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Xiao Xu, PhD, MA

Associate Professor Adjunct of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Contact Information

Xiao Xu, PhD, MA

Mailing Address

  • Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

    310 Cedar Street, LSOG 205B, PO Box 208063

    New Haven, CT 06510

    United States

Research Summary

As a health economist and health services researcher, Dr. Xu’s research examines factors that influence the quality, outcomes, and value of care, with a focus on women's health care. Her major projects include:

  • Salpingectomy for Ovarian Cancer Risk Reduction: Improving Utilization and Informed Decision-Making (R01HS028612, PI: Xiao Xu, 09/30/2022-09/29/2027): This study seeks to improve quality of care for prophylactic salpingectomy by identifying patient- and provider-related barriers to utilization and promoting informed decision-making.
  • Racial Disparity in Diagnostic Evaluation of Uterine Cancer (R01MD016386, PIs: Xiao Xu / Jason Wright, 08/27/2021-04/30/2025): This study aims to reduce racial disparity in the early diagnosis of uterine cancer by systematically examining patients’ diagnostic pathway and identifying barriers to early diagnosis in black women.
  • Occult Uterine Cancer and Power Morcellation in Hysterectomy and Myomectomy (R01HS024702, PI: Xiao Xu, 07/01/2016-04/30/2020): This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of occult uterine cancer in women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy for presumed benign indications, the impact of uncontained power morcellation on cancer prognosis, and practice changes following the morcellation warning.
  • Hospital Variation in Costs and Outcomes of Care for Childbirth (R01HS023801, PI: Xiao Xu, 04/01/2015-09/30/2019): This study examined hospital variation in costs and outcomes of care for childbirth hospitalizations and assessed hospital attributes and practices associated with high-value care (i.e., good outcomes and low costs).

In addition, Dr. Xu has led several studies examining risk factors for stillbirth deliveries and related maternal outcomes, hospital variation in gynecological practice; regional variation in medical expenditures among women with breast cancer; gender difference in recovery after acute myocardial infarction; and the impact of medical legal pressure on clinical practice, especially in obstetric care. She also collaborates widely with researchers on campus and across the country studying cost-effectiveness of health interventions, economic burden of obstetric/gynecologic conditions, and utilization of cancer treatment and screening services in women. Dr. Xu has served as a principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and various research foundations.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Costs and Cost Analysis; Health Services Research; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Comparative Effectiveness Research

Public Health Interests

Health Economics; Women's Health

Selected Publications