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Articles of Interest

January 4, 2008

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

Ambulatory Pediatrics
Garbutt J, Bloomberg G, Banister C, et al. What constitutes maintenance asthma care? The pediatrician's perspective. Ambul Pediatr 2007 Jul-Aug; 7(4):308-12. [Supported by grant R21 HS15378-02.]

American Journal of Surgery
Thompson JS, Gibbs JO, Reda DJ, et al. Does delaying repair of an asymptomatic hernia have a penalty? Am J Surg 2008 Jan; 195(1):89-93. [Supported by grant R01 HS09860.]

Health Affairs
Vistnes JP, Schone BS. Pathways to coverage: the changing roles of public and private sources. Health Aff 2008 Jan-Feb; 27(1):44-57. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)—Household Component (HC) data from 1997 and 2005.]

Banthin JS, Cunningham P, Bernard DM. Financial burden of health care, 2001-2004. Health Aff 2008 Jan-Feb; 27(1):188-95. [First and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses AHRQ's MEPS data from 2001 and 2004.]

Garbutt J, Waterman AD, Kapp JM, et al. Lost opportunities: how physicians communicate about medical errors. Health Aff 2008 Jan-Feb; 27(1):246-55. [Supported by grants 1 U18 HS11890 and 1 K08 HS0140201.]

Home Health Care Services Quarterly
Simino Boyce P, Feldman PH. ReACH National Demonstration Collaborative: early results of implementation. Home Health Serv Q 2007; 26(4):105-20. [Supported by grant 5 U18 HS013694-04.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Mullican CA, Clancy CM. Partnerships for Quality: results of the AHRQ Council of Partners co-action across projects. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):4-6. [Authors are researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships and the AHRQ director, respectively; describes focus of AHRQ-sponsored supplement.]

Savitz LA. Managing effective participatory research partnerships. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):7-15. [Supported by grant HS13706.]

Sharek PJ, Mullican C, Lavanderos A, Palmer C, et al. Best practice implementation: lessons learned from 20 partnerships. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):16-26. [First authors researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, and fourth author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.]

Donaldson N, Horn SD, Edwards JC, Hagan M., et al. Evaluating the impact of partnerships to improve clinical quality. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):27-36. [Hagan is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.]

Edwards JC, Feldman PH, Sangl J, et al. Sustainability of partnership projects: a conceptual framework and checklist. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):37-47. [Third author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.]

Boratgis G, Broderick S, Callahan M, Rabbu R, Robinson J, et al. Disseminating QI interventions. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):48-65. [Rabbu and Robinson are former and current staff members, respectively, in AHRQ's Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer.]

Lannon C, Dolins J, Lazorick S, et al. Partnerships for Quality Project: closing the gap in care of children with ADHD. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):66-74. [Supported by grant 5 U18 HS013721.]

Psychiatric Services
Wells KB, Schoenbaum M, Duan N, et al. Cost-effectiveness of quality improvement programs for patients with subthreshold depression or depressive disorder. Psychiatr Serv 2007 Oct; 58(10):1269-78. [Supported by grant R01 HS08349.]

Ray WA, Hall K, Meador KG. Racial differences in antidepressant treatment preceding suicide in a Medicaid population. Psychiatr Serv 2007 Oct; 58(10):1317-23. [Supported by grant HS10384.]

Psychiatry
Zatzick DF, Russo J, Rajotte E, et al. Strengthening the patient-provider relationship in the aftermath of physical trauma through an understanding of the nature and severity of posttraumatic concerns. Psychiatry 2007 Fall; 70(3):260-73. [Supported by grant 1 R03 HS11372.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Owens G, Jackson R, Lewiecki EM. An integrated approach: bisphosphonate management for the treatment of osteoporosis. Am J Manag Care 2007 Dec; 13 Suppl 11:S290-308. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Col et al. (JAMA, 1997).]

American Journal of Public Health
Steckler A, McLeroy KR. The importance of external validity. Am J Public Health 2008 Jan; 98(1):9-10. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (JAMA, 2003).]

Buchanan DR. Autonomy, paternalism, and justice: ethical priorities in public health. Am J Public Health 2008 Jan; 98(1):15-21. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Marmot et al. (Soc Sci Med, 1997) and AHRQ-authored article by Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (J Public Health Policy, 1990).]

Healthcare Financial Management
Lavizzo-Mourey R. Racial disparities in health care: quality should mean equality. Healthc Financ Manage 2008 Jan; 62(1):102-4. [Notes that author was deputy administrator of what is now the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality.]

JAMA
Woolf SH. The meaning of translational research and why it matters. JAMA 2008 Jan 9-16; 299(2):211-213. [Cites AHRQ Web site publications, Budget Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Fiscal Year (FY) 2008: Performance Budget Submission for Congressional Justification. Performance Budget Overview 2008, 2007; Translating Research into Practice II (TRIP II): Fact Sheet, 2000; Translating Research into Practice II (TRIP II) Information Conference Summary, 2000; PBRNs Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) Awards—Round One, 2006.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards: introduction. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12):707-8. [Describes awards established in the honor of former AHRQ director John Eisenberg.]

Shine KI. An interview with Eric Thomas. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12):717-719. [Discusses recipient's association with former AHRQ director John Eisenberg.]

Sussman E. AHRQ's alutes Mark Young, M.D. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):3. [Presents tribute to AHRQ grantee and chair of the AHRQ Partnerships for Quality program.]

Kaluzny AD. Managing research partnerships: a commentary. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Dec; 33(12 Suppl):75-6. [Comments on articles presented in AHRQ-funded supplement cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Journal of Nursing Scholarship
Edelman LS. Using geographic information systems in injury research. J Nurs Scholarsh 2007 Dec 22; 39(4):306-11. [Cites AHRQ publication, "Costs of Treating Trauma Disorders now Comparable To Medical Expenses for Heart Disease," AHRQ News and Numbers, 2006.]

Modern Healthcare
Rhea S. Most drug freebies go to well-off: study. Mod Healthc 2008 Jan 7; 38(1):12-3. [Reports findings from study using MEPS data.]

Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Culwell KR, Feinglass J. The association of health insurance with use of prescription contraceptives. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2007 Dec; 39(4):226-30. [Cites MEPS Insurance Component data for 2004, as accessed from AHRQ's MEPS Web site.]

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

Breastfeeding Review
Chambers JA, McInnes RJ, Hoddinott P, et al. A systematic review of measures assessing mothers' knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and satisfaction toward breastfeeding. Breastfeed Rev 2007 Nov; 15(3):17-25. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on the effectiveness of primary care-based interventions to promote breastfeeding (Guise et al., Ann Intern Med, 2003).]

JAMA
Jacobson PD. Transforming clinical practice guidelines into legislative mandates: proceed with abundant caution. JAMA 2008 Jan 9-16; 299(2):208-10. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Coronary Heart Disease, 2004, as accessed on AHRQ Web site, and cites AHRQ-authored article by Atkins, Siegel, and Slutsky (Health Aff, 2005).]

Lancet
Kinmonth A, Wareham NJ, Hardeman W, et al. Efficacy of a theory-based behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in an at-risk group in primary care (ProActive UK): a randomised trial. Lancet 2008 Jan 5; 371(9606):41-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on behavioral counseling in primary to promote physical activity (USPSTF, Ann Intern Med, 2002) and associated USPSTF-sponsored evidence review (Eden et al., Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine
Kohlstadt I. Diagnose nutrient deficiencies following bariatric surgery. Townsend Lett 2008 Jan 1; (294):110-2. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening and interventions for obesity in adults (McTigue et al., Ann Intern Med, 2003).]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Daiello LA. Current issues in dementia pharmacotherapy. Am J Manag Care 2007 Dec; 13 Suppl 8:S198-S202. [Cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness of Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics, prepared by Southern California/RAND Evidence-based Practice Center, 2007.]

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons
Senechal C, Larivee S, Richard E, et al. Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy in the treatment of cerebral palsy: a review and comparison to currently accepted therapies. J Am Physicians Surg 2007 Dec 22; 12(4):109-13. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, and Stroke, 2003.]

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

American Journal of Public Health
Brown DR, Hernandez A, Saint-Jean G, et al. A participatory action research pilot study of urban health disparities using rapid assessment response and evaluation. Am J Public Health 2008 Jan; 98(1):28-38. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2004; cites AHRQ publication, Community-Based Participatory Research: Assessing the Evidence, 2004.]

Frontiers of Health Services Management
Schroth L, Khawaja R. Globalization of healthcare. Front Health Serv Manage 2007 Winter; 24(2):19-30. [Mentions that the development of the [Health Care Quality Initiative] is parallel to that of the U.S. initiative, the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR), sponsored by [AHRQ.] and cites AHRQ-authored article by Kelley et al. (Int J Qual Health Care, 2006).]

Health Affairs
Nolte E, McKee CM. Measuring the health of nations: updating an earlier analysis. Health Aff 2008 Jan-Feb; 27(1):58-71. [First paragraph of prologue describes and quotes a brief excerpt from AHRQ's NHDR 2006.]

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Annals of Surgery
Sosa JA, Mehta PJ, Wang TS, et al. Racial disparities in clinical and economic outcomes from thyroidectomy. Ann Surg 2007 Dec; 246(6):1083-1091. [Uses 2003-2004 data from AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS); cites HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1999-2004, and HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files (CCR), 2003-2004.]

Disease Management
Ahern MM, Hendryx M. Avoidable hospitalizations for diabetes; comorbidity risks. Dis Manag 2007 Dec; 10(6):347-55. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 2004; cites AHRQ research abstract, "Better Communication and Coordination of Care Cold Reduce Frustration Experienced by Patients with Chronic Diseases," Research Activities, 2006; uses and cites ACSC scoring guidelines from AHRQ Quality Indicators, Prevention Quality Indicators, Technical Specifications Version 3.0b, 2006, as accessed on AHRQ Web site; uses and cites AHRQ comorbidity methodology (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).]

Health Affairs
Quinn K. New directions in Medicaid payment for hospital care. Health Aff 2008 Jan-Feb; 27(1):269-80. [Analyzes 2005 HCUP NIS, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site] data from AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).]

Journal of Neurosurgery
McClelland S 3rd, Curran CC, Davey CS, et al. Intractable pediatric temporal lobe epilepsy in the United States: examination of race, age, sex, and insurance status as factors predicting receipt of resective treatment. J Neurosurg 2007 Dec; 107(6 Suppl):469-73. [Uses 1997-2003 data from AHRQ's HCUP Kids Inpatient Database (KID).]

Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
van der Steen JT, Kruse RL, Mehr DR, et al. Dementia severity, decline, and improvement after a lower respiratory tract infection. J Nutr Health Aging 2007 Nov-Dec; 11(6):502-6. [Uses and cites data from the US lower respiratory tract infection study previously funded by AHRQ under grant HS08551.]

Current as of January 2008

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, January 4, 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art010408.htm