You Are Here: AHRQ Home > News & Information > Articles of Interests

Articles of Interest

December 7, 2007

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

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
Lopez-Olivo MA, Suarez-Almazor ME. Developing guidelines in musculoskeletal disorders. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2007 Nov-Dec; 25(6 Suppl 47):S28-S36. [Supported by grant HS16093 (per CERTs Overview Fact Sheet on AHRQ Web site) to the Houston Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs).]

Health Care Financing Review
Young GJ, Burgess JF Jr, White B. Pioneering pay-for-quality: lessons from the Rewarding Results demonstration. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Fall; 29(1):59-70. [Supported by grant 5 R01 HS013591.]

Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Clancy CM, Isaacson S, Henriksen K. Design of the physical environment for changing healthcare needs. Health Environ Res Des J 2007 Fall; 1(1):10-11. [Authors are AHRQ director, researcher in AHRQ's Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer, and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, respectively.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Henriksen K, Isaacson S, Sadler BL, et al. The role of the physical environment in crossing the quality chasm. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Nov; 33(11 Suppl):68-80. [First and second authors are researcher in AHRQ's Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer, and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, respectively.]

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Ho PS, Kroll T, Kehn M, et al. Health and housing among low-income adults with physical disabilities. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4):902-15. [Supported by grant 1 R03 Hs013977-01A1.]

Medical Care Research and Review
Rosko MD, Mutter R. Stochastic frontier analysis of hospital inefficiency: a review of empirical issues and an assessment of robustness. Med Care Res Rev 2007 Nov 28. [Epub ahead of print. Second author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.]

Pediatrics
Rivara FP, Anderson ML, Fishman P, et al. Intimate partner violence and health care costs and utilization for children living in the home. Pediatrics 2007 Dec; 120(6):1270-7. [Supported by grant R01 HS10909.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Orleans CT. Increasing the demand for and use of effective smoking-cessation treatments: reaping the full health benefits of tobacco-control science and policy gains—in our lifetime. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6 Suppl):S340-S348. [Cites PHS guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]

McAfee TA. Quitlines: a tool for research and dissemination of evidence-based cessation practices. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6 Suppl):S357-S367. [Cites PHS guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000 and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on smoking cessation in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996.]

Lerman CE, Schnoll RA, Munafo MR. Genetics and smoking cessation: improving outcomes in smokers at risk. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6 Suppl):S398-S405. [Cites PHS guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]

Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association
Bhagar HA, Schmetzer AD. Smoking cessation pharmacology. Ann Am Pharmacol Assoc 2007 Sep 22; 10(3):46-7. [Cites recommendations from PHS guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Snyder L, Neubauer RL, American College of Physicians Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee. Pay-for-performance principles that promote patient-centered care: an ethics manifesto. Ann Intern Med 2007 Dec 4; 147(11):792-4. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Petersen et al. (Ann Intern Med 2006) and Rosenthal et al. (JAMA, 2005).]

Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing
Xue Y, Schulman-Green D, Czaplinski C, et al. Pain attitudes and knowledge among RNs, pharmacists, and physicians on an inpatient oncology service. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2007 Oct; 11(5):687-95. [Mentions the major findings from AHRQ guideline, Management of Cancer Pain, 1994, as summarized/reviewed in AHRQ-funded article by Jacox, Carr, and Payne (N Engl J Med, 1994).]

Health Care Financing Review
Thomas FG, Caldis T. Emerging issues of pay-for-performance in health care. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Fall; 29(1):1-4. [Cites AHRQ publication, Pay for Performance: A Decision Guide for Purchasers, 2006.]

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Gilbert GH, Litaker MS, Maakhija SK. Differences in quality between dental practices associated with race and income mix of patients. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4):847-67. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Kelly, Moy, Stryer et al. (Med Care, 2005) and AHRQ publication, Your Guide to Choosing Quality Healthcare: Summary, 2002, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]

Slaughter A, Evans LK. Culturally sensitive oral health educational materials for older African Americans. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4):868-86. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Manski (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) and Magden (J Am Dent Assoc, 1998) and Manski, Moeller, and Maas (J Am Dent Assoc, 1991).]

Martin AB, Crawford S, Probst JC. Medical homes for children with special health care needs. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4):916-30. [Cites 2000 MEPS data.]

Ngui EM, Flores G. Unmet needs for specialty, dental, mental, and allied health care among children with special care needs: are there racial/ethnic disparities? J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4):931-49. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Weinick (former AHRQ researcher), Zuvekas, and Cohen (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care Res Rev, 2000) and Shone, Dick, Brach (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (Pediatrics, 2003).]

Coleman K, Reiter KL, Fulwiler D. The impact of pay-for-performance on diabetes care in a large network of community health centers. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4):966-83. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Rosenthal et al. (JAMA, 2005) and Rosenthal and Frank (Med Care Res Rev, 2006).]

Cupertino AP, Mahnken JD, Richter K, et al. Long-term engagement in smoking cessation counseling among rural smokers. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4 Suppl):39-51. [Notes findings from studies reviewed in PHS guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]

Modern Healthcare
Becker C. High-risk proposition. Mod Healthc 2007 Dec 3; 37(48):6-7, 16. [Mentions the use of AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Medicare pay-for-performance proposal.]

Oncology Nursing Forum
Coenen A, Doorenbos AZ, Wilson SA. Nursing interventions to promote dignified dying in four countries. Oncol Nurs Forum 2007 Nov-Dec; 34(6):1151-6. [Cites AHRQ publication, End-of-life Care and Outcomes, 2004.]

Pediatrics
Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Patient safety in the pediatric emergency care setting. Pediatrics 2007 Dec; 120(6):1367-75. [Notes in first paragraph AHRQ's launch of a $50 million initiative in 2001 to increase and improve research in patient safety; cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).]

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

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Ballard DJ, Nicewander DA, Qin H, et al. Improving delivery of clinical preventive services: a multi-year journey. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6):492-7. [Notes research evidence showing low adherence to recommendations from the USPSTF and other organizations and agencies; uses 10 clinical preventive services endorsed by the USPSTF in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996, to develop a data-collection protocol for the study.]

Kottke TE, Solberg LI. Optimizing practice through research: a preventive services case study. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6):505-6. [Notes AHRQ's upport of a research agenda-setting conference convened by HealthPartners Research Foundation in 2005; cites AHRQ program announcement on Translating Research Into Practice and Practice (TRIPP).]

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Flume PA, O Sullivan BP, Robinson KA, et al. Cystic fibrosis pulmonary guidelines: chronic medications for maintenance of lung health. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Nov 15; 176(10):957-69. [Uses the USPSTF evidence grading methodology (as presented in article by Harris et al., Am J Prev Med, 2001) to evaluate identified evidence summaries.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for high blood pressure: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmation recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 2007 Dec 4; 147(11):783-6. [Summarizes USPSTF recommendations on screening for high blood pressure in adults.]

Wolff T, Miller T. Evidence for the reaffirmation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation on screening for high blood pressure. Ann Intern Med 2007 Dec 4; 147(11):787-91. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships.]

Screening for high blood pressure: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation. Ann Intern Med 2007 Dec 4; 147(11):1-43. [Presents patient-oriented summary of USPSTF recommendations cited above.]

Family Practice Recertification
Coronary artery disease (quiz). Fam Pract Recert 2007 Nov; 29(11):51-54. [Cites and discusses USPSTF recommendations on screening for coronary heart disease, lipid disorders, and high blood pressure in the explanation of answers to two quiz questions.]

JAAPA: Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants
Leger M, McNellis R. Mammography: screening in women 40 to 49 years old. JAAPA 2007 Nov; 20(11):16-7. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Breast Cancer; Recommendations and Rationale, 2002.]

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Cui Y, Peterson NB, Hargreaves M, et al. Mammography use in the Southern Community Cohort Study (United States). J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4 Suppl):102-17. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and MEPS data (citing Samamoorthi and McAlpine, Prev Med, 2003).]

Satia JA, Galanko JA. Demographic, behavioral, psychosocial, and dietary correlates of cancer screening in African Americans. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2007 Nov; 18(4 Suppl):146-64. [Cites Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996.]

Journal of School Health
Johnson SB, Pilkington LL, Deeb LC, et al. Prevalence of overweight in north Florida elementary and middle school children: effects of age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. J School Health 2007 Nov; 77(9):630-6. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening and interventions for childhood overweight (Pediatrics, 2005).]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Family Physician
Sierpina V, Astin J, Giordano J. Mind-body therapies for headache. Am Fam Physician 2007 Nov 15; 76(10):1518-22. [Cites AHRQ technical review, Behavioral and Physical Treatments for Migraine Headache, 1999.]

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Backinger CL, O'Connell ME. Developing consensus on tobacco control and research. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6 Suppl):S311-S313. [Cites and discusses review of AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Tobacco Use: Prevention, Cessation, and Control, 2006, for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) State-of-the-Science Conference on Tobacco Use: Prevention, Cessation, and Control.]

Drug Topics
Brown DA, Thornby RM. High-density lipoprotein: a new wave. Drug Top2007 Nov 5; 151(21):329-36. [Cites findings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Effects of Soy on Health Outcomes, 2005.]

Formulary
Talati R, White CM, Coleman CI. Rotigotine; the first transdermal nonergot-derived dopamine agonist for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Formulary 2007 Nov; 42(11):633-46. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease, 2003.]

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Ovretveit J, Scott T, Rundall TG, et al. Improving quality through effective implementation of information technology in healthcare. Int J Qual Health Care 2007 Oct; 19(5):259-66. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006.]

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

Annals of Internal Medicine
Budnitz DS, Shehab N, Kegler SR, et al. Medication use leading to emergency department visits for adverse drug events in older adults. Ann Intern Med 2007 Dec 4; 147(11):755-65. [Notes that the prescription rate of potentially inappropriate medications is one of the few medication safety measures in the National Healthcare Quality Report, citing AHRQ's NHQR, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Classen et al. (JAMA, 1997) and Gandhi et al. (N Engl J Med, 2003).]

American College of Physicians. Achieving a high-performance health care system with universal access: what the United States can learn from other countries. Ann Intern Med 2008 Jan 1; 148(1):148. [Epub 2007 Dec 3. Cites AHRQs NHQR, 2005.]

Health Care Financing Review
Cromwell J, Drozd EM, Smith K, et al. Financial gains and risks in pay-for-performance bonus algorithms. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Fall; 29(1):5-14. [Cites AHRQ's NHQR, 2006.]

Oncology Nursing Forum
McNeill JA, Reynolds J, Ney ML. Unequal quality of cancer pain management: disparity in perceived control and proposed solutions. Oncol Nurs Forum 2007 Nov-Dec; 34(6):1121-8. [Cites in lead sentence the definition of disparity from AHRQ's NHDR, 2004.]

Knobt MT, Juarez G, Lee SY, et al. Challenges and strategies in recruitment of ethnically diverse populations for cancer nursing research. Oncol Nurs Forum 2007 Nov-Dec; 34(6):1187-94. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR and NHQR, 2005.]

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Advances in Skin and Wound Care
Jones KR, Fennie K, Lenihan A. Evidence-based management of chronic wounds. Adv Skin Wound Care 2007 Nov; 20(11):591-600. [Uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ to identify relevant clinical practice guidelines.]

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Fiore MC, Keller PA, Curry SJ. Health system changes to facilitate the delivery of tobacco-dependence treatment. Am J Prev Med 2007 Nov-Dec; 33(6 Suppl):S349-S356. [Reviews and discusses the evidence for the system-level strategies outlined in AHRQ guidelines Smoking Cessation, 1996, and Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]

Clinical Pediatrics
Herrod HG, Chang CF. Potentially avoidable pediatric hospitalizations as defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: what do they tell us about disparities in child health? Clin Pediatr 2007 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Uses five pediatric discharge monitors from AHRQs Pediatric Quality Indicators to evaluate state-level data for disparities.]

Journal of the American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Ganz M, Xuan Z, Hunter DG. Patterns of eye care use and expenditures among children with diagnosed eye conditions. J AAPOS 2007 Oct; 11(5):480-87. [Uses 1996-2001 MEPS data.]

Pediatrics
Perry CD, Kenney GM. Preventive care for children in low-income families: how well do Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs do? Pediatrics 2007 Dec; 120(6):e1393-e1401. [Uses 2001-2003 MEPS data.]

Current as of December 2007

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, December 7, 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art120707.htm