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Articles of Interest

November 5, 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

AARP Bulletin
Clancy CM. Quitting smoking—you can do it. AARP Bulletin 2010 Nov 3; Online. [Author is AHRQ director.]

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Roberts LL, Ward MM, Brokel JM, et al. Impact of health information technology on detection of potential adverse drug events at the ordering stage. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2010 Nov 1; 67(21):1838-46. [Supported in part by grant UC1 HS15196 (for the Rural Iowa Redesign of Care Delivery with EHR Functions); cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006; cites AHRQ-funded systematic reviews by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, and Kaushal et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2003) on effects of computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems on medication safety; cites AHRQ publication, Inpatient Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE): Findings from the AHRQ Health IT Portfolio, 2009.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Managed Care
Tjia J, Field TS, Garber LD, et al. Development and pilot testing of guidelines to monitor high-risk medications in the ambulatory setting. Am J Manag Care 2010 Jul; 16(7):489-96. [Supported by grants R18 HS17203, R18 HS17817, and R18 HS17906.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
Weir RC, Emerson HP, Tseng W, et al. Use of enabling services by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander patients at 4 community health centers. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2199-205. [Supported in part by grant HS13401; cites AHRQ-funded article by Ngo-Metzger et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Moeller JF, Chen H, Manski RJ. Investing in preventive dental care for the Medicare population: a preliminary analysis. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2262-9. [First and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; cites AHRQ publication, Dental Use, Expenses, Private Dental Coverage, and Changes, 1996 and 2004, MEPS Chartbook 17, 2007; cites AHRQ-authored article by Manski and Moeller (J Am Dent Assoc, 2002), Manski, Macek, and Moeller (J Am Dent Assoc, 2002), and Manski, Moeller, and Maas (J Am Dent Assoc, 2001), which use various Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Transplantation
Egorova NN, Gelijns AC, Moskowitz AJ, et al. Process of care events in transplantation: effects on the cost of hospitalization. Am J Transplant 2010 Oct; 10(10):2341-8. [Supported by grant U18 HS11905-03 (Reporting Systems and Learning: Best Practices); uses AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRGs) system data, citing AHRQ publication, All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRGs), Version 20.0, Methodology Overview, 2003, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses events obtained from a voluntary, web-based, medical event reporting system developed with an AHRQ grant; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan (current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Miller (JAMA, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and 2000 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Fusco DN, Downs JA, Satlin MJ, et al. Non-oral treatment with ivermectin for disseminated strongyloidiasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Oct; 83(4):879-83. [Supported in part by grant HS00066 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Anesthesia and Analgesia
Sun E, Dexter F, Macario A. Can an acute pain service be cost-effective? Anesth Analg 2010 Oct; 111(4):841-4. [Supported by training grant T32 HS00046 (through the UCLA/RAND program); uses 2008 HCUP NIS data.]

Anesthesiology
Glance LG, Wissler R, Mukamel DB, et al. Perioperative outcomes among patients with the modified metabolic syndrome who are undergoing noncardiac surgery. Anesthesiology 2010 Oct; 113(4):859-72. [Supported by grant R01 HS16737.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Winthrop KL, Furst DE. Rheumatoid arthritis and herpes zoster: risk and prevention in those treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy. Ann Rheum Dis 2010 Oct; 69(10):1735-7. [Supported by grant 1 K08 HS17552-01 (to first author).]

Archives of Neurology
Albright KC, Branas CC, Meyer BC, et al. ACCESS: acute cerebrovascular care in emergency stroke systems. Arch Neurol 2010 Oct; 67(10):1210-18. [Supported in part by career development award grant K08 HS17960 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Surgery
Nicholas LH, Osborne NH, Birkmeyer JD, et al. Hospital process compliance and surgical outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries. Arch Surg 2010 Oct; 145(10):999-1004. [Supported in part by career development award grant K08 HS17765 (to last author); also refer to commentary by Mabry (Arch Surg, 2010) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Cancer
White A, Vernon SW, Franzini L, et al. Racial disparities in colorectal cancer survival: to what extent are racial disparities explained by differences in treatment, tumor characteristics, or hospital characteristics? Cancer 2010 Oct 1; 116(19):4622-31. [Supported in part by R01 HS16743; cites AHRQ-funded article by Ball and Elixhauser (former AHRQ researcher and current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Outcomes, and Markets) (Med Care, 1996).] Select to access the abstract.

Chest
Seitz AE, Olivier KN, Steiner CA, et al. Trends and burden of bronchiectasis-associated hospitalizations in the United States, 1993-2006. Chest 2010 Oct; 138(4):944-9. [Third author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses 1993-2006 HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data for Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin, and AHRQ's Clinical Classification Software, citing Overview of the State Inpatient Databases (SID), Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, and Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Infectious Diseases
Lautenbach E, Metlay JP, Mao X, et al. The prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance mechanisms in colonizing Escherichia coli isolates recovered from hospitalized patients. Clin Infect Dis 2010 Aug 1; 51(3):280-5. [Supported in part by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) grant U18 HS10399.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Setoguchi S, Choudhry NK, Levin R, et al. Temporal trends in adherence to cardiovascular medications in elderly patients after hospitalization for heart failure. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2010 Oct; 88(4):548-54. [Supported in part by midcareer development award grant K02 HS17731.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Comer JS, Olfson M, Mojtabai R. National trends in child and adolescent psychotropic polypharmacy in office-based practice, 1996-2007. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2010 Oct; 49(10):1001-1010. [Supported in part by grant U18 HS16097.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Curtis JR, Arora T, Matthews RS, et al. Is withholding osteoporosis medication after fracture sometimes rational? A Comparison of the risk for second fracture versus death. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2010 Oct; 11(8):584-91. [Supported in part by grant U18 HS16956.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Asthma
Sills MR, Ginde AA, Clark S, et al. Multicenter study of chronic asthma severity among emergency department patients with acute asthma. J Asthma 2010 Oct; 47(8):920-8. [Supported in part by grant R03 HS16418.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Nakamura MM, McAdam AJ, Sandora TJ, et al. Higher prevalence of pharyngeal than nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage in pediatric intensive care units. J Clin Microbiol 2010 Aug; 48(8):2957-9. [Supported in part by grants T32 HS00063-13 (to first author) and K08 HS13908-01A1 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Trauma
Siminoff LA, Traino HM, Gordon N. Determinants of family consent to tissue donation. J Trauma 2010 Oct; 69(4):956-63. [Supported by grant R01 HS13152.] Select to access the abstract.

Prehospital Emergency Care
Patterson PD, Huang DT, Fairbanks RJ, et al. Variation in emergency medical services workplace safety culture. Prehosp Emerg Care 2010 Oct-Dec; 14(4):448-60. [Supported in part by Clinical Scientist Development Award grant K08 HS13628; cites Surveys on Patient Safety Culture, 2010, as published on AHRQ's Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Telemedicine Journal and E-Health
AbuDagga A, Resnick HE, Alwan M. Impact of blood pressure telemonitoring on hypertension outcomes: a literature review. Telemed J E Health 2010 Sep; 16(7):830-8. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2006-000241, task order 2 (to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Caselnova D 3rd, Donley K, Ehlers D, et al. Report of the ASHP Task Force on caring for patients served by specialty suppliers. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2010 Oct 1; 67(19):1650-8. [Includes recommendation in Appendix C—Executive Summary of Task Force Recommendations that ASHP "quantify through research... the impact of alternative distribution models on financial, safety, clinical, and humanistic patient outcomes" in cooperation with AHRQ and other organizations.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
King DK, Glasgow RE, Leeman-Castillo B. Reaiming RE-AIM: using the model to plan, implement, and evaluate the effects of environmental change approaches to enhancing population health. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2076-84. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Glasgow et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Odom Walker K, Ryan G, Ramey R, et al. Recruiting and retaining primary care physicians in urban underserved communities: the importance of having a mission to serve. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2168-75. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Basu and Clancy (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships and AHRQ director, respectively) (Health Serv Res, 2001); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ko et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2007 and Acad Med, 2005) and Komaromy et al. (N Engl J Med, 1996).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Kathol RG, Kathol MH. The need for biomedically and contextually sound care plans in complex patients. Ann Intern Med 2010 Nov 2; 153(9):619-20. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Zuvekas and Cohen (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends).]

Archives of Surgery
Haut ER. Are surgeons ready to embrace a paradigm shift in surgical comparative effectiveness research? Arch Surg 2010 Oct; 145(10):945-6. [Notes that first author receives support from AHRQ Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award grant 1 K08 HS17952-01, "Does Screening Variability Make DVT an Unreliable Quality Measure of Trauma Care?".]

Mabry CD. "Say it ain't so, Joe". Arch Surg 2010 Oct; 145(10):1004-5. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Nicholas et al. (Arch Surg, 2010), cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Canadian Medical Association Journal
Williams RJ, Tse T, Harlan WR, et al. Registration of observational studies: is it time? CMAJ 2010 Oct 19; 182(15):1638-42. [Cites AHRQ research report Developing a Registry of Patient Registries: Options for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2009, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program and prepared by the Outcome DEcIDE Center.]

Health Serves Research
Pittman P. Health services research in 2020: data and methods needs for the future. Health Serv Res 2010 Jul 28. [Epub ahead of print. Francis Chesley and Carolyn Clancy (researcher in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations and AHRQ director, respectively) are listed as Advisory Committee members.]

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Cardo D, Dennehy PH, Halverson P, et al. Moving toward elimination of healthcare-associated infections: a call to action. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31(11):1101-5. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).]

Crnich CJ. Estimating excess length of stay due to central line-associated bloodstream infection: separating the wheat from the chaff. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31(11):1115-57. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Samore et al. (Med Care, 2007), Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006), and Berenholtz et al. (Crit Care Med, 2004).]

Lee BY, Wiringa AE, Bailey RR, et al. The economic effect of screening orthopedic surgery patients preoperatively for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31(11):1130-8. [Cites AHRQ publication, HCUP Facts and Figures, 2006: Statistics on Hospital-based Care in the United States, 2008, and AHRQ-funded article by Laupacis et al. (CMAJ, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Frieden TR. Maximizing infection prevention in the next decade: defining the unacceptable. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31 Suppl 1:S1-S3. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Henderson DK, Palmore TN. Critical gaps in knowledge of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of healthcare-associated infections. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31 Suppl 1:S4-S6. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Dubberke ER. Prevention of healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection: what works? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31 Suppl 1:S38-S41. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Rice LB. Progress and challenges in implementing the research on ESKAPE pathogens. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31 Suppl 1:S7-S10. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Dykes PC, Carroll DL, Hurley A, et al. Fall prevention in acute care hospitals: a randomized trial. JAMA 2010 Nov 3; 304(17):1912-18. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Krauss et al. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2008 and 2007), Hitcho et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2004), Bates and Gawande (JAMA, 2003), and Bates et al. (Am J Med, 1995).] Select to access the abstract.

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Greenwald JL, Halasyamani L, Greene J, et al. Making inpatient medication reconciliation patient centered, clinically relevant and implementable: a consensus statement on key principles and necessary first steps. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Nov; 36(11):504-13. [Notes that "this white paper evolved from discussions at the March 2009 conference" supported by AHRQ under conference grant 1 R13 HS17520-01; cites AHRQ-funded article by Singh et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2009).]

Miller ED. Editorial: using checklists to help ensure accountability in care. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Nov; 36(11):518. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).]

Goeschel CA, Holzmueller CG, Berenholtz SM, et al. Executive/senior leader checklist to improve culture and reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Nov; 36(11):519-24. [Notes efforts by AHRQ and other organizations in "funding of efforts to spread the model used in Michigan to improve culture and reduce CLABSIs [central line-associated bloodstream infections] to every state in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico"; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (J Crit Care, 2008, N Engl J Med, 2006, J Patient Saf, 2005, and Jt Comm J Qual Saf, 2004) and Berenholtz et al. (Crit Care Med, 2004); cites AHRQ press release AHRQ Awards $3 Million to Help Reduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Hospital ICUs, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Medical Care
Manojlovich M. Nurse/physician communication through a sensemaking lens: shifting the paradigm to improve patient safety. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):941-6. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (J Crit Care, 2003) and Shortell et al. (Med Care, 1994).] Select to access the abstract.

Valluri S, Zito JM, Safer DJ, et al. Impact of the 2004 Food and Drug Administration pediatric suicidality warning on antidepressant and psychotherapy treatment for new-onset depression. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):947-54. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Olfson, Marcus, and Druss (Arch Gen Pediatr, 2008), Kurian et al. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2007), Rost et al. (Ment Health Serv Res, 2005), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

McCusker J, Roberge D, Lévesque JF, et al. Emergency department visits and primary care among adults with chronic conditions. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):972-80. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Lowe et al. (Med Care, 2005), Tsai et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2005), Lambrew et al. (Med Care, 1996), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Amarasingham R, Moore BJ, Tabak YP, et al. An automated model to identify heart failure patients at risk for 30-day readmission or death using electronic medical record data. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):981-8. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (JAMA, 2007) and AHRQ-funded article by Werner, Goldman, and Dudley (JAMA, 2008) and Seow et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Krebs EE, Bair MJ, Damush TM, et al. Comparative responsiveness of pain outcome measures among primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):1007-14. [Cites AHRQ-funded Wyrwich et al. (Med Care, 1999), Von Korff et al. (Spine, 1992, and Pain, 1992), and McHorney, Ware, and Raczek (Med Care, 1993).] Select to access the abstract.

Roberts RR, Scott RD 2nd, Hota B, et al. Costs attributable to healthcare-acquired infection in hospitalized adults and a comparison of economic methods. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):1026-35. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Knaus et al. (Chest, 1991).] Select to access the abstract.

MedSurg Nursing
Hill CR, Dickter L, Van Daalen EM. A matter of life and death: the implementation of a Mock Code Blue Program in acute care. Medsurg Nurs 2010 Sep/Oct; 19(5):300-4. [Cites PSNET glossary entry for "failure to rescue", as published on AHRQ's Patient Safety Network Web site.]

Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders
East C, Willis BL, Barlow CE, et al. Depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome in preventive healthcare: the Cooper Center longitudinal study. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2010 Oct; 8(5):451-7. [Last author reports previous AHRQ funding; cites article by Akbaraly et al. (Diabetes Care, 2009), which uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Quality Management in Health Care
Rangachari P, Rissing P, Wagner P, et al. A baseline study of communication networks related to evidence-based infection prevention practices in an intensive care unit. Qual Manag Health Care 2010 Oct-Dec; 19(4):330-45. [Cites AHRQ press release HHS Awards $17 Million in a New National Initiative to Fight Health Care-Associated Infections, 2009, and AHRQ Web site page Informed Decisions Toolbox: Finding and Using Management Research Evidence, 2008, both as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Shwartz M, Cramer IE, Holmes SK, et al. Survey-assessed quality and organizational factors related to quality in Pursuing Perfection hospitals. Qual Manag Health Care 2010 Oct-Dec; 19(4):349-63. [Notes that AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture is "the most widely used tool for assessing safety culture", citing AHRQ publication, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2009 Comparative Database Report, 2009; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Singer et al. (Med Care, 2008), Sexton et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2006), Pathman et al. (Med Care, 1996), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

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

Adultspan Journal
Pearson QM. Managing depression during the menopausal transition. Adultspan J 2010 Sep 22; 9(2):76-87. [Mentions that a 2003 article by Baldo et al. recommended AHRQ for information and treatment options and includes an AHRQ link to the USPSTF recommendation statement, Hormone Replacement Therapy for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Postmenopausal Women as published on the AHRQ Web site.]

American Family Physician
Van Franken M. Evaluation of microcytosis. Am Fam Physician 2010 Nov 1; 82(9):1117-22. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia, as published on USPSTF Web site.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Kumiko S, Hiroshi S, Noriaki O, et al. Screening for breast cancer. Ann Intern Med 2010 Nov 2; 153(9):618-619. [Comments on updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009, and as posted on USPSTF Web site) and associated evidence review by Nelson et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Nelson HD, Chan BK. Screening for breast cancer. Ann Intern Med 2010 Nov 2; 153(9):619. [Responds to comments in article by Kumiko et al. cited above; cites updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer and associated evidence review by Nelson et al. and related AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (all in Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Journal of Family Practice
Sur D, Milne H. Breast cancer prevention and Tx: an evidence-based guide. J Fam Pract 2010 Oct; 59(10):575-81a. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009, and related updated systematic evidence review, both as published on USPSTF Web site; cites response by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2009, which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009); cites USPSTF recommendations on chemoprevention of breast cancer (Am J Nurs, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Radiology
Evans WP, Lee CH, Monsees BS, et al. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: the unbalanced view. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):297. [Comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010), which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Berlin L, Hall FM. Response. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):297-8.[Responds to comments in article by Evans et al. cited above; comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010), which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Baines CJ. Wise words from Drs Berlin and Hall. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):298. [Comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010), which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Berlin L, Hall FM. Response. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):298. [Responds to comments in article by Baines cited above; comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010) which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Kopans DB. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines are not supported by the scientific evidence. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):294-5. [Comments on article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010) which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Berlin L, Hall FM. Response. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):295. [Responds to comments in article by Kopans cited above; comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010), which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2010).]

Patti J, Lee C. Evidence-based advocacy rather than emotion in defense of screening mammography. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):295-6 [Comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010), which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2010).]

Berlin L, Hall FM. Response. Radiology 2010 Oct; 257(1):296-7. [Responds to comments by Patti and Lee cited above; comments on editorial article by Berlin et al. (Radiology, 2010), which discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2010).]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Family Physician
Sontheimer DL. For hyperlipidemia, go where the evidence takes you: give a statin and nothing else. Am Fam Physician 2010 Nov 1; 82(9):1063-4. [Reviews findings from AHRQ-sponsored systematic review by
Sharma et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on the comparative effectiveness and harms of combination therapy and monotherapy for dyslipidemia (supported by contract 290-02-0021 to the University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center).]

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Saint S, Howell JD, Krein SL. Implementation science: how to jump-start infection prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 31 Suppl 1:S14-S17. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Krein et al. (Am J Infect Control, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Prevention
Mahoney S. Should you kick the multivitamin habit? Prevention 2010 Nov; 62(11):52-9. [Mentions findings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Prevention of Chronic Disease, 2006. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Roberts et al. (Am J Health Syst Pharm, 2010) and Dixon et al. (Stud Health Technol Inform, 2010) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and article by McDougle, Ukockis, and Adamschick (J Natl Med Assoc, 2010) cited in National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles.]

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

American Journal of Public Health
Johnson PJ, Call KT, Blewett LA. The importance of geographic data aggregation in assessing disparities in American Indian prenatal care. Am J Public Health 2010 Jan; 100(1):122-8. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Rubin MS, Colen CG, Link BG. Examination of inequalities in HIV/AIDS mortality in the United States from a fundamental cause perspective. Am J Public Health 2010 Jun; 100(6):1053-1059. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

Panapasa SV, Mau MK, Williams DR, et al. Mortality patterns of Native Hawaiians across their lifespan: 1990-2000. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2304-10. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Moy, Arispe, Homes, and Andrews (first and last authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety and AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively) (Med Care, 2005), which discusses AHRQ's NHDR.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the National Medical Association
McDougle L, Ukockis G, Adamshick L. Evaluation of a new cultural competency training program: CARE Columbus. J Natl Med Assoc 2010 Sep; 102(9):756-60. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2003; cites AHRQ-authored article by Brach and Fraser (researcher and director, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Outcomes, and Markets) (Med Care Res Rev, 2000); cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Beach et al. (Med Care, 2005) on cultural competence of health care provider educational interventions (conducted by the Johns Hopkins EPC).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Helmchen LA, Richards MR, McDonald TB. How does routine disclosure of medical error affect patients' propensity to sue and their assessment of provider quality? Evidence from survey data. Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):955-61. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Zhan, Kelley, Yang, Keyes, Battles, Borotkanics, and Stryer (first author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence, and second, fourth, and last authors are former AHRQ researchers and fifth and sixth authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) (Med Care, 2005), which discusses the challenges of reporting patient safety status in AHRQ's NHQR; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Levinson and Gallagher (CMAJ, 2007), Studdert et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006), Gallagher et al. (JAMA, 2003), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Social Work
McBeath B, Briggs HE, Aisenberg E. Examining the premises supporting the empirically supported intervention approach to social work practice. Soc Work 2010 Oct; 55(4):347-57. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2003.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Public Health
Stern MF, Greifinger RB, Mellow J. Patient safety: moving the bar in prison health care standards. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2103-10. [Uses AHRQ's Prevention Quality Indicators, Inpatient Quality Indicators, and Patient Safety Indicators to develop a compiled set of correctional health care safety measures, citing AHRQ publications, Guide to Prevention Quality Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, Guide to Inpatient Quality Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, and Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2003, all published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites CAHPS Health Plan Survey and Reporting Kit, 2008, as published on AHRQ's CAHPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Millett C, Chattopadhyay A, Bindman AB. Unhealthy competition: consequences of health plan choice in California Medicaid. Am J Public Health 2010 Nov; 100(11):2235-40. [Uses AHRQ criteria to define ambulatory-care sensitive (ACS) conditions, citing AHRQ Quality Indicators. Prevention Quality Indicators Overview, 2004, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Fraser, Chait, and Brach (first and last authors are director and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively) (Health Aff, 1998); cites article by Bindman et al. (Health Serv Res, 2005), which mentions AHRQ's Prevention Quality Indicators, 2004; cites AHRQ-funded article by Weissman, Gatsonis, and Epstein (JAMA, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Freeman JV, Zhu RP, Owens DK, et al. Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran compared with warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Ann Intern Med 2010 Nov 3. [Epub ahead of print. Uses HCUP data to estimate costs for ischemic strokes transient ischemic attack, intracranial hemmorrhage (ICH), and myocardial infarction, citing HCUPnet, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, 2009, on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site; uses cost estimates from AHRQ publication, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention of Stroke: Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) Final Report, Phase 1, 2000.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Surgery
Abrams TE, Vaughan-Sarrazin M, Rosenthal GE. Influence of psychiatric comorbidity on surgical mortality. Arch Surg 2010 Oct; 145(10):947-53. [Uses AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) as posted on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Fry, Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (Ann Surg, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Diabetic Medicine
Brunner EJ, Shipley MJ, Marmot MG, et al. Do the Joint British Society (JBS2) guidelines on prevention of cardiovascular disease with respect to plasma glucose improve risk stratification in the general population? Prospective cohort study. Diabet Med 2010 May; 27(5):550-5. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Heart
Nabi H, Shipley MJ, Vahtera J, et al. Effects of depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease and their interactive associations on mortality in middle-aged adults: the Whitehall II cohort study. Heart 2010 Oct; 96(20):1645-50. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Schilling L, Chase A, Kehrli S, et al. Kaiser Permanente's performance improvement system, part 1: from benchmarking to executing on strategies priorities. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Nov; 36(11):484-98. [Uses service ratings measures from CAHPS® and HCAHPS as part of a consolidated "Big Q" Data Dashboard to assess quality improvement trends, citing CAHPS®: Surveys and Tools to Advance Patient-Centered Care, as published on AHRQ's CAHPS® Web site, and HCAHPS: Hospital Care Quality Information from the Consumer Perspective as published on the HCAHPS Web site.]

Journal of CENTRUM Cathedra
Beuermann DW. The effect of health insurance on health care utilization: evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2000-2005. J Centrum Cathedra 2010 Mar; 3(1):18-31. [Uses 2000-2005 MEPS data.]

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Liu H, Cella D, Gershon R, et al. Representativeness of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Internet panel. J Clin Epidemiol 2010 Nov; 63(11):1169-78. [Uses 2003-2004 MEPS Household Component (MEPS-HC) data from AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Chen HF, Bazzoli GJ, Harless DW, et al. Is quality of cardiac hospital care a public or private good? Med Care 2010 Nov; 48(11):999-1006. [Uses 1995-2002 HCUP SID data for Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Kirby, Taliaffero, and Zuvekas (first and last authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends and second author is former researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships) (Med Care, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

[See also AHRQ-funded article by Egorova et al. (Am J Transplant, 2010) and Seitz et al. (Chest, 2010 cited above in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Current as of November 2010

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, November 5, 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art110510.htm