Articles of Interest

September 30, 2005


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; articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers; articles mentioning the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force/Put Prevention into Practice; articles mentioning the Presidents Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry and Agency-supported activities relating to the Quality Interagency Task Force; and other research using AHRQ data.


Ambulatory Pediatrics
Miller MR, Gergen P, Honour M, Zhan C. Burden of illness for children and where we stand in measuring the quality of this health care. Ambul Pediatr 2005 Sep-Oct; 5(5):268-78. [Supported by intramural research funding; first and second authors are former AHRQ researchers; fourth author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety; uses data from the 1999 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and 2000 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) and State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD); uses quality measures identified from a search of AHRQ's National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™.]

American Journal of Managed Care
Curtis JR, Olivieri J, Allison JJ, et al. A group randomized trial to improve safe use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Am J Manag Care 2005 Sep; 11(9):537-43. [Supported by Grant No. HS10389.]

Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
Levine LJ, Schwarz DF, Argon J, et al. Discharge disposition of adolescents admitted to medical hospitals after attempting suicide. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005 Sep; 159(9):860-6. [Supported by Grant No. K08 HS00002; uses data from the 1997 and 2000 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID).]

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism:Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science
Edwards JC, Stapley J, Akins R, et al. Lessons learned from a regional strategy for resource allocation. Biosecur Bioterror 2005; 3(2):113-8. [Supported by Grant No. 1 U18 HS13715.]

Diabetes Care
Egede LE, Nietert PJ, Zheng D. Depression and all-cause and coronary heart disease mortality among adults with and without diabetes. Diabet Care 2005 Jun; 28(6):1339-45. [Supported by Grant No. 5 K08 HS11418.]

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Swanson RL, Newberg AB, Acton PD, et al. Differences in [99mTc]TRODAT-1 SPECT binding to dopamine transporters in patients with multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2005 Mar; 32(3):302-7. [Supported by Grant No. K08 HS00004.]

Health Affairs
Mitchell JB, Haber SG, Hoover S. Premium subsidy programs: who enrolls, and how do they fare? Health Aff 2005 Sep-Oct; 24(5):1344-55. [Supported by Grant No. HS10463.]

JAMA
Fletcher KE, Underwood W, Davis SQ, et al. Effects of work hour reduction on residents' lives: a systematic review. JAMA 2005 Sep 7; 294(9):1088-100. [Supported by Grant No. P20 HS11540.]

Lanfear DE, Jones PG, Marsh S, et al. B2-adrenergic receptor genotype and survival among patients receiving B-blocker therapy after an acute coronary syndrome. JAMA 2005 Sep 28; 294(12):1526-33. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS11282-01.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Elixhauser A, Pancholi M, Clancy CM. Using the AHRQ Quality Indicators to improve health care quality. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2005 Sep; 31(9):533-8. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets and Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, and AHRQ director, respectively.]

Journal of Infectious Diseases
Simonsen L, Viboud C, Elixhauser A, et al. More on RotaShield and intussesception: the role of age at the time of vaccination. J Infect Dis 2005 Sep 1; 129 Suppl 1:S36-43. [Third author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses HCUP data.]

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Hughes RG, Clancy CM. Working conditions that support patient safety. J Nurs Care Qual 2005 Oct-Dec; 20(4):289-92. [Authors are researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, and AHRQ director, respectively.]

Scott-Cawiezell J, Jones K, Moore L, et al. Nursing home culture: a critical component in sustained improvement. J Nurs Care Qual 2005 Oct-Dec; 20(4):341-8. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R01 HS12028-01.]

Obesity Research
Logue E, Sutton K, Jarjoura D, et al. Transtheoretical model-chronic disease care for obesity in primary care: a randomized trial. Obes Res 2005 May; 13(5):917-27. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R01 HS08803-01A2 to 5 R01 HS08803-04, and 3 R01 HS08803-02S1 to 3 R01 HS08803-04S.]

PLoS Medicine
Steele AW, Eisert S, Witter J, et al. The effect of automated alerts on provider ordering behavior in an outpatient setting. PLoS Med 2005 Sep; 2(9)e255. [Supported by Contract No. 290-00-0014, Task Order No. 3.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

Applied Clinical Trials
Wechsler J. Medicare Rx to shape drug research and safety surveillance: extensive data will yield outcomes information for drug development and postapproval monitoring. App Clin Trials 2005 Aug 1; 14(8):19. [Notes that CMS is seeking input from experts on FDA advisory committees, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on which drug outcomes, safety, and effectiveness issues are most important to study further.]

BNAs Health Care Policy Report
Top CMS medical officer reassigned; excluded from federal health decisions. BNA Health Care Policy Rep 2005 Sep 26; 13(38):1229. [Notes reassignment of former CMS staffer to AHRQ.]

Keefe, Kahn-Kothmann A, Lutsky J. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005: key provisions. BNA Health Care Policy Rep 2005 Sep 26; 13(38):1245-7. [Includes provision requiring AHRQ to prepare a draft report on effective strategies for reducing medical errors and increasing patient safety.]

CQ Healthbeat
AHRQ finds statin use among seniors increasing. CQ Healthbeat 2005 Sep 29. [Cites findings from AHRQ-sponsored research.]

Family Practice News
Frieden J. Analysts predict surge in limited insurance policies. Fam Pract News 2005 Sep 1; 35(17):87. [Notes AHRQ participation in the Ambulatory Care Quality Alliance.]

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Diby M, Merlani P, Garnerin P, et al. Harmonization of practice among different groups of caregivers: a guideline on arterial blood gas utilization. J Nurs Care Qual 2005 Oct-Dec; 20(4):327-34. [Cites article by Bauchner, Simpson, and Chessare (first two authors are former AHRQ staff members) (Arch Dis Child 2001).]

Oermann MH. New Web sites on patient safety. J Nurs Care Qual 2005 Oct-Dec; 20(4):374. [Describes AHRQ's Patient Safety Network Web site as having a wealth of resources.]

Journal of Rural Health
Probst JC, Moore CG, Baxley EG. Update: health insurance and utilization of care among rural adolescents. J Rural Health Fall 2005; 21(4):279-87. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Weinick (former AHRQ researcher) and Drilea (Stat Bull Metrop Insur Co, 1996); Schone, Dick, Brach (first and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, and Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively), et al. (Pediatrics, 2003); Weinick and Krauss (former AHRQ researchers) (Am J Public Health, 2000); and Dick, Brach, et al. (Health Aff, 2004).]

Medicine and Health
Smaller physician practices sluggish in EHR adoption: groups not using EHR technology to its full capacity. Med Health 2005 Sep 26; 59(34):2, 7. [Discusses findings from the AHRQ-funded study, "Assessing Adoption of Health Information Technology."]

Modern Healthcare
Romano M. At capacity and beyond: ideas such as surge hospitals are getting a more careful look as healthcare wrestles with planning for large-scale disasters. Mod Healthc 2005 Sep 26; 35(39):6-7, 16. [Quotes AHRQ staff member Sally Phillips, director of bioterrorism and public health preparedness research.]

Nursing Economics
New AHRQ survey helps hospitals measure and improve patient safety culture. Nurs Econ 2005 Jul-Aug; 23(4):164. [Briefly describes AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture.]

Shift work affects the health and work performance of nurses and other health care workers. Nurs Econ 2005 Jul-Aug; 23(4):164. [Summarizes findings from AHRQ-authored article by Hughes (Am J Nurs 2004.]

Pink Sheet
Tunis lands at AHRQ. Pink Sheet 2005 Sep 26; 67(39):32. [Notes transfer of CMS medical officer to AHRQ.]

San Diego Business Journal
Grantham JM. Government signs on for another 10 years with ESN. San Diego Bus J 2005 Aug 29; 26(35):A6. [Includes AHRQ in list of government agencies served by Engineering Services Network, Inc.]

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

Archives of Internal Medicine
Nguyen MT, Herrine SK, Laine CA, et al. Description of a new hepatitis C risk assessment tool. Arch Intern Med 2005 Sep 26; 165(17):2013-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendation, Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Adults (Ann Intern Med, 2004).]

Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Hollander D. HIV: who should be tested? Perspect Sex Reproduct Health 2005 Sep; 37(3):109. [Summarizes USPSTF recommendation, Screening for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Archives of Internal Medicine
DeWalt DA, Pignone MP. Reading is fundamental: the relationship between literacy and health. Arch Intern Med 2005 Sep 26; 165(17):1943-4. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Literacy and Health Outcomes: A Review of the Literature (J Gen Intern Med 2004).]

Wolf MS, Gazmararian JA, Baker DW. Health literacy and functional health status among older adults. Arch Intern Med 2005 Sep 26; 165(17):1946-52. Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Health Literacy: Impact on Health Outcomes, 2004.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Brennan TA, Gawande A, Thomas E, et al. Accidental deaths, saved lives, and improved quality. N Engl J Med 2005 Sep 29; 353(13):1405-9. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001, and several AHRQ-funded articles on patient safety.]

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Annals of Vascular Surgery
Tsai S, Dubovoy A, Wainess R, et al. Severe chronic venous insufficiency: magnitude of the problem and consequences. Ann Vasc Surg 2005 Sep; 19(5):705-11. [Uses data from the 1988-2000 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).]

Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Harsha WJ, Perkins JA, Lewis CW, et al. Head and neck endocrine surgery in children: 1997 and 2000. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005 Jul; 131(7):564-70. [Uses data from the 1997 and 2000 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID).]

Critical Care Medicine
Tilford JM, Aitken ME, Anand KJ, et al. Hospitalizations for critically ill children with traumatic brain injuries: a longitudinal analysis. Crit Care Med 2005 Sep; 33(9):2074-81. [Uses data from the 1988-1999 HCUP NIS.]

Diabetes Care
Sullivan PW, Morrato EH, Ghushchyan V, et al. Obesity, inactivity, and the prevalence of diabetes and diabetes-related cardiovascular comorbidities in the U.S., 2000-2002. Diabet Care 2005 Jul; 28(7):1599-603. [Uses 2000-2002 MEPS data.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Entwistle VA, Mello MM, Brennan TA. Advising patients about patient safety: current initiatives risk shifting responsibility. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2005 Sep; 31(9):483-94. [Uses and discusses development of AHRQ brochure, 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001; Quality Interagency Task Force report, Doing What Counts for Patient Safety: Federal Actions to Reduce Medical Errors and Their Impact, Report to the President, 2000; and article by Meyer (former AHRQ researcher), et al. (Int J Qual Health Care, 2003).]

Movement Disorders
Dubinsky RM. No going home for hospitalized Huntington's disease patients. Mov Disord 2005 Oct; 20(10):1316-22. [Uses data from the 1996-2002 HCUP NIS.]

Neurosurgery
Curry WT Jr, Butler WE, Barker FG 2nd. Rapidly rising incidence of cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures for idiopathic intracranial hypertension in the United States, 1988-2002. Neurosurgery 2005 Jul; 57(1):97-108. [Uses data from the 1988-2002 HCUP NIS.]


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