November 3, 2006
This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
Raab SS, Grzybicki DM, Sudilovsky D, et al. Effectiveness of Toyota process redesign in reducing thyroid gland
fine-needle aspiration error. Am J Clin Pathol 2006 Oct; 126(4):585-92. [Supported by grant HS13321-01.]
American Journal of Managed Care
Yang Z, Olomu A, Corser W, et al. Outpatient medication use and health outcomes in post-acute coronary syndrome patients. Am J Manag Care 2006 Oct; 12(10):581-7. [Supported by grants R01 HS10531 and R01 HS09514-31.]
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Wisnivesky JP, Henschke CI, Yandelevitz DF. Diagnostic percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy does not affect
survival in stage 1 lung cancer. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 Sep 15; 174(6):684-8. [Supported by grant K08 HS013312.]
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Raab SS. Improving patient safety through quality assurance. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2006 May; 130(5):633-7. [Supported
by grant R01 HS13321-01.]
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Schootman M, Fuortes L, Aft R. Prognosis of metachronous contralateral breast cancer according to stage at diagnosis:
the importance of early detection. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2006 Sep; 99(1):91-105. [Supported by grant HS14095.]
Barlow SE, Ohlemeyer CL. Parent reasons for nonreturn to a pediatric weight management program. Clin Pediatr 2006 May; 45(4):355-60. [Supported by grant K08 HS13901.]
Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology
Damiano PC, Elliott M, Tyler MC, et al. Differential use of the CAHPS® 0-10 global rating scale by Medicaid and commercial
populations. Health Serv Outcomes Res Methodol 2004; 5(3-4):193-205. [Supported by grant 5 U18 HS00924; uses AHRQ's
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) 2.0 global ratings.]
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Kaissi AA, Parchman M. Assessing chronic illness care for diabetes in primary care clinics. Jt Comm J Qual Patient
Saf 2006 Jun; 32(6):318-23. [Supported by grant K08 HS013008-03.]
Wang MC, Hyun JK, Harrison MI, Shortell SM, Fraser I. Redesigning health systems for quality: lessons from emerging practices. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2006 Nov; 32(11):599-611. [Third and fifth authors are researcher in and director of, respectively, AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; notes use of discussions at AHRQ-sponsored conference in October 2004 as partial basis for the articles views and recommendations; cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality Report, 2004 and 2005.]
Journal of Patient Safety
Rask K, Hawley J, Davis A, et al. Impact of a statewide reporting system on medication error reduction. J Patient
Saf 2006 Sep; 2(3):116-23. [Supported by grant 1 U18 HS11918.]
Nunnally ME, Bitan Y. Time to get off this pigs back? The human factors aspects of the mismatch between device and real-world knowledge in the health care environment. J Patient Saf 2006 Sep; 2(3)124-31. [Supported by grant HS11816.]
Phillips RL, Dovey SM, Graham D, et al. Learning from different lenses: reports of medical errors in primary care by clinicians, staff, and patients. J Patient Saf 2006 Sep; 2(3):140-6. [Supported by grant P20 HS11548.]
Journal of Pediatric Health Care
Joesch JM, Kim H, Kieckhefer GJ, et al. Does your child have asthma? Filled prescriptions and household report of
child asthma. J Pediatr Health Care 2006 Nov-Dec; 20(6):374-83. [Supported by grant R01 HS13110; uses 1996 Medical
Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and cites several MEPS publications.]
Journal of Rheumatology
de Pablo P, Losina E, Mahomed N, et al. Extent of followup care after elective total hip replacement. J Rheumatol
2006 Jun; 33(6):1159-66. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS09775-01.]
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Sedrakyan A, Wu A, Sedrakyan G, et al. Aprotinin use in thoracic aortic surgery: safety and outcomes. J Thorac
Cardiovasc Surg 2006 Oct; 132(4):909-17. [First author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence.]
Medical Care Research and Review
Rosenthal MB, Frank RG. What is the empirical basis for paying for quality in health care? Med Care Res Rev 2006
Apr; 63(2):135-57. [Supported by grant P01 HS10801-01.]
New England Journal of Medicine
Rosenthal MB, Landon BE, Normand SL, et al. Pay for performance in commercial HMOs. N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 2; 355(18):1895-902. [Supported by grant R01 HS13335.]
Robertson KB, Janssen WJ, Saint S, et al. Clinical problem-solving. The missing piece. N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 2; 355(18):1913-8. [Supported by grant P20 HS11540.]
Pediatrics
Walsh KE, Adams WG, Bauchner H, Vinci RJ, Chessare JB, Cooper MR, Hebert PM, Schainker EG, Landrigan CP. Medication
errors related to computerized order entry for children. Pediatrics 2006 Nov;118(5):1872-9. [Supported by grant
K08 HS1333.]
Cloutier MM, Wakefiled DB, Sangeloty-Higgins P, et al. Asthma guideline use by pediatricians in private practices and asthma morbidity. Pediatrics 2006 Nov;118(5):1880-17. [Supported by grant U18 HS11147.]
Stroke
Sedrakyan A, et al. Off-pump bypass surgery is associated with reduced occurrence of stroke and other morbidity as
compared with traditional coronary artery bypass grafting. A meta-analysis of systematically reviewed trials. Stroke 2006 Nov; 37(11):2759-69. [First author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence. See also articles by Hersh, et al. (J Telemed Telecare 2006), cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related
Articles.]
AHA News
Kelley J. SCIP announces 'tip sheet' to help patients avoid surgical complications. AHA News 2006 Oct 30;
42(22):1-2. [Lists AHRQ as one of the federal agencies involved in the national quality partnership.]
American Journal of Nursing
Mason DJ. So much for evidence: leaders in patient safety are ignoring nursing's evidence on safe staffing. Am J
Nurs 2006 Nov; 106(11):11. [Cites AHRQ-funded report by the Institute of Medicine, Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming
the Work Environment of Nurses, 2004.]
Annals of Internal Medicine
Ceglia L, Lau J, Pittas A. Meta-analysis: efficacy and safety of inhaled insulin therapy in adults with diabetes
mellitus. Ann Intern Med 2006 Nov 7; 145(9):665-75. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Eisenberg (former AHRQ
director, JAMA, 1999).]
BNAs Health Care Policy Report
Racial disparities exist in Medicare plans regardless of quality ratings, study finds. BNA Health Care Policy Rep
2006 Oct 30; 14(43):1412. [Reviews AHRQ-funded article by Trivedi, et al. (JAMA, 2006).]
Health Economics
Van Houtven G, Powers J, Jessup A, et al. Valuing avoided morbidity using meta-regression analysis: what can health
status measures and QALYs tell us about WTP? Health Econ 2006 Aug; 15(8):775-95. [Cites AHRQ publication, Focus on
Cost-effectiveness Analysis at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2001.]
Healthcare Disparities Report
Healthcare panels recommendations imply support of disparities reduction. Healthc Disparit Rep 2006 Nov; 6(11):2-3.
Summarizes final recommendations from the AHRQ-sponsored Citizens Healthcare Working Group.]
Journal of Family Practice
Webb CW, Crowell K. Which vaccinations are indicated after splenectomy? J Fam Pract 2006 Aug; 55(8):711-12.
[Cites Surgical Treatment of Disease and Injuries of the Spleen, retrieved from the National Guideline Clearinghouse™.]
Journal of Patient Safety
Singla AK, Kitch BT, Weissman JS, et al. Assessing patient safety culture: a review and synthesis of the measurement
tools. J Patient Saf 2006 Sep; 2(3):105-15. [Cites AHRQ publication, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety, 2004; cites
AHRQ technical report by the University of Texas Center of Excellence for Patient Safety Research and Practice
under grants 1 P01 HS1154401 and U18 HS1116401.]
Medicine and Health
New E-tool can help primary care clinicians with decision-making. Med Health 2006 Oct 30; 60(40):5. [Describes
launch of AHRQ's Electronic Preventive Services Selector at the recent National Prevention Summit; cites remarks
by AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy.]
New England Journal of Medicine
Fisher ES. Paying for performance—risks and recommendations. N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 2; 355(8):1845-7. [Cites
and provides chart of selected measures from The Ambulatory Care Quality Alliance Recommended Starter Set: Clinical
Performance Measures for Ambulatory Care, 2004, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]
Steinbrook R. Public report cards—cardiac surgery and beyond. N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 2; 355(8):1847-9. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Werner and Asch (JAMA, 2005).]
Pediatrics
Kemper AR, Uren RL, Mosely KL, et al. Primary care physicians' attitudes regarding follow-up care for children
with positive newborn screening results. Pediatrics 2006 Nov;118(5):1836-41. [Notes authors' inability to
identify any explicit recommendations within the National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (a comprehensive database of
evidence-based clinical practice guidelines) for any of the conditions now included in newborn screening panels
and cites National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) Web site.]
Pink Sheet
Part D data sharing could help assess effect of drugs on overall health costs. Pink Sheet 2006 Oct 30;
68(44):27-8. [Mentions AHRQ as a candidate agency to receive Medicare Rx drug data from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).]
American Family Physician
Hitzeman N. Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimers disease. Am Fam Physician 2006 Sep 1; 74(5):747-9.
[Cites USPSTF recommendation, Screening for Dementia: Recommendations and Rationale, 2003, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]
Miller KE. Does prostate cancer screening reduce mortality rates? Am Fam Physician 2006 Sep 1; 74(5):844-5. [Notes that the USPSTF found insufficient evidence to recommend either method for PSA screening (Ann Intern Med, 2002.]
American Journal of Managed Care
Bradley KA, Williams EC, Achtmeyer CE, et al. Implementation of evidence-based alcohol screening in the Veterans
Health Administration. Am J Manag Care 2006 Oct; 12(10):597-606. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Screening
and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse (Ann Intern Med, 2004).]
Annals of Internal Medicine
Gross CP, McAvay GJ, Krumholz HM, et al. The effect of age and chronic illness on life expectancy after a diagnosis
of colorectal cancer: implications for screening. Ann Intern Med 2006 Nov 7; 145(9):646-53. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored
evidence review on screening for prostate cancer (Pignone, et al., Ann Intern Med, 2002).]
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
He M. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in school-aged children. Can J Diet Pract Res 2006 Fall; 67(3):125-29.
[Cites USPSTF recommendation Screening and Interventions for Overweight in Children and Adolescents, as posted on AHRQ
Web site.]
Journal of Family Practice
Rowland K, Guthmann R, Jamieson B. How should we manage a patient with a positive PPD and prior BCG vaccination? J
Fam Pract 2006 Aug; 55(8):718-20. [Notes that the USPSTF does recommend screening high-risk populations and that
reactions >10 mm should not be attributed to prior BCG vaccine (Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1966.]
Misicko NE, St. Anna L. When should we screen children for hyperlipidemia? J Fam Pract 2006 Aug; 55(8):723-725. [Notes that the USPSTF does not make a recommendation about screening for hyperlipidemia in this age group as cited in Screening for Lipid Disorders in Adults, 2001, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]
New England Journal of Medicine
Regula J, Rupinski M, Kraszewska E, et al. Colonoscopy in colorectal-cancer screening for detection of advanced
neoplasia. N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 2; 355(8):1863-72. [Cites USPSTF recommendation on screening for colorectal
cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]
Pediatrics
Hacker KA, Myagmarjav E, Harris V, et al. Mental health screening in pediatric practice: factors related to positive
screens and the contribution of parental/personal concern. Pediatrics 2006 Nov;118(5):1896-906. [Cites Guide to
Clinical Preventive Services, 2005.]
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Lindberg LD, Frost JJ, Sten C, et al. Provision of contraceptive and related services by publicly funded family
planning clinics, 2003. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2006 Sep; 38(3):139-47. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on
screening for cervical cancer (2003, on AHRQ Web site) and chlamydial infections (Am J Prev Med, 2001).]
Annals of Internal Medicine
McCarthy EP, Ngo LH, Roetzheim RG, et al. Disparities in breast cancer treatment and survival for women with
disabilities. Ann Intern Med 2006 Nov 7; 145(9):637-45. [Cites EPC report, Measuring the Quality of Breast Cancer
Care in Women, 2004.]
Rowe JW. Pay-for-performance and accountability: related themes in improving health care. Ann Intern Med 2006 Nov 7; 145(9):695-99. [Cites AHRQ evidence report, Strategies to Support Quality-based Purchasing: A Review of the Evidence, 2004.]
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Treadwell JR, Tregear SJ, Reston JT, et al. A system for rating the stability and strength of medical evidence. BMC Med Res Methodol 2006 Oct 19: 6:52. [Reviews and analyzes the USPSTF evidence rating system as described in
article by Harris, et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) and cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate
the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002).]
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Lavis JN, Lomas J, Hamid M, et al. Assessing country-level efforts to link research to action. Bull World Health
Org 2006 Aug; 84(8):620-8. [Notes that the "U.S.-based Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has paid particular
attention to developing partnerships focused on systematic reviews" and cites AHRQ-authored article by Atkins, Fink,
and Slutsky (Ann Intern Med, 2005).]
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Wachter RM, Pronovost PJ. The 1000,000 Lives Campaign: a scientific and policy review. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf
2006 Nov; 32(11):621-7. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical
Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.]
Noble J. The Codman Competition: rewarding excellence in performance measurement, 1997-2006. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2006 Nov; 32(11):634-40. [Lists of individual Codman award winners includes former AHRQ Director John Eisenberg as 2002 recipient for having developed the mission of AHRQ to enhance the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services.]
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
Hersh WR, Hickam DH, Erlichman M. The evidence base of telemedicine: overview of the supplement. J Telemed Telecare
2006; 12 Suppl 2:S2:1-2. [Third author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence; supplement is based
on research conducted by the Oregon Health and Science University EPC under contract
290-02-0024 and contains papers from a workshop commissioned by AHRQ.]
Hersh WR, Hickam DH, Severance SM, et al. Diagnosis, access and outcomes: update of a systematic review of telemedicine services. J Telemed Telecare 2006; 12 Suppl 2:S2:3-31. [Supported by contract 290-02-0024.]
Medicine and Health
In other news... For HIV treatment, less could be more. Med Health 2006 Oct 30; 60(40):6. [Summarizes findings from
AHRQ-funded EPC study by Chou, et al. (Lancet, 2006).]
American Journal of Managed Care
Dunn JD, Tierney JG. A step therapy algorithm for the treatment and management of chronic depression. Am J Manag
Care 2006 Oct; 12 (12 Supp):S335-S343. [Uses treatment phase diagram adapted from AHRQ guideline, Depression in
Primary Care, Vol. 2, Treatment of Major Depression, 1993.]
Journal of Economic and Social Measurement
McCue K, Zawacki A. Using Census business data to augment the MEPS-IC. J Econ Soc Measure 2006; 31(1-2):47-67. [Uses MEPS-IC. See also article by Damiano, et al. (Health Serv Outcomes Res Methodol, 2004), in AHRQ Funded-Authored Articles.]
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