff conducted an analysis of the database to identify recently funded public health services and systems research (PHSSR) projects and to review overall support for PHSSR. The findings were compiled in a brief, HSRProj Update: Public Health Services and Systems Research, 2003-2011, which highlights the utility of HSRProj in identifying PHSSR and discusses a subset of 91 projects. To read more about this project please visit AcademyHealth’s website.
Two New HCUP Methods Series Reports Now Available
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) recently released two new Methods Series reports. Methods Report #2011-06, Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for Ninth (2011) NHQR and NHDR Report, describes the methods for applying the AHRQ Quality Indicators (QIs) to HCUP data for the NHQR and NHDR. Analyses were conducted to calculate costs associated with QIs, determine benchmarks for state performance for the QIs, compare inpatient and emergency department use for select QI measures, and evaluate readmissions for select chronic conditions.
WHO Releases Methodology Reader on Health Policy and Systems Research
This WHO Reader aims to support the development of the field of health policy and systems research (HPSR), particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It complements the range of relevant texts that are already available by providing a particular focus on methodological issues for primary empirical health policy and systems research.
New NIH Resource on Behavioral and Social Science Research Methods
This Web-based, interactive textbook is a central resource for current methods, high quality behavioral and social science research. Created by the Office of Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), this anthology provides authoritative answers to methodological questions and sets quality standards for the research community.
Upcoming Events
AHRQ HCUP Data Users’ Workshop
AHRQ is sponsoring a full-day, intermediate-level workshop designed for health services researchers and analysts who want to learn how to use or improve their use of HCUP databases and products. Prior experience with HCUP databases or prior attendance of HCUP overview presentation of online course is encouraged. Computers will be provided and instructor-led programming examples will be presented in SAS. There will be a specific focus on conducting revisit analyses using the HCUP state-level databases. The event will take place on April 25 in Rockville, MD, and registration is limited.
Free MEPS Data Users' Workshop
Registration is now open for AHRQ's two-day hands-on MEPS Data Users' Workshop on April 25-26. A general overview of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), including information about survey design, file content, and the construction of analytic files, will be featured. The workshop will be held in Rockville, MD and is a different workshop from the previous posting.
AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM)
AcademyHealth is offering intense methods training and 12 hands-on workshops in conjunction with the Annual Research Meeting. Four pre-conference half-day seminars are ideal for researchers at all levels, and 90-minute methods workshops within the main conference agenda offer insight into established and emerging methods. The conference is designed to enhance your professional toolkit, with special sessions on research resources, funding priorities, and career development. For a list of methods offerings at the conference, visit www.academyhealth.org/arm/methods.
Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Quality Improvement
Apply evidence and build science to improve care and patient outcomes. Experience a full immersion in the latest advances in healthcare improvement. Take advantage of back-to-back institutes to improve care and patient outcomes, from research to implementation to outcomes. The conference will take place from July 17-21, 2012 in San Antonio, TX.
National Conference on Health Statistics
The conference will include a one-day Learning Institute on August 6, where students will receive hands-on training in accessing and analyzing survey data as well as learning modules on how to use selected data access tools. The Learning Institute will be followed by a two-day main conference on August 7-8, 2012, where attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the latest developments at the National Center for Health Statistics and hear from some of the nation’s leaders in the fields of health, health data, and statistics. The conference will take place from August 6-8, 2012 in Washington, DC.
Guidelines International Network (G-I-N) Conference
The 2012 G-I-N Conference brings together health services researchers and medical professionals of all disciplines to discuss challenges in the methodology of guideline development, implementation, and evaluation. The G-I-N Conference will take place from August 22-25, 2012 at the Berliner Congress Center in Berlin, Germany. Early registration ends on April 30th.
Past Issues of the HSR Methods Minute
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Last Updated April 23, 2012
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