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Articles of Interest

April 16, 2010

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

Archives of Internal Medicine
Fontaine P, Zink T, Boyle RG, et al. Health information exchange: participation by Minnesota primary care practices. Arch Intern Med 2010 Apr 12; 170(7):622-29. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2007-10010 TO 2; cites AHRQ publication, Evolution of State Health Information Exchange, 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

Bipolar Disorders
Cruz M, Pincus HA, Welsh DE, et al. The relationship between religious involvement and clinical status of patients with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2010 Feb; 12(1):68-76. [Supported in part by grant 5 U18 HS16097 (to the Mental Health Therapeutics Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) at Rutgers University.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Ho PM, Tsai TT, Wang TY, Shetterly SM, Clarke CL, Go AS, Sedrakyan A, et al. Adverse events after stopping clopidogrel in post-acute coronary syndrome patients: insights from a large integrated healthcare delivery system. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print. Seventh author is a researcher (as of time of publication) in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Metzger J, Welebob E, Bates DW, et al. Mixed results in the safety performance of computerized physician order entry. Health Aff 2010 Apr; 29(4):655-63. [Supported in part by contract 290-04-0016, subcontract 6275-FCG-01.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Carr BG, Addyson DK, Kahn JM. Variation in critical care beds per capita in the United States: implications for pandemic and disaster planning. JAMA 2010 Apr 14; 303(14):1371-2. [Supported in part by Career Development Award grant K08 HS17960 (to first author).]

Smolderen KG, Spertus JA, Nallamothu BK, Krumholtz HM, et al. Health care insurance, financial concerns in accessing care, and delays to hospital presentation in acute myocardial infarction. JAMA 2010 Apr 14; 303(14):1392-1400. [Supported in part by dissertation grant 1 R36 HS1828301 (to ninth author, Rathore SS).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
Clancy CM. Comparative effectiveness research: promising area of study for pharmacists. J Am Pharm Assoc 2010 Mar-Apr 1; 50(2):131-3. [Author is AHRQ director; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Conway and Clancy (researcher in AHRQ's Office of the Director) (N Engl J Med, 2009).]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Fischer MA, Stedman MR, Lii J, et al. Primary medication non-adherence: analysis of 195,930 electronic prescriptions. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Apr; 25(4):284-90. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS15175.] Select to access the abstract.

Nadel MR, Berkowitz Z, Klabunde CN, et al. Fecal occult blood testing beliefs and practices of U.S. primary care physicians: serious deviations from evidence-based recommendations. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Apr 10. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by interagency agreements Y3-PC-5019-01 and Y3-PC-5019-02.] Select to access the abstract.

Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
Clancy CM. AHRQ: initiating promising solutions and expanding proven ones. Patient Saf Qual Healthc 2010 Mar-Apr; 50(2):Online. [Author is AHRQ director; cites AHRQ public release Special Emphasis Notice (SEN): AHRQ Announces Interest in Research on Health Care Associated Infections, 2009, as published on National Institute of Health's Office of Extramural Research Web site; cites AHRQ publications, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2010, Ending Health Care-Associated Infections, 2009, and AHRQ's Efforts to Prevent and Reduce Health Care-Associated Infections Fact Sheet, 2009, all published on AHRQ Web site. See AHRQ-authored article by Lin and Sharangpani (Am Fam Physician, 2010), as cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles and AHRQ-funded articles by Emadi et al. (Am J Hematol, 2010) and Holden et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010), both cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Family Physician
Collins L, Seraj S. Diagnosis and treatment of venous ulcers. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):989-96. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Samson and Showalter (Dermatol Surg, 1996).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Murray RK, McElwee NE. Comparative effectiveness research: critically intertwined with health care reform and the future of biomedical innovation. Arch Intern Med 2010 Apr 12; 170(7):596-9. [Mentions the setting of CER priorities by AHRQ, the Federal Coordinating Council, and the Institute of Medicine (IOM); cites AHRQ-authored article by Dougherty and Conway (researchers in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations and Office of the Director, respectively) (JAMA, 2008); cites AHRQ publications, Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews: Grading the Strength of a Body of Evidence When Comparing Medical Interventions, 2009, and Methods Reference Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews: Principles in Developing and Applying Guidance, 2009, both published on AHRQ Web site.]

Health Affairs
Brailer DJ. Guiding the health information technology agenda. Health Aff 2010 Apr; 29(4):586-594. [Notes that the "national Health Information Technology Research Center" is currently being administered by AHRQ.]

Hospitals & Health Networks
Weinstock M. Team-based care. Hosp Health Netw 2010 Mar; 84(3):6 pages following 28 (unnumbered supplement). [Describes AHRQ's TeamSTEPPS program and its implementation in selected health care environments.]

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Higashi T, Nakayama T, Fukuhara S, et al. Opinions of Japanese rheumatology physicians regarding clinical practice guidelines. Int J Qual Health Care 2010 Apr; 22(2):78-85. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Farquhar, Kofa, and Slutsky (director of AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) (Med J Aust, 2002); cites AHRQ-funded article by Shekelle, Oritz, Rhodes, et al. (JAMA, 2001), using AHRQ-sponsored clinical practice guidelines.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Saunders KW, Dunn KM, Merrill JO, et al. Relationship of opioid use and dosage levels to fractures in older chronic pain patients. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Apr; 25(4):310-15. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Spector, Shaffer T, Potter E, Correa-de-Araujo R, and Limcangco RM (first, second, and fifth authors are current and former researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Romano, Roos, and Jollis (J Clin Epidemiol, 1993) and Kamal-Bahl et al. (Am Geriatr Pharmacother, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Lutfey KE, Eva KW, Gerstenberger E, et al. Physician cognitive processing as a source of diagnostic and treatment disparities in coronary heart disease: results of a factorial priming experiment. J Health Soc Behav 2010 Mar; 51(1):16-29. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Cohen and Krauss (current and former researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Health Aff, 2003); cites AHRQ-funded article by Bird et al. (Womens Health Issues, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Modern Healthcare
Robeznieks A. The 50 most powerful physician executives in healthcare, 2010. Mod Healthc 2010 Apr 12; 40(15):25-26, 28, 30 passim. [Carolyn Clancy, AHRQ director, is third on the list.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Niewoehner DE. Clinical practice. Outpatient management of severe COPD. N Engl J Med 2010 Apr 15; 362(15):1407-16. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008.]

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

American Family Physician
Acheson L. Family history and genetic testing for cancer risk. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):934-8. [Cites 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).]

CME Quiz. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):953-5. [Includes study questions based on USPSTF recommendation statement on screening for colorectal cancer and associated case study by Lin and Sharangpani, both cited below.]

U.S.Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for colorectal cancer: recommendation statement. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):1012-16. [Summarizes USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ evidence syntheses, Screening for Colorectal Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review, 2008, and Evaluating Test Strategies for Colorectal Cancer Screening - Age to Begin, Age to Stop, and Timing of Screening Intervals: a Decision Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Screening for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force from the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET), 2008; cites USPSTF-sponsored targeted, updated systematic review on screening for colorectal cancer by Whitlock et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008).]

Lin KW, Sharangpani R. Screening for colorectal cancer. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):1017-18. [First author is a medical officer in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; case study questions based on USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer cited above. ]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Whooley M, Unützer J. Interdisciplinary stepped care for depression after acute coronary syndrome. Arch Intern Med 2010 Apr 12; 170(7):585-6. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for depression in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Scott IA, Guyatt GH. Cautionary tales in the interpretation of clinical studies involving older persons. Arch Intern Med 2010 Apr 12; 170(7):587-95. [Cites article by Stange et al. (J Fam Pract, 1994), which uses USPSTF recommendations as adherence to study measures; cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (AHRQ director) (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Radiology
Thrall JH. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for screening mammography: evidence-based medicine or the death of science? J Am Coll Radiol 2010 Jan; 7(1):2-4. [Discusses USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer, 2009.]

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Bynum J, Song Y, Fisher E. Variation in prostate-specific antigen screening in men aged 80 and older in fee-for-service Medicare. J Am Geriatr Soc 2010 Apr; 58(4):674-80. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Whittle J, Zablocki CJ. How can rates of prostate-specific antigen screening be reduced in men aged 80 and older? J Am Geriatr Soc 2010 Apr; 58(4):757-9. [Comments on above article; cites USPSTF prostate cancer screening recommendations from Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996.]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Rose GL, MacLean CD, Skelly J, et al. Interactive voice response technology can deliver alcohol screening and brief intervention in primary care. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Apr; 25(4):340-4. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse and related USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary (both in Ann Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the National Medical Association
Drake BF, Shelton RC, Gilligan T, et al. A church-based intervention to promote informed decision making for prostate cancer screening among African American men. J Natl Med Assoc 2010 Mar; 102(3):164-71. [Uses the USPSTF definition of informed decision-making (citing Briss et al., Am J Prev Med, 2004) to formulate intervention objectives.] Select to access the abstract.

Davis SN, Diefenbach MA, Valdimarsdottir H, et al. Pros and cons of prostate cancer screening: associations with screening knowledge and attitudes among urban African American men. J Natl Med Assoc 2010 Mar; 102(3):174-82. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review update on benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008). Select to access the abstract.

Depression screening effective only with follow-up: USPSTF. J Natl Med Assoc 2010 Mar; 102(3):261-2. [Discusses and cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for depression in adults and associated evidence review (both in Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Family Physician
Feero WG. Examining the heart of family medicine: family history. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):961-2. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Wilson et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on family history in risk assessment for common diseases, funded by contract 290-00-0020.]

Wilkins T, Zimmerman D, Schade RR. Hepatitis B: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician 2010 Apr 15; 81(8):965-72. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Shamliyan et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on antiviral therapy for adults with chronic hepatitis B (performed by the Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Hematology
Emadi A, Crim MT, Brotman DJ, et al. Analytic validity of genetic tests to identify factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A. Am J Hematol 2010 Apr; 85(4):264-70. [Supported by contract 290-2007-10061-I (in partnership with CDC Working Group Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP), to John Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Outcomes of Genetic Testing in Adults with a History of Venous Thromboembolism, 2009 (as prepared by John Hopkin's University Evidence-based Practice Center under contract number 290-2007-10061-I).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Holden DJ, Jonas DE, Porterfield DS, et al. Systematic review: enhancing the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening. Ann Intern Med 2010 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by contract number 290-2007-10056-I (to the RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center); acknowledges support from AHRQ project officer Supriya Janakiraman (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence); first, second, third, fourth (Reuland) and fifth (Harris) authors all report previous AHRQ support; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Enhancing the Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2010 (prepared by RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center under contract 290-2007-10056-I); cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer and associated targeted, updated systematic review (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, Version 1.0, 2007 draft, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Owens et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) on guidance for grading strength of evidence for AHRQ's Effective Health Care program.] Select to access the abstract.

Steinwachs D, Allen JD, Barlow WE, et al. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement: enhancing use and quality of colorectal cancer screening. Ann Intern Med 2010 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print. Based on AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Enhancing Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2010, prepared by RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center; notes AHRQ participants Mary Barton (USPSTF scientific director in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships), conference speaker, and Planning Committee members Stephanie Chang, Alaina K. Fournier, Supriya Janakiraman, and Beth Collins Sharp (staff members with the EPC program in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence).]

Ethnicity and Disease
Ferré CD, Jones L, Norris JC, et al. The Healthy African American Families (HAAF) project: from community-based participatory research to community-partnered participatory research. Ethn Dis 2010 Winter; Vol. 20(1) Suppl 2:S2-1-S2-8. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Community-based Participatory Research: Assessing the Evidence, 2004, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Chung B, Jones L, Terry C, et al. Story of stone soup: a recipe to improve health disparities. Ethn Dis 2010 Winter; Vol. 20(1) Suppl 2:S2-9-S2-14. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Community-based Participatory Research: Assessing the Evidence, 2004, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Health Affairs
McCullough JS, Casey M, Moscovice I, et al. The effect of health information technology on quality in U.S. hospitals. Health Aff 2010 Apr; 29(4):647-54. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry, Fletcher, and Soumerai (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care (from the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Eisenberg DL, Stika C, Desai A, et al. Providing contraception for women taking potentially teratogenic medications: a survey of internal medicine physicians' knowledge, attitudes and barriers. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Apr; 25(4):291-7. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored systematic review by Chaudhry, Fletcher, and Soumerai (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care (from the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Goozner M. The proton beam debate: are facilities outstripping the evidence? J Natl Cancer Inst 2010 Apr 7; 102(7):450-3. [Discusses findings from AHRQ technical brief, Particle Beam Radiation Therapies for Cancer, 2009, from the Tufts Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center.]

Journal of the National Medical Association
Ross L, Ashford AD, Bleechington SJ, et al. Applicability of a video intervention to increase informed decision making for prostate-specific antigen testing. J Natl Med Assoc 2010 Mar; 102(3):228-36. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Literacy and Health Outcomes, 2004, prepared by RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Gastroenterology
Ananthakrishnan AN, McGinley EL, Binion DG, et al. A novel risk score to stratify severity of Crohn's disease hospitalizations. Am J Gastroenterol 2010 Mar 9. [Epub ahead of print. [Uses 2004 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, citing HCUP NIS Overview Web site page and AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report No. 2007-04, 2007, as published on HCUP Web site; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites several articles using HCUP NIS data abstract.

Anesthesia and Analgesia
Bateman BT, Berman MF, Riley LE, et al. The epidemiology of postpartum hemorrhage in a large, nationwide sample of deliveries. Anesth Analg 2010 May; 110(5):1368-73. [Uses 1995-2004 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Ethnicity and Disease
Shen JJ, Lin F, Jackson T. Risk of prenatal depression: differences by race. Ethn Dis 2010 Winter; 20(1):35-9. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
DesRoches CM, Campbell EG, Vogeli C, et al. Electronic health records' limited successes suggest more targeted uses. Health Aff 2010 Apr; 29(4):639-46. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-sponsored systematic review by Chaudhry, Fletcher, and Soumerai (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care (from the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center) and AHRQ-funded articles by Bates et al. (Am J Med, 1999) and Kaushal et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Hollingsworth JM, Ye Z, Strope SA, et al. Physician-ownership of ambulatory surgery centers linked to higher volume of surgeries. 2010 Apr; 29(4):683-9. [Uses 2003-2005 HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD), citing AHRQ publications, Introduction to the HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, 2009, as published on HCUP Web site and Ambulatory Surgery in U.S. Hospitals, 2003, HCUP Fact Book No. 9, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Thorpe KE, Ogden LL, Galactionova K. Chronic conditions account for rise in Medicare spending from 1987 to 2006. Health Aff 2010 Apr; 29(4):718-24. [Uses 1988 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) and 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing AHRQ publication, Design, Methods, and Field Results of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Medical Provider Component (MEPS MPC)—2006 Calendar Year Data, Methodology Report No. 23, 2008, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site, and AHRQ-authored article by Zuvekas and Cohen (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends (Inquiry, 2002), using 1996 MEPS and 1987 NMES data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Anand N, Chong CA, Chong RY, et al. Impact of diabetes on postoperative outcomes following colon cancer surgery. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publication, 2002 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, No. 2005-03, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Monthly Labor Review
Foster AC. Out-of-pocket health care expenditures: a comparison. Monthly Labor Rev 2010 Feb; 133(2):3-19. [Describes and uses 1996-2000 MEPS data obtained from AHRQ's MEPsnet/HC query tool on AHRQ's Web site.]

Stroke
Tong X, Kuklina EV, Gillespie C, et al. Medical complications among hospitalizations for ischemic stroke in the United States from 1998 to 2007. Stroke 2010 May; 41(5):980-6. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP Web site; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites article by Zhu and Hill (Neurology, 2008), using AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Endoscopy
Murphy MM, Witkowski ER, Ng SC, et al. Trends in adrenalectomy: a recent national review. Surg Endosc 2010 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing 2008 HCUP NIS Overview Web site page; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992) and Lawthers et al. (Med Care, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Current as of April 2010

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, April 16, 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art041610.htm