Health Care Innovations for African-American Populations | AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange

Health Care Innovations for African-American Populations | AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange

Health Care Innovations for African-American PopulationsWednesday, April 20, 2016

This issue of the Innovations Exchange is the fifth in our monthly series focused on health care disparities experienced by different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups in the U.S. population.

Each year since 2003, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has produced the National Healthcare Quality Report and the National Healthcare Disparities Report. Beginning with the 2014 reports, findings on health care quality and health care disparities are integrated into a single document. The new National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) provides a comprehensive overview of the quality of care received by the general U.S. population and health care disparities. Detailed information on individual measures and specific populations is available through a series of chartbooks.

In February 2016, AHRQ released the Chartbook on Health Care for Blacks, which includes a summary of trends across measures of Black health care from the QDR and figures illustrating select measures of Black health care.

The Innovations Exchange collection contains many Innovation Profiles and QualityTools specific to African-American/Black populations on a range of health care topics, including disease prevention, access to care, and chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. This issue features a selection of content that can help address disparities in health care for Blacks.

Featured Innovations:

• Culturally Competent Disease Management Improves Self-Monitoring and Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive African Americans
• Telephone-Based Mentoring From Demographically Similar Peers Improves Diabetes Control in African-American Veterans
• Free Weekly Clinic for Low-Income, African-American Men Enhances Access to Culturally Appropriate Primary Care, Counseling, and Support Group Services
• Barber-Based Monitoring, Education, and Referral Support Improve Treatment Rates and Blood Pressure Control in African-American Men
• Culturally Tailored Chronic Disease Education Program Improves African American Patients' Self-Management Behaviors, Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose Control, and Quality of Life
• Church-Health System Partnership Facilitates Transitions From Hospital to Home for Urban, Low-Income African Americans, Reducing Mortality, Utilization, and Costs
• Culturally Competent Palliative Care Supports African-American Patients and Families in Dealing With End-of-Life Issues
• Trauma Therapy and Caregiver Support Improves Coping Skills and Academic Performance of West African Refugee Children
• Prenatal and Postpartum Behavioral Counseling Significantly Reduces Health Risks in African-American Women
• Faith-Based Exercise Program Increased Physical Activity in Older African-American Women
• Culturally Appropriate Videos Share Stories of Individuals With Hypertension, Leading to Improvements in Blood Pressure in Inner-City African Americans
• Text Messaging Program Increases Awareness and Concern About Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among At-Risk Youth, Particularly African Americans

Featured QualityTools:

• Chartbook on Health Care for Blacks
• Diabetes Self-Management: Resource Toolkit for African Americans With Diabetes
• Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community
• The Heart Truth for African American Women: An Action Plan
• Road to Health Toolkit Training Guide
• HIV/AIDS: A Manual for Faith Communities