Linking health information technology to patient safety and quality outcomes: a bibliometric analysis and review.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the scholarly output of grants funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) that published knowledge relevant to the impact of health information technologies on patient safety and quality of care outcomes.


METHODS
We performed a bibliometric analysis of the identified scholarly articles, their journals, and citations. In addition, we performed a qualitative review of the full-text articles and grant documents.


METHODS
Papers published by AHRQ-funded investigators were retrieved from MEDLINE, journal impact factors were extracted from the 2010 Thompson Reuters Journal Citation Report, citations were retrieved from ISI's Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar.


RESULTS
Seventy-two articles met the criteria for review. Most articles addressed one or more of AHRQ's outcome goals and focus priorities. The average impact factor for the journals was 4.005 (range: 0.654-28.899). The articles, and their respective grants, represented a broad range of health information technologies.


CONCLUSIONS
This set of AHRQ-funded research projects addressed the goals and priorities of AHRQ, indicating notable contributions to the scientific knowledge base on the impact of information system use in healthcare.
Department of Knowledge Informatics and Translation, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN 46202-5121, USA. ewhipple@iupui.edu
Elizabeth C
EC
Whipple
Brian E
BE
Dixon
Julie J
JJ
McGowan
D015706:Bibliometrics; D005381:Financing, Organized; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D008490:Medical Informatics; D061214:Patient Safety; D011787:Quality of Health Care