Articles of Interest

November 28, 2003

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These articles appeared in recently released journals and newsletters. They include articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers; articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ; articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers; articles mentioning the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force/Put Prevention into Practice; articles mentioning the Presidents Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry and Agency-supported activities relating to the Quality Interagency Task Force; and other research using AHRQ data.

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AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

Academic Emergency Medicine
Weinick RM. Researching disparities: strategies for primary data collection. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1161-68. [Author is researcher in AHRQ's Office of Performance Accountability, Resources and Technology;supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS014030-01.]

Richards CF, Lowe RA. Researching racial and ethnic disparities in emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1169-75. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS014030-01.]

Cone DC, Richardson LD, Todd KH, et al. Health care disparities in emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1176-83. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS014030-01.]

Richardson LD, Irvin CB, Tamayo-Sarver JH. Racial and ethnic disparities in the clinical practice of emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1184-88. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS014030-01.]

Hamilton G, Marco CA. Emergency medicine education and health care disparities. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1189-1192. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS014030-01.]

O'Connor RE, Haley L. Disparities in emergency department health care: systems and administration. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1193-98. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS014030-01.]

Pezzin LE, Fleishman JA. Is outpatient care associated with lower use of inpatient and emergency care? An analysis of persons with HIV disease. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Nov; 10(11):1228-38. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.]

American Heart Journal
Allen LaPointe NM, Chen A, Hammill B, et al. Evaluation of the dofetilide risk-management program. Am Heart J 2003 Nov; 146(5):894-901. [Supported by Grant No. U18 HS10548.]

American Journal of Infection Control
Saint S, Higgins LA, Nallamothu BK, et al. Do physicians examine patients in contact isolation less frequently? A brief report. Am J Infect Control 2002 Oct; 31(6):354-56. [Supported by Grant No. P20 HS11540.]

American Journal of Managed Care
Pearson SA, Ross-Degnan D, Payson A, et al. Changing medication use in managed care: a critical review of the available evidence. Am J Manag Care 2003 Nov; 9(11):715-31. [Supported by Grant No. 1 U18 HS/CA 1039-01.]

Saint S, Hofer TP, Rose JS, et al. Use of critical pathways to improve efficiency: a cautionary tale. Am J Manag Care 2003 Nov; 9(11):758-65. [Supported by Grant No. P20 HS11540.]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Weingart SN, Toth M, Sands DZ, et al. Physicians' decisions to override computerized drug alerts in primary care. Arch Intern Med 2003 Nov 24; 163(21):2625-31. [Supported by Grant No. 1 K08 HS11644-01.]

Clinical Chemistry
Brown MD, Lau J, Nelson RD, et al. Turbidimetric D-dimer test in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a metaanalysis. Clin Chem 2003 Nov; 49(11):1846-53. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS13328.]

Diabetes Care
Kuo YF, Raji MA, Markides KS, et al. Inconsistent use of diabetes medications, diabetes complications, and mortality in older Mexican Americans over a 7-year period. Diabetes Care 2003 Nov; 26(11):3054-60. [Supported by Grant No. H11618.]

JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association
Birkmeyer JD, Siewers AE, Marth NJ, et al. Regionalization of high-risk surgery and implications for patient travel times. JAMA 2003 Nov 26; 290(20):2703-8. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS1014-01.]

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Singh-Manoux A, Richards M, Marmot M. Leisure activities and cognitive function in middle age: evidence from the Whitehall II study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2003 Nov; 57(1):907-13. [Supported by Grant No. HS06516.]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Aaron KF, Levine D, Burstin HR. African American church participation an health care practices. J Gen Intern Med 2003 Nov; 18(11):908-13. [First author is researcher in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations; third author is director of AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships.]

Lewis JH, Andersen RM, Gelberg L. Health care for homeless women: unmet needs and barriers to care. J Gen Intern Med 2003 Nov; 18(11):921-28. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS08323.]

Braithwaite RS, Chiebowski RT, Lau J, et al. Meta-analysis of vascular and neoplastic events associated with tamoxifen. J Gen Intern Med 2003 Nov; 18(11):937-47. [Supported by Grant No. R25 HS09796.]

Journal of Health Economics
Dranove D, Lindrooth R. Hospital consolidation and costs: another look at the evidence. J Health Econ 2003 Nov; 22(6):983-97. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS10730-01.]

Bhattacharya J, Goldman D, Sood N. The link between public and private insurance and HIV-related morality. J Health Econ 2003 Nov; 22(6):1105-22. [Supported by Grant No. 5 R01 HS10846.]

Journal of Pediatrics
Horn SD, Smout RJ. Effect of prematurity on respiratory syncytial virus hospital resource use and outcomes. J Pediatr 2003 Nov; 143(5 Suppl):S133-41. [Supported by Contract No. 290-95-0042.]

Willson DF, Landrigan CP, Horn SD, et al. Complications in infants hospitalized for bronchiolotis or respiratory synctial virus pneumonia. J Pediatr 2003 Nov; 143(5 Suppl):S142-49. [Supported by Contract No. 290-95-0042.]

Medical Care
Stewart AL, Napoles-Spring AM. Advancing health disparities research: can we afford to ignore measurement issues? Med Care 2003 Nov; 41(11):1207-20. [Supported by Grant No. R13 HS11293.]

Mikuls TR, Mudano AS, Pulley L, et al. The association of race/ethnicity with the receipt of traditional and alternative arthritis-specific health care. Med Care 2003 Nov; 41(11):1233-39. [Supported by Grant No. U18 HS10389.]

Epstein AM, Weissman JS, Schneider EC, et al. Race and gender disparities in rates of cardiac revascularization: do they reflect appropriate use of procedures or problems in quality of care? Med Care 2003 Nov; 41(11):1240-55. [Supported by Grant No. 5 RO HS07098-02S1.]

Meenan RT, Goodman JM, Fishman P, et al. Using risk-adjustment models to identify high-cost risks. Med Care 2003 Nov; 41(11):1301-12. [Supported by AHRQ grant; no number given, possibly R03 HS10688.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Birkmeyer JD, Stukel TA, Siewers AE, et al. Surgeon volume and operative mortality in the United States. N Engl J Med 2003 Nov 27; 349(22):2117-27. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS10141-01.]

Obstetrics Gynecology
Haggerty CL, Schulz R, Ness RB. Lower quality of life among women with chronic pelvic pain after pelvic inflammatory disease. Obstet Gynecol 2003 Nov; 102(5 Pt 1):934-39. [Supported by Grant No. HS08358-05.]

Pharmacotherapy
Allen LaPointe NM, Pamer CA, Kramer JM. New antiarrhythmic agents for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: United States drug market response as an indicator of acceptance. Pharmacotherapy 2003 Oct; 23(10):1316-21. [Supported by Grant No. U18 HS10548.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Wilson JF. The crucial link between literacy and health. Ann Intern Med 2003 Nov 18; 139(10):875-78. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Schillinger et al, JAMA, 2002, and Arch Intern Med, 2003.]

Blue Sheet
AHRQ cost-effectiveness research doubled in FY 2004 pending appropriations. Blue Sheet 2003 Nov 24; 46(47):21-22. [Includes remarks from interviews with AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy and AHRQ National Advisory Council members; summarizes history of AHRQ and its involvement in cost-effectiveness research.]

BNA's Health Care Policy Report
Computerized health care system can reduce medical mistakes, IOM says. BNA's Health Care Policy Rep 2003 Nov 24; 11(46):1487. [Reviews report sponsored by AHRQ and includes remarks by AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy.]

Health Grants and Contracts Weekly
Transforming health quality via information technology (AHRQ). Health Grants Contracts Weekly 2003 Nov 25; 26(44):4. [Summarizes AHRQ grant announcement.]

Health News Daily
Blanchard T. Medicare Rx bill includes cost-effectiveness research; $50 million for AHRQ in 2004. Health News Daily 2003 Nov 21; 15(226):1-2. [Reviews provision in bill directing AHRQ to "conduct and support research to meet the priorities and requests for scientific evidence and information... with respect to... the outcomes, comparative clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care items and services.]

Hospitals Health Networks
Injuries in hospitals pose significant threat to patients and the bottom line. Hosp Health Netw 2003 Nov; 77(11):86-87. Reviews findings from AHRQ-authored study by Zhan and Miller in JAMA, 2003; cites remarks by AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy.]

Journal of Family Practice
Ehman MG, Haas JS. Can I find a doctor? Availability of primary care physicians in the San Francisco Bay area. J Fam Pract 2003 Nov; 52(11):876-82. [Cites AHRQ report Access to Health Care—Sources and Barriers, MEPS Research Findings No. 3, 1997.]

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Hyman I, Cameron JI, Singh PM, et al. Physicians and Pap testing in the Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Toronto. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2003 Nov; 14(4):489-502. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Franks and Clancy (AHRQ director), Med Care, 1993.]

Bradley CJ, Given CW, Roberts C. Correlates of late stage breast cancer and death in a Medicaid-insured population. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2003 Nov; 14(4):503-15. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Mandelblatt et al, Cancer, 2000, and Deyo et al, J Clin Epidemiol, 1993.]

Journal of Health Economics
Cao Z, McGuire TG. Service-level selection by HMO in Medicare. J Health Econ 2003 Nov; 22(6):915-31. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Hellinger, Inquiry, 1995.]

Medical Care
Heisler M, Smith DM, Hayward RA, et al. Racial disparities in diabetes care processes, outcomes, and treatment intensity. Med Care 2003 Nov; 41(11):1221-32. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Aaron and Clancy, JAMA, 2003, and Clancy and Stryer, Health Serv Res, 2001; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ayanian et al, NEJM, 1999, and JAMA, 1993, and Epstein and Ayanian, NEJM, 2001.]

National Academies News
Reducing medical errors requires national computerized information systems; data standards are crucial to improving patient safety. National Academies News 2003 Nov 20. Available at http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309090776?OpenDocument. [Reviews AHRQ-sponsored IOM report Patient Safety: Achieving a New Standard for Care, 2003.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Kizer KW. The volume-outcome conundrum. N Engl J Med 2003 Nov 27; 349(22):2159-61. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Queenan JT. Smoking: the cloudy, smelly plague. Obstet Gynecol 2003 Nov; 102(5 Pt 1):893-94. [Cites PHS guideline Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]

Burgio KL, Goode PS, Locher JL, et al. Predictors of outcome in the behavioral treatment of urinary incontinence in women. Obstet Gynecol 2003 Nov; 102(5 Pt 1):940-47. [Cites AHRQ guideline Urinary Incontinence in Adults: Acute and Chronic Management, 1996.]

Pink Sheet
Cost-effectiveness makes Medicare bill; research agenda due in 6 months. Pink Sheet 2003 Nov 24; 65(47):7. [Reviews provision in bill directing AHRQ to "conduct and support research to meet the priorities and requests for scientific evidence and information... with respect to...the outcomes, comparative clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care items and services.]

Quality Letter
Examining international perspectives on quality care. Qual Lett 2003 Nov; 15(11):2-10. [Cites AHRQ co-sponsorship of the fifth International Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Service: Global Evidence for Local Decisions.]

HHS, VA develop new patient safety training program. Qual Lett 2003 Nov; 15(11):13-14. [Describes creation of Patient Safety Corps by AHRQ and the Department of Veterans Affairs.]

New AHRQ booklet puts 'prevention into practice.' Qual Lett 2003 Nov; 15(11):16. [Summarizes AHRQ booklet The Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults, 2003.]

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

American Journal of Managed Care
Goins KV, Zapka JG, Geiger AM, et al. Implementation of systems strategies for breast and cervical cancer screening services in health maintenance organizations. Am J Manag Care 2003 Nov; 9(11):745-55. [Cites Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996, and Screening for Breast Cancer: Recommendations and Rationale, 2002, on AHRQ Web site.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Mandelblatt J, Saha S, Teutsch S, et al. The cost-effectiveness of screening mammography beyond age 65 years: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2003 Nov 18; 139(10):835-42. [Supported by Contract No. 290-97-0018 and 290-97-0011.]

The cost-effectiveness of mammography in women older than 65 years of age. Ann Intern Med 2003 Nov 18; 139(10):1-34. [Summarizes recommendations in article by Mandelblatt et al. cited above.]

British Medical Journal
Arroll B, Khin N, Kerse N. Screening for depression in primary care with two verbally asked questions: cross sectional study. BMJ 2003 Nov 15; 327(7424):1144-46. [Cites Task Force recommendations for depression screening in article by Pignone et al, Ann Intern Med, 2002, and on AHRQ Web site.]

Evidence-Based Mental Health
Insufficient evidence on benefits of early detection and treatment of dementia. Evidence-based Ment Health 2003 Nov; 6(4):108. [Gives abstract of and commentary on USPSTF recommendations on screening for dementia in primary care in article by Boustani et al, Ann Intern Med, 2003.]

Medical Care
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: validity of a two-item depression screener. Med Care 2003 Nov; 41(11):1284-92. [Cites USPSTF depression screening recommendations given in Ann Intern Med, 2002.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Allen KR, Hazelett SE, Palmer RR, et al. Developing a stroke unit using the Acute Care for Elders intervention and model of care. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003 Nov; 51(11):1660-67. [Cites AHRQ evidence report Diagnosis and Treatment of Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) in Acute-care Stroke Patients, 1999.]

President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry/Quality Inter-agency Coordination (QuIC) Task Force-Related Articles

Hospitals Health Networks
Scalise D. Watch yourself: poster campaign gives patients five steps to follow for safer care. Hosp Health Netw 2003 Nov; 77(11):32, 35. [Describes AHRQ's "Five Steps to Safer Health Care" poster campaign developed in collaboration with the QuIC Task Force.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

AACN Clinical Issues
Arnold MC. Pressure ulcer prevention and management: the current evidence for care. AACN Clin Issues 2003 Nov; 14(4):411-28. [Uses and updates recommendations given in AHRQ guidelines Treatment of Pressure Ulcers, 1995, and Preventing Pressure Ulcers: A Patient's Guide, 1992.]

Current as of November 2003