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Research Summaries for Consumers, Clinicians, and Policymakers

 

The Effective Health Care Program creates free research summaries about the benefits and risks of different treatments for different health conditions. The summaries are based on comparative effectiveness reviews that cover health topics suggested by the public. These research summaries are not clinical recommendations or guidelines and should not be interpreted as such.

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Research summaries for consumers, clinicians, and policymakers are available for the following health conditions:

 

 

 Breathing Conditions
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Treating Sleep Apnea: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Aug. 8, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC052-A
Comparative Effectiveness of Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults Aug. 8, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC052-3
Human Growth Hormone for Children With Cystic Fibrosis: A Review of the Research for Parents and Caregivers (En Español) Mar. 4, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC003-A
Use of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone for Pediatric Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Mar. 4, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC003-3
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation for Acute Respiratory Failure: Comparative Effectiveness Sept. 20, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC089-3
 Cancer
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Understanding Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Guide for Adults and Their Caregivers (En Español) Nov. 30, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10(11)-EHC014-A
Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Radiotherapy Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer Nov. 30, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10(11)-EHC014-3
Having a Breast Biopsy: A Guide for Women and Their Families (En Español) Apr. 14, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10-EHC007-A
Core-Needle Biopsy for Breast Abnormalities: Clinician's Guide Apr. 14, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10-EHC007-3
Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer With Medicine: A Guide for Women (En Español) Jan. 13, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 09(10)-EHC028-A
Medications To Reduce the Risk of Primary Breast Cancer in Women: Clinician's Guide Jan. 13, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 09(10)-EHC028-3
Treating Prostate Cancer: A Guide for Men With Localized Prostate Cancer (En Español) Jul. 24, 2008
AHRQ Pub. No. 08-EHC010-2A
Treatments for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Jul. 24, 2008
AHRQ Pub. No. 08-EHC010-3
Particle Beam Radiation Therapies for Cancer Sept. 14, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09-EHC019-2
 Developmental Delays, ADHD, Autism
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Treatment Options for ADHD in Children and Teens: A Review of Research for Parents and Caregivers (En Español) Jun. 26, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC003-A
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents Jun. 26, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC003-3
Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of the Research for Parents and Caregivers (En Español) Jun. 30, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC029-A
Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders Jun. 30, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC029-3
 Diabetes
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Methods for Delivering Insulin and Monitoring Blood Sugar: A Review of the Research for Children, Teens, and Adults With Diabetes (En Español) Sept. 4, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC036-A
Insulin Delivery and Glucose Monitoring Methods for Diabetes Mellitus: Comparative Effectiveness Sept. 4, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC036-3
Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Jun. 30, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC038-A
Comparing Medications for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Jun. 30, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC038-3
Premixed Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide for Adults (En Español) Mar. 25, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 08(09)-EHC017-A
Premixed Insulin Analogues: A Comparison With Other Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes Mar. 25, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 08(09)-EHC017-3
 Digestive System Conditions
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Treatment Options for GERD or Acid Reflux Disease: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Sept. 23, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC049-A
Managing Chronic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Sept. 23, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC-049-3
 Genitourinary Conditions
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Non-surgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence: A Review of the Research for Women (En Español) Apr. 9, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC074-A
Non-surgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: Diagnosis and Comparative Effectiveness Apr. 9, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC-074-3
 Gynecology
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Treating Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Review of the Research for Women (En Español) Apr. 16, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC088-A
Effectiveness of Treatments for Noncyclic Chronic Pelvic Pain in Adult Women Apr. 16, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC088-3
 Heart and Blood Vessel Conditions
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Preventing Blood Clots After Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery or Surgery for a Broken Hip: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Aug. 30, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC020-A
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery Aug. 30, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC020-3
Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Feb. 22, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC002-A
Effectiveness of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring in Adults With Hypertension Feb. 22, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC002-3
Choosing Medicines for High Blood Pressure: A Review of the Research on ACEIs, ARBs, and DRIs (En Español) Oct. 24, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC063-A
ACEIs, ARBs, or DRI for Adults With Hypertension Oct. 24, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)EHC063-3
“ACE Inhibitors” and “ARBs” To Protect Your Heart? (En Español) Jul. 9, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10-EHC002-A
Adding ACEIs and/or ARBs to Standard Therapy for Stable Ischemic Heart Disease: Benefits and Harms Jul. 9, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10-EHC002-3
Treating High Cholesterol: A Guide for Adults (En Español) Nov. 18, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09(10)-EHC024-A
Treating Cholesterol With Combination Therapy Nov. 18, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09(10)-EHC024-3
Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Guide for Adults (En Español) Nov. 16, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09(10)-EHC015-A
Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Clinician's Guide Nov. 16, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09(10)-EHC015-3
Renal Artery Stenosis Treatments (En Español) Jun. 26, 2007
AHRQ Pub. No. 07-EHC004-2A
Management of Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis Jun. 26, 2007
AHRQ Pub. No. 07-EHC004-3
Adjunctive Devices in PCI To Remove Thrombi or Protect Against Distal Embolization in Patients With ACS May 16, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC089-3
Noninvasive Technologies for Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease in Women: Comparative Effectiveness Oct. 11, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC034-3
Utilization and Clinical Data on In-Hospital Off-Label Uses of Recombinant Factor VIIa Oct. 29, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10(11)-EHC030-3
 Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Treating Chronic Hepatitis C: A Review of the Research for Adults Nov. 27, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12(13)-EHC113-A
Comparative Effectiveness of Treatments for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Adults Nov. 27, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC113-3
Treating and Preventing C-diff Infections: A Review of the Research for Adults and Their Caregivers (En Español) Dec. 19, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC051-A
Clostridium difficile Infections: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention Dec. 19, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC051-3
Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy Oct. 5, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC124-3
 Mental Health
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Antipsychotic Medicines for Children and Teens: A Review of the Research for Parents and Caregivers (En Español) Sept. 4, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC077-A
First- and Second-Generation Antipsychotics for Children: Comparative Effectiveness Sept. 4, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC077-3
Medicines for Treating Mental Health Conditions: A Review of the Research for Adults and Caregivers (En Español) Aug. 1, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC087-A
Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics: An Update Aug. 1, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC087-3
Medicines for Treating Depression: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Jul. 30, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC012-A
Second-Generation Antidepressants for Treating Adult Depression: An Update Jul. 30, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC012-3
Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Review of the Research (En Español) Mar. 19, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC056-A
Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Adults Mar. 19, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC056-3
Depression After Brain Injury: A Guide for Patients and Their Caregivers (En Español) Apr. 13, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. No. 11-EHC017-A
Depression After Traumatic Brain Injury Apr. 13, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. No. 11-ECH017-3
Depression Following a Traumatic Brain Injury Nov. 21, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC017-2
 Muscle, Bone, and Joint Conditions
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Medicines for Psoriatic Arthritis: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Nov. 20, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12(13)-EHC024-A
Drug Therapy for Psoriatic Arthritis in Adults: Comparative Effectiveness Nov. 20, 2012
Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Nov. 20, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12(13)-EHC025-A
Drug Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparative Effectiveness Nov. 20, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12(13)-EHC025-3
Reducing the Risk of Bone Fracture: A Review of the Research for Adults With Low Bone Density (En Español) May 16, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC023-A
Treatment To Prevent Osteoporotic Fractures: An Update May 16, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC023-3
Managing Osteoarthritis Pain With Medicines: A Review of the Research for Adults (En Español) Feb. 15, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 06(07)-EHC009-A
Analgesics for Osteoarthritis Feb. 15, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC076-3
Managing Pain From a Broken Hip: A Guide for Adults and Their Caregivers (En Español) May 17, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC022-A
Pain Management Interventions for Elderly Patients With Hip Fracture May 17, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC022-3
Treatment Options for Rotator Cuff Tears: A Guide for Adults (En Español) Oct. 29, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10(11)-EHC050-A
Comparative Effectiveness of Interventions for Rotator Cuff Tears in Adults Oct. 29, 2010
AHRQ Pub. No. 10(11)-EHC050-3
Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Guide for Adults (En Español) Apr. 8, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09-EHC001-A
Three Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Evidence Shows Lack of Benefit Apr. 8, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09-EHC001-3
Antinuclear Antibody, Rheumatoid Factor, and Cyclic-Citrullinated Peptide Tests for Evaluating Musculoskeletal Complaints in Children Jul. 5, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC015-3
 Nonclinical Topics
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Mitigating the Effects of Low Health Literacy: A Brief of the Research Evidence for Health Communicators & Educators Mar. 7, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-E006-6
Considering Low Health Literacy in the Development or Support of Patient & Consumer Information Mar. 7, 2011
 Pediatrics
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
DMARDs for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Review of the Research for Parents and Caregivers (En Español) Sept. 26, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC039-A
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Sept. 26, 2011
AHRQ Pub. No. 11-EHC039-3
 Pregnancy and Childbirth
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Progestogens To Prevent Preterm Birth: A Review of the Research About Progestogens for Women at Risk (En Español) Sept. 21, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC105-A
Progestogens for Prevention of Preterm Birth Sept. 21, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 12-EHC105-3
Thinking About Inducing Your Labor: A Guide for Pregnant Women (En Español) Dec. 14, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 10-EHC004-A
Elective Induction of Labor: Safety and Harms Nov. 30, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 10-EHC004-3
Gestational Diabetes: A Guide for Pregnant Women (En Español) Aug. 5, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09-EHC014-A
Gestational Diabetes: Caring for Women During and After Pregnancy Aug. 5, 2009
AHRQ Pub. No. 09-EHC014-3
 Renal Disease
Consumer Summaries Clinician Summaries Policymaker Summaries
Medicines for Early Stage Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review of the Research for Adults With Kidney Disease and Diabetes or High Blood Pressure (En Español) Oct. 11, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC075-A
Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 1–3 Oct. 11, 2012
AHRQ Pub. No. 11(12)-EHC075-3