Tools & Resources
Evidence-based Practice Centers
Evidence Reports and Technical Reviews by Topic
Evidence: Its Meanings in Health Care and in Law
National Guideline Clearinghouse™
(http://www.guideline.gov)
Putting Evidence Into Practice
Systematic Review Data Repository™
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: An Evidence-based Prevention Resource for Nurse Practitioners
Top of Page 
Workshops & Conferences
Translating Evidence into Practice
Conference Summary, July 27-29, 1998
Translating Evidence into Practice
Conference Summary, July 21-23, 1997
Top of Page
Research Findings
Agency Press Releases
Research Activities, October 2012:
Behavioral counseling is an effective treatment for alcohol misuse
Evidence lacking on best approaches to treat autism in teens and young adults
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation improves COPD patient outcomes
More research needed on coronary artery disease treatments for women
Insulin pump and glucose monitoring improve blood-sugar control for patients with type 1 diabetes
Best strategies to treat traumatic brain injury patients are unclear
Extending use of anti-clotting medication following major orthopedic surgery may help prevent post-operative blood clots
New research examines use of nitrous oxide for labor pain
Tactics to improve medication adherence in short-term shown effective
New effectiveness review discusses treatment options for inguinal hernia
More evidence needed on benefit of additional procedure for diagnosing plasma cell cancer
AHRQ reviews evidence on multigene panels for prostate cancer risk assessment
Research Activities, September 2012:
Increased fluid and supplemental treatments may reduce recurrence of kidney stones
Research Activities, August 2012:
State Medicaid policy changes increasingly driven by evidence
Insulin pump and glucose monitoring improve blood-sugar control for diabetes patients
Some noninvasive tests are better than others at detecting coronary artery disease in women
Newer antidepressants equally effective in treating major depressive disorder
JAMA special issue focuses on comparative effectiveness research
Research Activities, July 2012:
Experts seek better diagnosis and treatment for women's urinary incontinence and chronic pelvic pain
Urinary Incontinence—New Hope
Although the patient-centered medical home is a promising model of care, more studies are needed to assess its effectiveness
Limited evidence prevents firm conclusions on rheumatoid arthritis drug therapies
Research Activities, June 2012:
Evidence lacking on effectiveness of antipsychotics for children
Supplemental phenylketonuria therapies may help some
Effectiveness of noninvasive diagnostic tests for breast abnormalities depends on woman's history
Limited evidence prevents firm conclusions on psoriatic arthritis drug therapies
Glaucoma treatments can lower eye pressure
Research Activities, May 2012:
Muscle training effective in treating urinary incontinence for women
Extended use of medications to prevent blood clots may benefit patients after major orthopedic surgery
Research review finds support for some off-label uses of atypical antipsychotic medications
Medications for low bone density prevent fractures in women with osteoporosis
Research Activities, April 2012:
Injection of hyaluronic acid, a natural joint lubricant, appears effective in reducing pain from wear and tear on the knee
Self-measured blood pressure monitoring to manage hypertension may offer a small benefit
Not enough evidence to recommend fecal DNA testing for adults at average risk for colorectal cancer
Research Activities, March 2012:
Bone marrow transplant is beneficial for some rare pediatric conditions
Little evidence for benefit of interventions in the early stage of chronic kidney disease
Evidence lacking to support surgery for pelvic pain
More research needed to evaluate self-measured blood pressure monitoring
Evidence lacking on how to match wheelchairs with patients
Some diabetes practice guidelines do not reflect all available evidence
Research Activities, February 2012:
Newer antidepressants equally effective in treating major depressive disorder
Older medications for epilepsy obtain better control but have more adverse effects
Evidence lacking on devices used with percutaneous coronary interventions
Benefits of active surveillance therapy for localized prostate cancer not yet demonstrated
New rule on when to have a trauma surgeon meet a transported trauma patient is found more sensitive than existing criteria
Research Activities, January 2012:
Evidence lacking on optimal transition-of-care programs for heart attack and stroke patients following hospitalization
Screening and treatment of subclinical thyroid dysfunction inadequately studied
Top of Page
Research Activities, December 2011:
Evidence-based strategies substantially reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in ICUs
Evidence lacking on transition-of-care programs for heart attack and stroke patients after hospital discharge
Research Activities, October 2011:
Full use of evidence-based therapies for heart failure could save nearly 70,000 lives each year
Study identifies fractures most and least likely to be caused by osteoporosis
Nighttime-breathing treatments backed by strongest evidence among options to treat sleep apnea
Research Activities, August 2011:
AHRQ's clinical care tools help clinicians ensure better and safer care
Research Activities, April 2011:
Rates of pneumonia dramatically reduced in patients on ventilators in Michigan intensive care units
Research Activities, March 2011:
AHRQ report finds unclear value of pretesting autoimmune disorder patients before prescribing thiopurine drugs
Research Activities, February 2011:
Research comparing diabetes medications helps patients and clinicians choose the right one
From the Director
Research Activities, December 2010:
Brand-name drugs not better than generics for controlling epilepsy
Evidence report finds modest and short-term benefit of complementary and alternative therapy for back and neck pain
Research Activities, November 2010:
Most adults with lactose intolerance can tolerate the amount of lactose in a cup of milk
Heart-lung machine may be considered for certain patients with H1N1 influenza with acute respiratory failure
Research Activities, October 2010:
Colorectal cancer screening is mostly underused, but problems with overuse and misuse remain
Research Activities, September 2010:
Evidence-based care processes are associated with improved outcomes for heart failure
Research Activities, July 2010:
Adequate financial bonuses and peer support motivate providers to adhere to evidence-based treatment guidelines
Evidence inconclusive regarding prevention of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline
Research Activities, March 2010:
Task force recommends screening children and adolescents for obesity
Research Activities, February 2010:
Nonsurgical method for diagnosing breast cancer is safe and nearly as effective as surgical biopsy
COPD drug triad associated with reduced death and hospitalization rates
ICU scoring system better predicts the risk of death for trauma patients
Trauma triage system tends to overestimate injury severity
Research Activities, December 2009:
Majority of primary care physicians now recommend colonoscopy
Research Activities, November 2009:
Task force finds insufficient evidence to screen for newborn jaundice to prevent a more serious chronic condition
Task force finds insufficient evidence for using nontraditional risk factors to screen for coronary heart disease
Research Activities, October 2009:
Without medical evidence, clinicians' judgment about chronic pain is often influenced by patient and situational factors
Genetic testing is of unproven value for preventing blood clots
Algorithm now available to prevent recurrent bone fractures in nursing home residents
Treatment approaches for overactive bladder syndrome in women produce modest results
AHRQ releases evidence on the health benefits of vitamin D and calcium
AHRQ publishes hip fracture evidence report
Research Activities, September 2009:
Uninsured and partially insured patients with diabetes are less likely to be screened at Federally Qualified Health Centers
Research Activities, August 2009:
Clinical practice guidelines for cardiology are steeped more in expert opinion than scientific evidence
AHRQ report finds value of genetic testing for preventing blood clots unproven
Research Activities, July 2009:
Evidence-based practices improve pain management and lower costs for patients hospitalized for hip fracture
New AHRQ report finds no clear evidence for which erectile dysfunction drugs work best
Top of Page
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 
