March 2, 2012
Today's Headlines
- AHRQ research summaries for self-measured blood pressure monitoring now available.
- AHRQ releases new resources for comparing osteoarthritis pain medications.
- AHRQ's Innovations Exchange focuses on supporting caregivers.
- AHRQ offers communications help for public reporting organizations.
- AHRQ seeks submission of measures of children's health care quality for CHIPRA 2013.
- AHRQ issues Funding Opportunity Announcement on patient-centered outcomes research dissemination.
- AHRQ in the professional literature.
1. AHRQ Research Summaries for Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Now Available
Two new research summaries on monitoring options for measuring high blood pressure, or hypertension, are now available from AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program. The consumer summary, Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home: A Review of the Research for Adults, describes what hypertension is, and how blood pressure is monitored. The clinician summary, Effectiveness of Self-measured Blood Pressure Monitoring in Adults with Hypertension, provides background on hypertension, conclusions of the research review, and the clinical bottom line on self-measured blood pressure monitoring. Hypertension affects more than 76 million Americans and is the cause of seven million deaths annually. Also available is the CME activity, and faculty slide side set.
2. AHRQ Releases New Resources for Comparing Osteoarthritis Pain Medications
AHRQ has released new clinician summaries; continuing education activities; and a slide set that expand on a recent update to a research report comparing the effectiveness and safety of analgesics in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Overall, no clear differences in effectiveness of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were found, but there were potentially important differences in the risk of serious harms, the report found. The update, Analgesics for Osteoarthritis—An Update of the 2006 Comparative Effectiveness Review includes new research that better addresses the comparative effectiveness and safety of oral and topical medications.
3. AHRQ's Innovations Exchange Focuses on Supporting Caregivers
The February 29 issue of AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange features profiles of three programs that provide individual and group education, coaching, and support sessions for patients with dementia and their caregivers. One program known as REACH VA used trained staff at 24 Veterans Affairs medical centers to provide customized support over a six-month period to caregivers of military veterans with dementia. The program improved caregivers' skills and abilities and reduced their burden, frustrations, and level of depression, as well as the impact of depression on their daily lives. The program also freed up nearly two hours each day and reduced the number of problem behaviors exhibited by dementia patients. Select to read more profiles of innovations related to caregiver support on the Innovations Exchange Web site, which contains more than 675 innovations and 1,575 QualityTools.
4. AHRQ Offers Communications Help for Public Reporting Organizations
Promoting Your Public Report: A Hands-on Guide, an AHRQ tool originally developed for Chartered Value Exchanges, describes a communications strategy for use by any organization that sponsors a public report and seeks to promote it among consumers. Online public reporting Web sites are often underused because employees and other potential users are unaware of their existence. The 41-page Web-based guide includes sections on strategic considerations, a communications plan template, opportunities for marketing, and advice for engaging stakeholder partners. It also describes developing and using key messages and working with traditional and social media. The guide includes sample newsletter articles, press releases, and e-mail pitches, and it describes ways to evaluate the results of the communication strategy.
5. AHRQ Seeks Submission of Measures of Children's Health Care Quality for CHIPRA 2013
AHRQ is soliciting measures of children's health care quality for potential inclusion in the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) 2013. These measures could become part of an Improved Core Set of Health Care Quality Measures for potential voluntary use by State Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs, or be used for other potential purposes under CHIPRA. Deadline for submissions is April 24 to Denise Dougherty, Ph.D. at denise.dougherty@ahrq.hhs.gov or by mail to 540 Gaither Rd, Rockville, MD 20850. Select for more information on the CHIPRA Pediatric Quality Measures Program. Select to access the Federal Register notice.
6. AHRQ Issues Funding Opportunity Announcement on Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Dissemination
AHRQ has issued a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on Patient-Centered Outcomes Research—Dissemination by Health Professionals Associations (PCOR-DHPA) (R18). Applications by health professions associations are intended to develop dissemination programs that integrate patient-centered outcomes research into clinical practice using innovative methods. These methods could include mechanisms such as education, credentialing, scientific programs, or social media platforms. AHRQ anticipates funding between 25 and 50 awards for up to $2.5 million annually for 3 years. The deadline to submit applications is April 25. Select to access the FOA.
7. AHRQ in the Professional Literature
We are providing the following hyperlinks to journal abstracts through PubMed® for your convenience. Access to the abstracts may be blocked because of firewalls or specific settings on individual computer systems. If you are having problems, ask your technical support staff for possible remedies.
Li DK, Yang C, Andrade S, et al. Maternal exposure to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in the first trimester and risk of malformations in offspring: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ 2011 Oct 18; 343:d5931. Select to access the abstract on PubMed.®
Phillips LL, Allen RS, Harris GM, et al. Aging prisoners' treatment selection: does prospect theory enhance understanding of end-of-life medical decisions? Gerontologist 2011 Oct; 51(5):663-74. Select to access the abstract on PubMed.®
Tsai TT, Messenger JC, Brennan JM, et al. Safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents in older patients with chronic kidney disease: a report from the linked CathPCI Registry-CMS Claims database. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011 Oct 25; 58(18):1859-69. Select to access the abstract on PubMed.®
Ma Y, Mazumdar M. Multivariate meta-analysis: a robust approach based on the theory of U-statistic. Stat Med 2011 Oct 30; 30(24):2911-29. Select to access the abstract on PubMed.®
Iezzoni LI, Frakt AB, Pizer SD. Uninsured persons with disability confront substantial barriers to health care services. Disabil Health J 2011 Oct; 4(4):238-44. Select to access the abstract on PubMed.®
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Current as of March 2012
Internet Citation:
AHRQ Electronic Newsletter, March 2, 2012, Issue 337. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/enews/enews337.htm
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