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Articles of Interest

August 29, 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

American Journal of Managed Care
Fonkych K, O'Leary JF, Melnick GA, et al. Medicare HMO Impact on utilization at the end of life. Am J Manag Care 2008 Aug; 14(8):505-12. [Supported by grant R01 HS10256.] Select to access the abstract.

Arthritis & Rheumatism
Yelin E. Out-of-pocket payments in arthritis: spur to prudent purchasing or red herring? Arthritis Rheum 2008 Aug; 58(8):2225-7. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS13893.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Piccini JP, Hernandez AF, Dai D, et al. Use of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Circulation 2008 Aug 26; 118(9):926-33. [Supported by grant 1 U18 HS16964.] Select to access the abstract.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Yost KJ, Hahn EA, Zaslavsky AM, et al. Predictors of health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2008 Aug 25; 6:66. [Supported by grant R01 HS09869.] Select to access the abstract.

Inquiry
Monheit AC, Vistnes JP. Health insurance enrollment decisions: preferences for coverage, worker sorting, and insurance take-up. Inquiry 2008 Summer; 45(2):153-67. [Second author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, and first author is former director of same center; uses 2001 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Bundorf MK, Choudhry K, Laurence B. Health plan performance measurement: does it affect quality of care for Medicare enrollees? Inquiry 2008 Summer; 45(2):168-83. [Supported by grant K02 HS11668.] Select to access the abstract.

Huskamp HA, Newhouse JP, Norcini JC, et al. Variation in patients' hospice costs. Inquiry 2008 Summer; 45(2):232-44. [Supported by grant P01 HS10803.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Strate LL, Liu YL, Syngal S, et al. Nut, corn, and popcorn consumption and the incidence of diverticular disease. JAMA 2008 Aug 27; 300(8):907-14. [Supported by grant K08 HS14062.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Lim KG, Patel AM, Naessens JM, et al. Flunking asthma? When HEDIS takes the ACT. Am J Manag Care 2008 Aug; 14(8):487-94. [Acknowledges that "the preferred methodological tack in this instance would have been to utilize satisfaction questions that underwent the rigorous piloting and psychometric testing associated with other instruments such as the surveys developed by the [AHRQ] Select to access the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) program;" cites AHRQ publication Asthma Care Quality Improvement: A Resource Guide for State Action, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Roman H, Marpeau L, Hubey TC. Surgeons' experience and interaction effect in randomized controlled trials regarding new surgical procedures. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008 Aug; (199(2):108.e1-108.e6. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Farquhar and Steiner (Obstet Gynecol, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology
Obenchain RL. ICE preference maps: nonlinear generalizations of net benefit and acceptability. Health Serv Outcomes Res Method 2008; 8(1):31-56. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Chaudhary and Stearns (Stat Med, 1996).]

Inquiry
Camillus JA, Rosenthal MB. Health care coalitions: from joint purchasing to local health reform. Inquiry 2008 Summer; 45(2):142-52. [Notes HHS' invitation to local health coalitions to become "Chartered Value Exchanges" through a learning network sponsored by {AHRQ] Select to access the and cites applicable HHS Web site document; cites AHRQ-authored article on same subject by Fraser, McNamara, et al. (Health Aff, 1999).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Chernew M, Gibson TB, Yu_Isenberg K, et al. Effects of increased patient cost sharing on socioeconomic disparities in health care. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1131-6. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Huskamp et al. (N Engl J Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Koplan KE, Regan S, Goldszer RC, et al. A computerized aid to support smoking cessation treatment for hospital patients. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1214-7. [Cites AHRQ guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.] Select to access the abstract.

Balaban RB, Weissman JS, Samuel PA, et al. Redefining and redesigning hospital discharge to enhance patient care: a randomized controlled study. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1228-33. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Naylor et al. (J Healthc Qual, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Hicks LS, Tovar DA, Orav EJ, et al. Experiences with hospital care: perspectives of black and Hispanic patients. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1234-40. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Moy and Bartman (JAMA, 1995) and Dayton et al. (Am J Med Qual, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Wilt TJ. SPCG-4: a needed START to PIVOTal data to promote and protect evidence-based prostate cancer care. J Natl Cancer NCI 2008 Aug 20;100(16):1123-25. [Cites HCUP data on prostate cancer costs and procedure volume, on AHRQ Web site.]

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

American Journal of Managed Care
Taylor JK, Schoenbaum M, Katon WJ, et al. Strategies for identifying and channeling patients for depression care management. Am J Manag Care 2008 Aug; 14(8):497-504. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for depression in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Clinics in Geriatrics Medicine
Ducharme N, Radhamma R. Hyperlipidemia in the elderly. Clin Geriatr Med 2008 Aug; 24(3):471-87. [Lists USPSTF recommendations on colorectal cancer screening.]

Ethnicity & Disease
Halm J, Amoako E. Physical activity recommendation for hypertension management: does healthcare provider advice make a difference? Am J Manag Care 2008 Aug; 14(8):278-82. [Cites Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2006, and USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on counseling by clinicians to improve physical activity (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites measure for patient visits with blood pressure recorded on AHRQ's National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Chen X, White MC, Peipins LA, et al. Increase in screening for colorectal cancer in older Americans: results from a national survey. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Aug; 56(8):1511-16. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and USPSTF-sponsored review on the cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine

Goetz MB, Hoang T, Bowman C, et al. A system-wide intervention to improve HIV testing in the Veterans Health Administration. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1200-7. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for HIV (Ann Intern Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Comtois KA, Schiff MA, Grossman DC. Psychiatric risk factors associated with postpartum suicide attempt in Washington State, 1992-2001. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008 Aug; (199(2):120.e1-120.e5. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Villers MS, Jamison MG, De Castro LM, et al. Morbidity associated with sickle cell disease in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008 Aug; (199(2):125.e1-125.e5. [Uses 2000-2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Clowse ME, Jamison M, Myers E, et al. A national study of the complications of lupus in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008 Aug; (199(2):127.e1-127.e6. [Uses 2000-2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services & Outcomes Research Methodology
Prentice JC, Pizer SD. Waiting times and hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions. Health Serv Outcomes Res Method 2008; 8(1):1-18. [Uses AHRQ methodology for determining which hospitalizations were potentially preventable in AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Prevention Quality Indicators: Hospital Admission for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, 2001; cites AHRQ-funded article by Deyo et al. J Clin Epidemiol, 1992) and AHRQ-authored article by Mukamel and Spector (Med Care, 2000).]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Laagu T, Weiner MG, Hollenbeak CS. The impact of concordant and discordant conditions on the quality of care for hyperlipidemia. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1208-13. [Uses an adapted version of AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity index (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) to calculate discordant comorbidity burden.] Select to access the abstract.

Jerant AF, Areilanes RE, Franks P. Factors associated with Hispanic/non-Hispanic white colorectal cancer screening disparities. J Gen Intern Med 2008 Aug; 23(8):1241-5. [Uses 1999-2005 MEPS data; cites USPSTF recommendations and evidence review on screening for colorectal cancer in adults at average risk (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ-authored article by Franks, Clancy, and Gold (JAMA, 1993).] Select to access the abstract.

Current as of August 2008

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, August 29, 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art082908.htm