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Articles of Interest

June 22, 2012

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Hazlehurst B, McBurnie MA, Mularski RA, et al. Automating care quality measurement with health information technology. Am J Manag Care 2012 Jun; 18(6):313-19. [Supported by grant R18 HS17022; first author acknowledges previous AHRQ funding.]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Jena AB, Meltzer DO, Press VG, et al. Why physicians work when sick. Arch Intern Med 2012 Jun 18 [Epub ahead of print. Second author is supported in part by AHRQ, grant information not given; cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR), 2009.]

Family Medicine
Faricy L, Page T, Ronick M, Rdesinski R, DeVoe J. Patterns of empiric treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in an underserved population. Fam Med 2012 Jun; 44(6):408-15. [Supported in part by grant 1 K08 HS16181 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Smith KJ, Clark S, Kapoor WN, et al. Information primary care physicians want to receive about their hospitalized patients. Fam Med 2012 Jun; 44(6):425-30. [Supported by grants R18 HS18151 and R01 HS18721.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Murphy CR, Eells SJ, Quan V, et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus burden in nursing homes associated with environmental contamination of common areas. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Jun; 60(6):1012-18. [Supported in part by contract HHSA290-2005-0033-I, as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program.] Select to access the abstract.

Tarn DM, Mattimore TJ, Bell DS, et al. Provider views about responsibility for medication adherence and content of physician-older patient discussions. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Jun; 60(6):1019-26. [Supported in part by grant 1 U18 HS16391.] Select to access the abstract.

Brooks Carthon JM, Kutney-Lee A, Jarrín O, et al. Nurse staffing and postsurgical outcomes in black adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Jun; 60(6):1078-84. [Supported in part by grant 1 K08 HS18534 (second author is principal investigator); uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Hebert PL, Sisk JE, Tuzzio L, et al. Nurse-led disease management for hypertension control in a diverse urban community: a randomized trial. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):630-9. [Supported in part by grant 5 P01 HS10859-050001; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Walsh et al. (Med Care, 2006) on the quality improvement strategies for hypertension management, prepared by the Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract 290-02-0017.] Select to access the abstract.

Laiteerapong N, John PM, Meltzer DO, et al. Impact of delaying blood pressure control in patients with type 2 diabetes: results of a decision analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):640-6. [Supported in part by AHRQ Hospital Medicine and Economics Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERTs) grant U18 HS16967-01 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.

Pandhi N, DeVoe JE, Schumacher JR, et al. Number of first-contact access components required to improve preventive service receipt in primary care homes. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):677-84. [Supported in part by grant K08 HS16181 (to second author); cites Summary for Patients article summarizing USPSTF recommendations on screening for depression in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2009); cites USPSTF recommendations in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

López A, Detz A, Ratanawongsa N, Sarkar U. What patients say about their doctors online: a qualitative content analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):685-92. [Supported in part by grant K08 HS17594 (to last author). Also refer to articles by Shamliyan et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) and by Powers et al., Smetana et al., Hartmann, Samson and Schoelles, Singh et al., Trikalinos et al., Trikalinos and Balion, Trikalinos, Kulasingam, and Lawrence, and Jonas et al. (all in J Gen Intern Med, 2012) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Roth S, Gonzales R, Harding-Anderer T, et al. Unintended consequences of a quality measure for acute bronchitis. Am J Manag Care 2012 Jun; 18(6):e217-e224. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Steinman et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2009), Metlay et al. (Ann Emerg Med, 2007), Linder et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2006), and Gonzales et al. (Health Serv Res, 2005, and Ann Intern Med, 2001).]

Archives of Surgery
Antiel RM, Van Arendonk KJ, Reed DA, et al. Surgical training, duty-hour restrictions, and implications for meeting the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies: views of surgical interns compared with program directors. Arch Surg 2012 Jun; 147 (6):536-41. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Fletcher et al. (JAMA, 2005).]

Hospitals & Health Networks
Aston G. Smart pain management makes good business sense: it's now a key factor in HCAHPS scores—and therefore, reimbursement. Hospitals are stepping up to the plate. Hosp Health Netw 2012 Jun; 86(6):38-50. [Discusses AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.]

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Rupp ME, Yu S, Huerta T, et al. Adequate disinfection of a split-septum needleless intravascular connector with a 5-second alcohol scrub. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012 Jul; 33(7):661-5. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Padela AI, Gunter K, Killawi A, et al. Religious values and healthcare accommodations: voices from the American Muslim community. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):708-15. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Brach and Fraser (researcher in and director of, respectively, AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Med Care Res Rev, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Law and Contemporary Problems
Siegel NS. Free riding on benevolence: collective action federalism and the minimum coverage provision. Law Contemp Probl 2012 Jun 22; 75(3):29-74. [Cites HHS press release "New Data Say Uninsured Account for Nearly One-fifth of Emergency Room Visits," 2009, as posted on the AHRQ Web site, on newly released Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) 2006 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) and 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.]

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Lovett KM, Liang BA. Quality care opportunities: refining physician performance measurement in ambulatory care. Am J Manag Care 2012 Jun; 18(6):e212-e216. [Mentions the USPSTF as a "starting point for defining the included measures"; cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 3: Implementation Issues, 2005.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Moyer VA. Screening for cervical cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jun 19; 156(12):880-91. [Updates the 2003 USPSTF recommendations on screening for cervical cancer, citing earlier USPSTF recommendations on screening for cervical cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2003), USPSTF-sponsored evidence synthesis, Screening for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2011, and Screening for Cervical Cancer: A Decision Analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2011; cites USPSTF-sponsored narrative review by Vesco et al. on risk factors and other epidemiologic considerations for cervical cancer screening and systematic review by Whitlock et al. on liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus testing to screen for cervical cancer (both in Ann Intern Med, 2011); originally published in the Articles of Interest, 3/12/12-3/16/12; see also Summaries for Patients article cited below.] Select to access the abstract.

Summaries for Patients: Screening for cervical cancer: recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jun 19; 156(12):I-44. [Summarizes updated USPSTF recommendations on cervical cancer, cited above in this section.]

Cancer
Carney PA, O/Malley J, Buckley DI, et al. Influence of health insurance coverage on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening in rural primary care settings. Cancer 2012 May 30 [Epub ahead of print. Assesses the impact on screening currency of practitioner changes to updated USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening, citing USPSTF recommendation page Recommendations for Breast, Cervical and Colorectal Cancer Screening on the USPSTF Web site; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence syntheses, Screening for Breast Cancer Systematic Evidence Review: Update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2009, Evidence Review: Screening for Cervical Cancer, 2002, and Screening for Colorectal Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Slomski A. Screening women for ovarian cancer still does more harm than good. JAMA 2012 Jun 20; 307(23):2474-5. [Discusses updated 2012 USPSTF recommendations on ovarian cancer screening.]

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Holsinger T, Plassman BL, Stechuchak KM, et al. Screening for cognitive impairment: comparing the performance of four instruments in primary care. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Jun; 60(6):1027-36. [Mentions the potential benefits of early detection of cognitive impairment in primary care settings, in spite of the USPSTF's lack of recommendations on routine cognitive screening, citing USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening for dementia in primary care (Ann Intern Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Fowler NR, Boustani MA, Frame A, et al. Effect of patient perceptions on dementia screening in primary care. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Jun; 60(6):1037-43. [Notes the USPSTF's findings of insufficient evidence to recommend systematic screening for dementia in primary care settings, citing USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening for dementia in primary care (Ann Intern Med, 2003); notes that first author has other work supported by AHRQ under grant K12 HS19461-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
So C, Kirby KA, Mehta K, et al. Medical center characteristics associated with PSA screening in elderly veterans with limited life expectancy. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):653-60. [Cites USPSTF draft recommendation statement, Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Osteoporotic Fractures in Adults, 2012, as published on the USPSTF Web site; cites USPTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002); uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Prochaska JJ, Gali K, Miller B, et al. Medical students' attention to multiple risk behaviors: a standardized patient examination. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):700-7. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review of behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce risky/harmful alcohol use by adults (Ann Intern Med, 2004); cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Dinh TA, Alperin P, Walter LC, et al. Impact of comorbidity on colorectal cancer screening cost-effectiveness study in diabetic populations. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):730-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer and associated USPSTF-sponsored decision analysis on evaluating test strategies for colorectal cancer screening (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Schoen RE, Pinsky PF, Weissfeld JL, et al. Colorectal-cancer incidence and mortality with screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. N Engl J Med 2012 Jun 21; 366(25):2345-57. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008). Also refer to articles by Pandhi et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and by Powers et al., Smetana et al., Hartmann, Samson and Schoelles, Singh et al., Trikalinos et al., Trikalinos and Balion, Trikalinos, Kulasingam, and Lawrence, Jonas et al., and Segal (all in J Gen Intern Med, 2012) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Shamliyan T, Wyman JF, Ramakrishnan R, et al. Benefits and harms of pharmacologic treatment for urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jun 19; 156(12):861-74. [Supported by contract 290-2007-10064-I and based on AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Non-surgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: Diagnosis and Comparative Effectiveness, 2012, prepared by the Minnesota EPC; uses AHRQ's definition of harms and evaluated risk of bias criteria from AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2010, and several AHRQ Effective Health Care Program methods series papers (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010); cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Women, 2009; cites "HHS Awards $475 Million in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Funding" from AHRQ Electronic Newsletter, 2010, as published on the AHRQ Web site; second, fourth, and last authors report previous AHRQ funding; originally published in Articles of Interest, 4/9/12-4/13/12.] Select to access the abstract.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Apisarnthanarak A, Greene MT, Kennedy EH, et al. National survey of practices to prevent healthcare-associated infections in Thailand: the role of safety culture and collaboratives. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012 Jul; 33(7):711-17. [Cites article by Krein et al. (Mayo Clin Proc, 2007), which cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Smetana GW. Newer is not always better: all antihypertensive medications do not equally reduce cardiovascular risk. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):618-20. [Comments on article by Powers et al. below in this section, citing AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs), Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs), and Direct Renin Inhibitors for Treating Essential Hypertension: An Update. Executive Summary, 2011, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site.]

Powers BJ, Coeytaux RR, Dolor RJ, et al. Updated report on comparative effectiveness of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and direct renin Inhibitors for patients with essential hypertension: much more data, little new information. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27(6):716-29. [Supported by contract 290-02-0025; updates AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs) for Treating Essential Hypertension, 2007, and is based on full comparative effectiveness review, Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs), and Direct Renin Inhibitors for Treating Essential Hypertension: An Update, 2011 on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site, both prepared by the Duke EPC under same contract; uses adapted USPSTF quality of evidence criteria described in USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies, and AHRQ evidence criteria from AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, citing AHRQ-authored articles by Owens, Lohr, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, and Atkins et al. (BMJ, 2004); cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Baker et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on the comparative effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II-receptor blockers for ischemic heart disease, prepared by the University of Connecticut/Hartford Hospital EPC under contract 290-2007-10067-I, and AHRQ-funded systematic review by Matchar et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008) on the comparative effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers for treating essential hypertension. Select to access the abstract.

Smetana GW, Umscheid CA, Chang S, et al. Methods guide for authors of systematic reviews of medical tests: a collaboration between the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Journal of General Internal Medicine. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:1-3. [Third author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence; summarizes development of AHRQ's EPC program and the AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests, as published in the journal supplement (consisting of the next 12 articles cited below in this section) introduced by this article and derived from AHRQ publication Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2012, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites Evidence-based Practice Centers: Synthesizing Scientific Evidence to Improve Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, 2011, and the USPSTF landing page on the AHRQ Web site, AHRQ publications, Medical Tests—White Paper Series, 2009, and CME/CE Activities: AHRQ Training Modules for the Systematic Reviews Methods Guide, both published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site, and AHRQ publication, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Procedure Manual, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Matchar DB. Chapter 1: Introduction to the Methods Guide for Medical Test Reviews. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:4-10. [Introduces the development and organization of the AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests, which complements AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2012, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; discusses the development and use of analytic frameworks, citing USPSTF-sponsored study by Battista and Fletcher (Am J Prev Med, 1988), AHRQ-funded systematic review on challenges in synthesis of topics related to the delivery, organization, and financing of health care (prepared by the Stanford-University of California EPC under contract 290-02-0017), USPSTF-sponsored systematic review by Whitlock et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2002) on evaluating primary care behavioral counseling interventions, USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies, and AHRQ publications, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Procedure Manual, 2008 (as published on the USPSTF Web site), Methodology Perspectives: Clinical Practice Guideline Development, 1994, and Interim Manual for Clinical Practice Guideline Development: A Protocol for Expert Panels Convened by the Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, 1990; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Evaluation Frameworks, Analytic Validity and Quality Rating of Genetic Tests, 2001 (prepared by the ECRI Institute EPC under contract 290-2007-10063-I).] Select to access the abstract.

Samson D, Schoelles KM. Chapter 2: Medical tests guidance (2) developing the topic and structuring systematic reviews of medical tests: utility of PICOTS, analytic frameworks, decision Trees, and other frameworks. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:11-19. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests; includes a graphical illustration of an analytic framework adapted from USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; cites the; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, HER2 Testing to Manage Patients with Breast Cancer or Other Solid Tumors, 2008 (prepared by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association under contract 290-02-0026); cites AHRQ technical review, Developing a Methodology for Establishing a Statement of Work for a Policy-Relevant Technical Analysis, 2006 (prepared by the Duke EPC under contract 290-02-0025); cites AHRQ-authored article by Whitlock, Lopez, Chang et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) and article by Helfand and Balshem (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010), both on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, and cites AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Methodology Perspectives: Clinical Practice Guideline Development, 1994; acknowledges assistance from AHRQ project officer Stephanie Chang.] Select to access the abstract.

Segal JB. Chapter 3: Choosing the important outcomes for a systematic review of a medical test. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:20-7. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests; discusses and cites AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, Outcomes of Genetic Testing in Adults with a History of Venous Thromboembolism, 2009, Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: Diagnostic Strategies and Their Implications, 2007, and Testing for Cytochrome P450 Polymorphisms (CYP450) in Adults with Non-Psychotic Depression Prior to Treatment with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), 2007, as examples of stakeholder-sponsored EPC reports; discusses USPSTF-sponsored evidence synthesis Screening and Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy: Systematic Review to Update the 2001 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation, 2008, USPSTF-sponsored systematic review by Hillier et al. on screening for gestational diabetes mellitus, and USPSTF-sponsored systematic review by Whitlock et al. on screening for colorectal cancer (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008), as examples of EPC reports supporting USPSTF screening recommendations; discusses AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Use of Spirometry for Case Finding, Diagnosis, and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 2005 (prepared by the Minnesota EPC) as an example of an EPC report on evaluation of prognostic tests.] Select to access the abstract.

Relevo R. Chapter 4: Effective search strategies for systematic reviews of medical tests. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:28-32. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests; discusses search strategies used for AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, Testing for BNP and NT-proBNP in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Heart Failure, 2006 (prepared by the McMaster University EPC under contract 290-02-0020 and published on the AHRQ Web site) and AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Effectiveness of Noninvasive Diagnostic Tests for Breast Abnormalities, 2006 (prepared by the ECRI Institute EPC under contract 290-02-0019 and published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site); cites AHRQ-funded article by Relevo and Balshem (J Clin Epidemiol, 2011).] Select to access the abstract.

Santaguida PL, Riley CM, Matchar DB. Chapter 5: Assessing risk of bias as a domain of quality in medical test studies. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:33-8. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests; adapts material from associated AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews; discusses the evaluation of quality assessment instruments in AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002 (prepared by the Research Triangle Institute-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-97-0011) the impact of inadequate reporting illustrated by AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Family History and Improving Health, 2009 (prepared by the McMaster University EPC under contract 290-2007-10060-I, as published on the AHRQ Web site) and associated systematic review by Wilson et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Hartmann KE, Matchar DB, Chang S. Chapter 6: Assessing applicability of medical test studies in systematic reviews. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:39-46. [Third author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence; supported by contracts 290-2007-10065-I and 290-2007-10066-I as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests; uses as illustrated by USPSTF-sponsored systematic evidence review, Screening for Cervical Cancer, 2002, and AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Evaluation of Cervical Cytology, 1999; discusses AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, citing AHRQ publications, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests, and Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, both published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites articles by Matchar and by Sampson and Schoelles cited above in this section.] Select to access the abstract.

Singh S, Chang SM, Matchar DB, et al. Chapter 7: Grading a body of evidence on diagnostic tests. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:47-55. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests and based on research conducted by the Johns Hopkins EPC under contract to AHRQ; second author is a researcher in AHRQ’s Center for Outcomes and Evidence; discusses methodologies used in AHRQ's EPC program to assess evidence quality, citing AHRQ-authored articles by Owens, Lohr, Atkins et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) and Atkins, Fink, and Slutsky (Ann Intern Med, 2005) and AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program; uses as examples AHRQ comparative effectiveness reviews Noninvasive Diagnostic Tests for Breast Abnormalities: Update of a 2006 Review, 2012, and Comparative Effectiveness of Core-Needle and Open Surgical Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Breast Lesions: Executive Summary (both prepared by the ECRI Institute EPC under contract 290-02-0019, and published on the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program Web site), and AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, Outcomes of Genetic Testing in Adults with a History of Venous Thromboembolism, 2009 (prepared by the Johns Hopkins University EPC under contract 290-2007-10061-I) and Systematic Review of the Literature Regarding the Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea, 1998 (prepared by MetaWorks Inc. under contract 290-97-0016).] Select to access the abstract.

Trikalinos TA, Balion CM, Coleman CI, et al. Chapter 8: Meta-analysis of test performance when there is a "gold standard". J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:56-66. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests and based on work funded by AHRQ; uses as examples AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Evaluation of Technologies for Identifying Acute Cardiac Ischemia in Emergency Departments, 2000, and related AHRQ-funded meta-analysis by Balk et al. (Ann Emerg Med, 2001), both prepared by the New England Medical Center EPC under contract 290-97-0019); authors are members of AHRQ-funded EPCs; cites AHRQ-funded article by Fu et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2011); cites articles by Trikalinos, Kulasingam, and Lawrence, Matchar, Hartmann, and Trikalinos and Ballion, cited above and below in this section.] Select to access the abstract.

Trikalinos TA, Balion CM. Chapter 9: Options for summarizing medical test performance in the absence of a "gold standard". J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:67-75. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests and based on work funded by AHRQ; uses as an example AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Home Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome, 2007 (prepared by the Tufts-New England Medical Center EPC); authors are members of AHRQ-funded EPCs.] Select to access the abstract.

Trikalinos TA, Kulasingam S, Lawrence WF. Chapter 10: Deciding whether to complement a systematic review of medical tests with decision modeling. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:76-82. [Funded by AHRQ as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests and based on work funded by AHRQ; last author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence; uses as examples USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer and associated decision analysis on evaluating test strategies by Zauber et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008), AHRQ Methods Future Research Needs report, Minimal Modeling Approaches to Value of Information Analysis for Health Research, 2011, AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Future Research Needs for the Comparison of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions with Bypass Graft Surgery in Nonacute Coronary Artery Disease: Identification of Future Research Needs, 2010, and AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Use of Positron Emission Tomography and Other Neuroimaging Techniques in the Diagnosis and Management of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, 2001; first and second authors are members of AHRQ-funded EPCs.] Select to access the abstract.

Jonas DE, Wilt TJ, Taylor BC, et al. Chapter 11: Challenges in and principles for conducting systematic reviews of genetic tests used as predictive indicators. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:83-93. [Supported by contract HHSA290-2007-10056-I, task order 1, as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests and based on work funded by AHRQ; uses as examples USPSTF recommendations on genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility and associated systematic evidence review by Nelson et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2005), USPSTF-sponsored systematic review on screening for hereditary hemochromatosis (Ann Intern Med, 2006), USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies, and AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, HER2 Testing to Manage Patients with Breast Cancer or Other Solid Tumors, 2008 (prepared by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association under contract 290-02-0026) and Testing for Cytochrome P450 Polymorphisms (CYP450) in Adults with Non-Psychotic Depression Prior to Treatment with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), 2007; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Evaluation Frameworks, Analytic Validity and Quality Rating of Genetic Tests, 2001 (prepared by the ECRI Institute EPC under contract 290-2007-10063-I) and AHRQ technology assessment, Genetic Tests for Cancer, 2006, as published on the AHRQ Archive Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Burke, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher), Gwinn et al. (Am J Epidemiol, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Rector TS, Taylor BC, Wilt TJ. Chapter 12: Systematic review of prognostic tests. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Jun; 27 Suppl 1:94-101. [Supported in part by contract 290-207-10064 (EPC III, to the Minnesota EPC) as part of a special supplement of articles comprising AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Systematic Reviews of Medical Tests and a complement to AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site .] Select to access the abstract.

Lancet
Tricco AC, Ivers NM, Grimshaw JM, et al. Effectiveness of quality improvement strategies on the management of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2012 Jun 16; 379(9833):2252-61. [Cites AHRQ technical review, Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies, Volume 2: Diabetes Mellitus Care, 2004; cites AHRQ-funded meta-regression analysis by Shojania et al. (JAMA, 2006) on the effects of quality improvement strategies for type 2 diabetes on glycemic control, prepared by the Stanford-UCSF EPC under contract 290-02-0017. Also refer to article by Hebert et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles

Refer to article by Jena et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and article by Lê Cook, Barry, and Busch (Health Serv Res, 2012) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Epidemiology
Stringhini S, Berkman L, Dugravot A, et al. Socioeconomic status, structural and functional measures of social support, and mortality: the British Whitehall II cohort study, 1985-2009. Am J Epidemiol 2012 Jun 15; 175(12):1275-83. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Managed Care
Baser O, Sengupta N, Dysinger A, et al. Thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical inpatients: effect on outcomes and costs. Am J Manag Care 2012 Jun; 18(6):294-302. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan and Miller (current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and former AHRQ researcher, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).]

Saffar D, Williams K, Elston Lafata J, et al. Racial disparities in lipid control in patients with diabetes. Am J Manag Care 2012 Jun; 18(6):303-11. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).]

Cai Q, Tan H, Singer J. Impact of positive airway pressure among obstructive sleep apnea patients. Am J Manag Care 2012 Jun; 18(6):e225-e233. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Fong TG, Jones RN, Marcantonio ER, et al. Adverse outcomes after hospitalization and delirium in persons with Alzheimer disease. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jun 19; 156(12):848-56. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Mandawat A, Mandawat A, Mandawat MK, et al. Hospitalization rates and in-hospital mortality among centenarians. Arch Intern Med 2012 Jun 18 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2004-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2003-2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).]

Archives of Surgery
Banka G, Woodard G, Hernandez-Boussard T, et al. Laparoscopic vs open gastric bypass surgery: differences in patient demographics, safety, and outcomes. Arch Surg 2012 Jun; 147(6):550-6. [Uses 2005-2007 HCUP NIS data (citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site), AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators (citing Patient Safety Indicators Overview as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site), and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).]

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Addington D, McKenzie E, Smith H, et al. Conformance to evidence-based treatment recommendations in schizophrenia treatment services. Can J Psychiatry 2012 May; 57(5):317-23. [Assesses patient conformance to nine recommendations from the AHRQ-sponsored Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) project, citing articles by Lehman et al. (Schizophr Bull, 2004), Lehman and Steinwachs (Schizophr Bull, 1998—2 articles), and others on updated and earlier PORT treatment recommendations for schizophrenia.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Lê Cook B, Barry CL, Busch SH. Racial/ethnic disparity trends in children's mental health care access and expenditures from 2002 to 2007. Health Serv Res 2012 Jun 20 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2002-2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing MEPS HC-036BRR: 1996-2006 Replicates for Calculating Variances File, 2008, AHRQ-authored articles by Kirby, Hudson, and Miller (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care Res Rev, 2010), Cook, McGuire, and Zuvekas (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care Res Rev, 2009), Zuvekas and Fleishman (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care, 2008), Fleishman and Zuvekas (Med Care, 2007), Hudson, Miller, and Kirby (Med Care, 2007), and Zuvekas (Trends in Mental Health, 2001); cites AHRQ's NHQR, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Smith EG, Zhao S, Rosen AK. Using the Patient Safety Indicators to detect potential safety events among US veterans with psychotic disorders: clinical and research implications. Int J Qual Health Care 2012 Jun 19 [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing AHRQ publications, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.1, 2007, and AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: SAS Software Documentation, Version 3.1, 2007; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 2008); cites AHRQ-authored articles by Rivard, Luther, Christiansen, Zhao, Loveland, Elixhauser et al. (Med Care Res Rev, 2008), Miller (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (Am J Med Qual, 2005), Rosen, Rivard, Zhao, Loveland, Tsilimingras, Christiansen, Elixhauser et al. (Med Care, 2005), and Miller, Elixhauser, Zhan, and Meyer (Health Serv Res, 2001); Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics
Vick B, Jones K, Mitra S. Poverty and severe psychiatric disorder in the U.S.: evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. J Ment Health Policy Econ 2012 Jun; 15(2):83-96. [Uses 2007 MEPS data, citing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2007; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Zuvekas and Selden (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care Res Rev, 2010) and Fleishman and Zuvekas (Med Care, 2007). Also refer to AHRQ-funded article by Brooks Carthon et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and article by So et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles.]

Current as of June 2012

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, June 22, 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art062212.htm