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Articles of Interest

September 16, 2011

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 Medical Quality
Lin DM, Weeks K, Bauer L, Combes JR, George CT, Goeschel CA, Lubomski LH, Mathews SC, Sawyer MD, Thompson DA, Watson SR, Winters BD, Marsteller JA, Berenholtz SM, Pronovost PJ, et al. Eradicating central line-associated bloodstream infections statewide: the Hawaii experience. Am J Med Qual 2011 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by contract HHSA 290-2006-000222 (to the Health Research and Education Trust through a subcontract); sixth, fourteenth, and fifteenth authors report receiving other AHRQ funding on related projects; discusses the AHRQ-sponsored On the CUSP (Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program): Stop BSI (Bloodstream Infections) program and Michigan Keystone ICU study.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Meyers D, Parchman M. Re: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) practice-based research network (PBRN) relationship: delivering on an opportunity, challenges, and future directions. Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):493 [Authors are director and researcher, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; comments article by Meyers cited below in this section and on article by Pace and West (J Am Board Fam Med, 2011), cited in AHRQ-Related Articles below; mentions second author's new position as director of AHRQ's PBRN initiative.]

Meyers D. A tribute to Dr. David Lanier. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):494-5. [Author is director in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; discusses Dr. David Lanier's (former director of same center) role in leading and guiding AHRQ's PBRN initiative.]

Parnes B, Fernald D, Coombs L, et al. Improving the management of skin and soft tissue infections in primary care: a report from State Networks of Colorado Ambulatory Practices and Partners (SNOCAP-USA) and the Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet). J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):534-42. [Supported by contract HHSA 290 2007 10008 task order 4; portions of manuscript were presented at the AHRQ PBRN 2010 Annual conference; cites Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Forcade NA, Parchman ML, Jorgensen JH, et al. Prevalence, severity, and treatment of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (CA-MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections in 10 medical clinics in Texas; a South Texas Ambulatory Research Network (STARNet) study. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):543-50. [Second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships and the director of AHRQ's PBRN program.]  Select to access the abstract.

Hayes H, Parchman ML, Howard R. A logic model framework for evaluation and planning in a primary care practice-based research network (PBRN). J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):576-82. [Second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships and the director of AHRQ's PBRN program; Cites AHRQ publication, PBRN Networks Listed by Acronym, as published on AHRQ's PBRN Web site.]  Select to access the abstract.

Handley MA, Schillinger D, Shiboski S. Quasi-experimental designs in practice-based research settings: design and implementation considerations. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):589-96. [Supported in part by grant R18 HS17261 (Harnessing Health Information Technology for Self-Management Support and Medication Activation in a Medicaid Health Plan); discusses the SMART STEPS Project, funded under same grant, and Automated, Telephone-Based Interactive, Language-Appropriate Monitoring Engages and Improves Health Behaviors of Low-Income Diabetes Patients, 2010, on AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Nuckols TK, Escarce JJ. Cost implications of ACGME's 2011 changes to resident duty hours and the training environment. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award grant K08 HS17954 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Nuckols TK, Escarce JJ. Erratum to: Cost implications of ACGME's 2011 changes to resident duty hours and the training environment. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award grant K08 HS17954 (to first author); presents correction to Figure 2 in article by same authors cited above in this section.]

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Vogelsmeier A, Scott-Cawiezell J. Achieving quality improvement in the nursing home: influence of nursing leadership on communication and teamwork. J Nurs Care Qual 2011 Jul-Sep; 26(3):236-42. [Supported by grant 5 UC1 HS14281-02.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Patient Safety
Allen AS, Orav EJ, Lee TH, et al. Clinician personality and the evaluation of higher-risk patient symptoms. J Patient Saf 2011 Sep; 7(3):122-6. [Supported in part by grant 1 R18 HS17075.] Select to access the abstract.

Modern Healthcare
Clancy C. Protocol for all: smaller hospitals can adopt proven tools for reducing central-line infections. Mod Healthc 2011 Sep 12; 41(37):20. [Author is AHRQ director; discusses various AHRQ-funded research projects on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI).]

Public Health Reports
Hooker RS, Cawley JF, Everett CM. Predictive modeling the physician assistant supply: 2010-2025. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126(5):708-16. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS00083 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.

Walkup J, Akincigil A, Hoover DR, et al. Use of Medicaid data to explore community characteristics associated with HIV prevalence among beneficiaries with schizophrenia. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126 Suppl 3:89-101. [Supported in part by grant U18 HS16097 to the Center for Research and Education on Mental Health Therapeutics at Rutgers.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Medical Quality
Sick B, Abraham JM. Seek and ye shall find: consumer search for objective health care cost and quality information. Am J Med Qual 2011 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Includes the AHRQ Web site in the "Medium findability" groups in Table 3, Web Site Findability, and Table 4, Web Site Evaluation; cites AHRQ publication, Best Practices in Public Reporting No. 2: Maximizing Consumer Understanding of Public Comparative Quality Reports: Effective Use of Explanatory Information, 2010, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]  Select to access the abstract.

Shahian DM, Iezzoni LI, Meyer GS, et al. Hospital-wide mortality as a quality metric: conceptual and methodological challenges. Am J Med Qual 2011 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Mentions a 2008 AHRQ/Institute for Healthcare Improvement-sponsored conference that "explored the potential for using such measures to track performance at both the hospital and national levels", citing Mortality Measurement, 2009, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Iezzoni (JAMA, 1997), Hannan et al. (Health Serv Res, 1997, and Med Care, 1992), Romano et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 1994), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Margey R. Cardiac implantable electronic devices: pacing our enthusiasm. Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan, Baine, Sedrakyan, and Steiner (first and second authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence, and last author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (J Gen Intern Med, 2008), which uses AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.]

BMJ
Sorenson C, Naci H, Cylus J, et al. Evidence of comparative efficacy should have a formal role in European drug approvals. BMJ 2011 Sep 10; 343(7822):514-17. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and current AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).]

Colorado Nurse
Center D. Safe handoffs improve transitions of care to home care. Colo Nurse 2011 Aug; 111(3):9-11. [Cites AHRQ publication, Safe Handoffs and Transitions of Care, as published on the AHRQ Web site, and AHRQ-authored article by Henriksen, Joseph, and Zayas-Caban (first and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety and Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, respectively) (J Patient Saf, 2009).]

Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Laughon MM, Benjamin DK Jr, Capparelli EV, Kearns GL, Berezny K, Paul IM, Wade K, Barrett J, Smith PB, et al. Innovative clinical trial design for pediatric therapeutics. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2011 Sep; 4(5):643-52. [Ninth author reports AHRQ funding through grant 1 R18 AE000028-01 (attributed to NIAID in the NIH Query, View, Reporting system.]

Health Law Review
Cox S, Ross K, Townsend A, et al. From stakeholders to shareholders: engaging consumers in health research. Health Law Rev 2011 Jun 22; 19(3):63-71. [Mentions that AHRQ's National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality includes patient and consumer representatives, citing the AHRQ Web site.]

International Journal of Research in Marketing
Liu Q, Gupta S. The impact of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs on physician visits and drug requests: empirical findings and public policy implications. Int J Res Mark 2011 Sep; 28(3):205-17. [Mentions data from AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) on percentages of older adults reporting never having had their blood cholesterol tested and on hyperlipidemia in lower socioeconomic status groups, citing AHRQ publication Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005); cites data from AHRQ publication, Expenses for Office-Based Physician Visits by Specialty, 2004, MEPS Statistical Brief 166, 2007.]

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Bowman MA, Neale AV. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine sixth annual practice-based research network theme issue - they just keep getting better and better. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):481-2. [Mentions that the practice-based research networks (PBRNs) "have been advanced through the careful nurturing of the [AHRQ]"; comments on AHRQ-funded/authored articles by Meyers and Handley, Schillinger, and Shiboski  (both in J Am Board Fam Med, 2011), cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above, and on articles by Williams and Rhyne, Pace, Fagnan, and DeVoe et al. (all in J Am Board Fam Med, 2011), cited below in this section.] Select to access the abstract.

Williams RL, Rhyne RL. No longer simply a practice-based research network (PBRN) health improvement networks. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):485-8. [Gives AHRQ's definition of a practice-based research network from What is a PBRN in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of AHRQ's Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) Web site; mentions AHRQ's "recent call for applications for statewide demonstration-type projects aimed at catalyzing the transition of practices to patient-centered medical homes," citing AHRQ Request for Applications (RFA) Infrastructure for Maintaining Primary Care Transformation (IMPaCT)—Support for Models of Multi-sector, State-level Excellence (U18), 2010, as published on the National Institutes of Health Office of Extramural Research Grants Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Yawn et al. (J Am Board Fam Med, 2010), Fox et al. (J Am Board Fam Med, 2008), Rust and Cooper (J Am Board Fam Med, 2007), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Pace WD, Fagnan LJ, West DR. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) practice-based research network (PBRN) relationship: delivering on an opportunity, challenges, and future directions. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):489-92. [Discusses AHRQ's PBRN Master Contract Program and other PBRN initiatives; authors acknowledge receipt of contracts through the AHRQ PBRN Master Contract initiative and grants from AHRQ; cites The AHRQ PBRN Resource Center (PBRN RC), as published on AHRQ's Practice-Based Research Networks Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Young RA, Benold T, Whitham J, et al. Factors influencing work interference in patients with chronic low back pain: a Residency Research Network of Texas (RRNeT) study. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):503-510. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Hart, Deyo, and Cherkin (Spine, 1995).] Select to access the abstract.

Mold JW, Lawler F, Schauf KJ, et al. Does patient assessment of the quality of the primary care they receive predict subsequent outcomes? An Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network (OKPRN) study. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):511-23. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Safran et al. (Med Care, 1998, and J Fam Pract, 1998) and article by Zhu and Hill (Neurology, 2008), which uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity index (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Young RA, Fulda KG, Suzuki S, et al. The influence of research compensation options on practice-based research network (PBRN) physician participation: a North Texas (NorTex) PBRN study. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):562-8. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Lanier (former AHRQ center director) (Ann Fam Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

DeVoe JE, Gold R, Spofford M, et al. Developing a network of community health centers with a common electronic health record: description of the Safety Net West Practice-based Research Network (SNW-PBRN). J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):597-604. [Mentions AHRQ's registration of the SNW-PBRN in 2007; Table 2, Recent and Current Oregon Community Health Information Network (OCHIN) and Safety Net West Research Projects, includes AHRQ-funded projects Obesity Care Quality, Using Health Information Exchange Networks for Dissemination of Effective Health Care Materials, How Do Changes in Families' Health Insurance Affect Children's Healthcare? (FAMILY), and Enhancing Clinical Effectiveness Research with Natural Language Processing of Electronic Medical Record (CER-HUB); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Stange et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2010) and Gold et al. (Med Care, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Hamilton MD, Cola PA, Terchek JJ, et al. A novel protocol for streamlined IRB review of practice-based research network (PBRN) card studies. J Am Board Fam Med 2011 Sep-Oct; 24(5):605-9. [Cites paper by Nutting PA in AHRQ publication, AHRQ Conference Proceedings. Primary Care Research: Theory and Methods, 1991, and AHRQ Practice-Based Research Networks, as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Patient Safety
Denham CR. The Partnership with Patients: a call to action for leaders. J Patient Saf 2011 Sep; 7(3):113-21. [Cites Evaluation of Clinical Decision Support Functionality with the Leapfrog CPOE Flight Simulator, June 6, 2006 Presentation, as posted on AHRQ's National Resource Center for Health Information Technology Web site; cites AHRQ's News and Numbers "Health Care-Associated Infections Greatly Increase the Length and Cost of Hospital Stays", 2010, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ Data, as Analyzed in IOM: Retooling for an Aging America, as published on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site.]

Sorokin R, Riggio JM, Moleski S, et al. Physicians-in-training attitudes on patient safety: 2003 to 2008. J Patient Saf 2011 Sep; 7(3):132-137. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored RAND technical report, Assessing Patient Safety Practices and Outcomes in the U.S. Health Care System, 2009; cites AHRQ-authored article by Leape, Berwick, Clancy (AHRQ director) et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2004) and AHRQ-funded articles by Mardon et al. (J Patient Saf, 2010), Pronovost et al. (J Crit Care, 2008 and 2003) and Sexton et al. (J Perinatol, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Ali M, Osborne A, Bethune R, et al. Preoperative surgical briefings do not delay operating room start times and are popular with surgical team members. J Patient Saf 2011 Sep; 7(3):138-42. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ghaferi, Birkmeyer, and Dimick (N Engl J Med, 2009), and Gawande et al. (Surgery, 1999).] Select to access the abstract.

Mayo Clinical Proceedings
Yawn BP. The role of the primary care physician in helping adolescent and adult patients improve asthma control. Mayo Clin Proc 2011 Sep; 86(9):894-902. [Mentions author's receipt of AHRQ funding for two asthma; cites article by Sullivan et al. (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2011), which uses MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Clinics of North America
Reaven GM. Insulin resistance: the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. Med Clin North Am 2011 Sep; 95(5):875-92. [Cites article by Sullivan et al. (Diabetes Care, 2005), which uses 2000-2002 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Modern Healthcare
Carlson J. Rx for a higher dose of quality. Mod Healthc 2011 Sep 12; 41(37):8-12. [Notes the use of comparisons of a hospital's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems [HCAHPS] survey scores and its pharmacy usage and the fact that "some of the HCAHPS survey instrument items ask about pain management and medication instructions from caregivers" in analyzing findings in a Thomas Reuters study of drug spending by top-quality hospitals.]

Wilson L. Pursuing value: providers aim for rewards by emphasizing quality metrics used in the CMS' new purchasing system. Mod Healthc 2011 Sep 12; 41(37):14-23. [Discusses the current and future use of HCAHPS measures as part of CMS' value-based purchasing program.]

Gardner E. Quality and transparency: commitment to performance measurement earns Norton annual NQF award. Mod Healthc 2011 Sep 12; 41(37):22-6. [Mentions the use of AHRQ quality measures and HCAHPS patient satisfaction measures by Norton Healthcare of Louisville.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Barry CL, Huskamp HA. Moving beyond parity—mental health and addiction care under the ACA. N Engl J Med 2011 Sep 15; 365(11):973-5. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Garfield, Zuvekas (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends), Lave et al. (Am J Psychiatry, 2011), which uses 2004-2006 MEPS data.]

Public Health Reports
Fan ZJ, Anderson NJ, Foley M, et al. The persistent gap in health-care coverage between low- and high-income workers in Washington state: BRFSS, 2003-2007. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126(5):690-9. [Cites AHRQ publication, Uninsured Workers—Demographic Characteristics, 1996, MEPS Highlights 7, 1998.] Select to access the abstract.

Comer KF, Grannis S, Dixon BE, et al. Incorporating geospatial capacity within clinical data systems to address social determinants of health. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126 Supp 3:54-61. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Tierney et al. (JAMA, 2010, and J Am Med Inform Assoc, 1995).] Select to access the abstract.

Rehabilitation Nursing
Romito D, Beaudoin JM, Stein P. Urinary tract infections in patients admitted to rehabilitation from acute care settings: a descriptive research study. Rehabil Nurs 2011 Sep-Oct; 36(5):216-22. [Cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

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

BMJ
Bleyer A. US breast cancer mortality is consistent with European data. BMJ 2011 Sep 10; 343(7822):495. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2009) and related article posted on the Central Oregon Medical Society Web site.]

Circulation
Lederle FA. The rise and fall of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Circulation 2011 Sep 6; 124(10):1097-9. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for abdominal aortic aneurism (Ann Intern Med, 2005).] 

Svensjo S, Bjorck M, Gurtelschmid M, et al. Low prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm among 65-year-old Swedish men indicates a change in the epidemiology of the disease. Circulation 2011 Sep 6; 124(10):1118-23. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for abdominal aortic aneurism (Ann Intern Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract   

Rao G, Burke LE, Spring BJ, et al. New and emerging weight management strategies for busy ambulatory settings: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2011 Sep 6; 124(10):1182-203. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Obesity in Adults, 2003, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] 

Ethnicity and Disease
Perdue DG, Henderson JA, Garroutte E, et al. Culture and colorectal cancer screening on three American Indian reservations. Ethn Dis 2011 Summer; 21(3):342-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).]

JAMA
Kuehn BM. US requires coverage for contraceptives, other women's preventive health services. JAMA 2011 Sep 14; 306(10):1070-1. [Discusses Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provisions requiring coverage of preventive services recommended by the USPSTF.]

Journal of Family Practice
Jackson AN, Hume AL. Aspirin for CV prevention—for which patients? J Fam Pract 2011 Sep; 60(9):518-23. [Discusses previous USPSTF recommendations on screening for aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and updated recommendations based on USPSTF-sponsored evidence update on aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease by Wolff, Miller (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships), and Ko (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Allen SS, Pruthi S. The mammography controversy: when should you screen? J Fam Pract 2011 Sep; 60(9):524-531. [Discusses the controversy over release of updated USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations, citing USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009, as published on the USPSTF Web site, and recommendations on screening for breast cancer, associated evidence update by Nelson et al., and related AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (all in Ann Intern Med, 2009); cites previous USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer and related evidence summary by Humphrey et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites article by Hendrick and Helvie (AJR Am J Roentgenol, 2011), which discusses the release of updated USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations.] Select to access the abstract.

Cabodi J, Kelsberg G, Safranek S. Clinical Inquiry: Does brief physician counseling promote weight loss? J Fam Pract 2011 Sep; 60(9):548-50. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Obesity in Adults, 2003, as published on the USPSTF Web site, and associated evidence summary by McTigue et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Warner E. Clinical practice. Breast-cancer screening. N Engl J Med 2011 Sep 15; 365(11):1025-32. [Discusses previous and updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer and updated evidence reviews (Ann Intern Med, 2002 and 2009); cites associated AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Public Health Reports
Mimiaga MJ, Johnson CV, Reisner SL, et al. Barriers to routine HIV testing among Massachusetts community health center personnel. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126(5):643-52. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for HIV (Ann Intern Med, 2005); cites USPSTF-sponsored updated systematic evidence review on screening for human immunodeficiency virus, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Breastfeeding Medicine
Brown A, Lee M. An exploration of the attitudes and experiences of mothers in the United Kingdom who chose to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months postpartum. Breastfeed Med 2011 Aug; 6(4):197-204. [Cites summary of AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007, as published in article by Ip et al. (Breastfeed Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Paasche-Orlow M. Caring for patients with limited health literacy: a 76-year-old man with multiple medical problems. JAMA 2011 Sep 14; 306(10):1122-9. [Cites AHRQ evidence report/technology assessments Health Literacy Interventions and Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review, 2011, as published on the AHRQ Web site, and Literacy and Health Outcomes, 2004, as accessed on the NLM Bookshelf Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 2010, and several AHRQ-funded articles; notes author's receipt of previous AHRQ funding.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Jones SS, Heaton P, Friedberg MW, et al. Today's 'meaningful use' standard for medication orders by hospitals may save few lives; later stages may do more. Health Aff 2011 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-funded systematic reviews by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, prepared by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC), and by Kaushal, Shojania, and Bates (Arch Intern Med, 2003) on effects of computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems on medication safety, also performed by the UCSF EPC; cites AHRQ publication, 30 Safe Practices for Better Health Care: Fact Sheet, 2005, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]  Select to access the abstract.

Medical Clinics of North America
Smith BR, Schauer P, Nguyen NT. Surgical approaches to the treatment of obesity: bariatric surgery. Med Clin North Am 2011 Sep; 95(5):1009-30. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Obesity, 2004; notes that "recent national outcome data for bariatric surgery from [AHRQ] showed a 78% decrease in inpatient mortality from 1998 to 2004".] Select to access the abstract.

South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Cronje HS. Sensitivity and specificity of the human papillovavirus identification test. S Afr J Obstet Gynaecol 2011 Sep 1; 17(3):90. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Evaluation of Cervical Cytology, 1999. Also refer to article by Tsang et al. (Am J Med Qual, 2011), cited in by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

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

Public Health Reports
Harrison KM, Dean HD. Use of data systems to address social determinants of health: a need to do more. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126 Suppl 3:1-5. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2009.]

Koh HK. The ultimate measures of health. Public Health Rep 2011 Sep-Oct; 126 Suppl 3:14-15. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2010.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Medical Quality
Tsang C, Palmer W, Bottle A, et al. A review of patient safety measures based on routinely collected hospital data. Am J Med Qual 2011 Sep 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses a modified version of the study selection criteria created by AHRQ during development of the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) to identify relevant studies on the use, evaluation, or validation of patient safety measures, citing AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, version 3.1, 2007; notes that AHRQ PSIs were initially released in 2003 and are the "most widely used and recognized set of screens based on routinely collected hospital data;" notes the use of HCUP NIS and SID data in selected reviewed studies and the use of AHRQ's PSIs in over two-thirds of the original studies reviewed; cites AHRQ publications, AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators for Use in ICD-10 Administrative Data by an International Consortium, 2008, AHRQ-sponsored program evaluation final contract report, Evaluation of the Use of AHRQ and Other Quality Indicators, 2007, Phase II of the Validation Pilot for the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators: Interest Form, 2008, and Adaption of AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators for Use in ICD-10 Administrative Data by an International Consortium, 2008; cites AHRQ technical review, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data: The Patient Safety Indicators, 2002; cites numerous AHRQ-funded/authored and other articles using/assessing AHRQ's PSIs] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Sohail MR, Henrikson CA, Braid-Forbes MJ, et al. Mortality and cost associated with cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections. Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) and HCUP Comorbidity Software, Versions 3.2 and 3.3, citing Overview of Comorbidity Software as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan, Baine, Sedrakyan, and Steiner (J Gen Intern Med, 2008), which uses HCUP NIS data; cites articles by Li et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2008) and Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004), which compares AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures and 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.

Frontiers in Neurology
Lee DJ, Liebeskind DS. Characterization of inpatient moyamoya in the United States: 1988-2004. Front Neurol 2011; 2:43. [Uses 1988-2004 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

International Urology and Nephrology
Abdo A, Trinh QD, Sun M, et al. The effect of insurance status on outcomes after partial nephrectomy. Int Urol Nephrol 2011 Sep 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Alexandrescu R, Jen MH, Bottle A, et al. Logistic versus hierarchical modeling: an analysis of a Statewide Inpatient Sample. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Sep; 213(3):392-401. [Uses 2004 HCUP Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), citing Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM and AHRQ publication, Hierarchical Modeling using HCUP Data, HCUP Methods Series Report 2007-01, 2007, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites article by Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005), using 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).] Select to access the abstract.

Neurosurgery
Hoh BL, Nathoo S, Chi YY, et al. Incidence of seizures or epilepsy after clipping or coiling of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database: 2002-2007. Neurosurgery 2011 Sep; 69(3):644-50. [Uses 2002-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing the Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) landing page on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Neurology International
Mukherjee D, Carico C, Nuño M, et al. Predictors of inpatient complications and outcomes following surgical resection of hypothalamic hamartomas. Surg Neurol Int 2011; 2:105. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), citing the Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) landing page on AHRQ'S HCUP Web site.] Select to access the habstract.

Urology
Breyer BN, Sen S, Aaronson DS, et al. Use of Google Insights for search to track seasonal and geographic kidney stone incidence in the United States. Urology 2011 Aug; 78(2):267-71. [Uses 2006-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2006-2007, on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Current as of September 2011

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, September 16, 2011. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art091611.htm

 
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