December 12, 2003
These articles appeared in recently released journals and newsletters. They include 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.
Advances in Pediatrics
Redlener I, Markenson D. Disaster and terrorism preparedness: what pediatricians need to know.
Adv Pediatr 2003; 50:1-37. [Supported by Grant No. 1 R13 HS13855.]
American Journal of Public Health
Tamayo-Sarver JH, Hinze SW, Cydulka RK, et al. Racial and ethnic disparities in emergency
department analgesic prescription. Am J Public Health 2003 Dec; 93(12):2067-73.
[Supported by Grant No. HS00059-06.]
Egede LE, Zheng D. Racial/ethnic differences in influenza vaccination coverage in high-risk adults. Am J Public Health 2003 Dec; 93(12):2074-8. [Supported by Grant No. 1 K08 HS11418-01.]
Haas JS, Lee LB, Kaplan CP, et al. The association of race, socioeconomic status, and health insurance status with the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents. Am J Public Health 2003 Dec; 93(12):2105-10. [Supported by Grant Nos. P01 HS10771 and P01 HS10856.]
Annals of Emergency Medicine
Solberg LI, Asplin BR, Weinick RM, et al. Emergency department crowding: consensus development
of potential measures. Ann Emerg Med 2003 Dec; 42(6):824-34. [Third author is researcher in
AHRQ's Office of Performance Accountability, Resources and Technology.]
Health Care Financing Review
Rhoades JA, Sommers JP. Trends in nursing home expenses, 1987 and 1996. Health Care Financ
Rev 2003 Fall; 25(1):99-114. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access,
and Cost Trends.]
Inquiry
Adams EK, Bronstein JM, Florence CS. The impact of Medicaid primary care case management on
office-based physician supply in Alabama and Georgia. Inquiry 2003 Fall; 40(3):269-82.
[Supported by Grant No. U01 HS10435.]
Journal of AHIMA
Watt A, Williams S, Lee K, et al. Keen eye on core measures: Joint Commission data quality
study offers insight into data collection, abstracting processes. J AHIMA 2003 Nov; 74(10):20-5. [Supported by Grant No. 1 U18 HS013728-01.]
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Watson NM, Brink CA, Zimmer JG, et al. Use of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
urinary incontinence guideline in nursing homes. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003 Dec; 51(12):1179-86.
[Supported by Grant No. R01 HS08491.]
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Bates DW, Kuperman GJ, Wang S, et al. Ten commandments for effective clinical decision support:
making the practice of evidence-based medicine a reality. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2003
Nov-Dec; 10(6):523-30. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS07107.]
Pace WD, Staton EW, Higgins GS, et al. Database design to ensure anonymous study of medical errors: a report from the ASIPS Collaborative. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2003 Nov-Dec; 10(6):531-40. [Supported by Grant No. 1 U18 HS11878-01.]
Gesteland PH, Gardner RM, Tsui FC, et al. Automated syndromic surveillance for the 2002 Winter Olympics. J Am Med Infom Assoc 2003 Nov-Dec; 10(6):547-54. [Supported by Contract No. 290-00-0009.]
Medical Care
Washington DL, Bernstein SJ, Kahan JP, et al. Reliability of clinical guideline development
using mail-only versus in-person expert panels. Med Care 2003 Dec; 41(12):1374-81.
[Supported by Grant No. HS07185-02.]
Medical Care Research and Review
Macinko JA, Shi L, Starfield B, et al. Income inequality and health: a critical review of the
literature. Med Care Res Rev 2003 Dec; 60(4):407-52. [Supported by Grant No. T32 HS00029.]
LaVeist TA, Arthur M, Morgan A, et al. Explaining racial differences in receipt of coronary angiography: the role of physician referral and physician specialty. Med Care Res Rev 2003 Dec; 60(4):453-67. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS11435.]
Medical Decision Making
Bishai DM, Ferris DG, Litaker MS. What is the least costly strategy to evaluate cervical
abnormalities in rural women? Comparing telemedicine, local practitioners, and expert physicians.
Med Decis Making 2003 Nov-Dec; 23(6):463-70. [Supported by Grant No. R01 HS08814.]
Rosen, AB, Tsai JS, Downs SM. Variations in risk attitude across race, gender, and education. Med Decis Making 2003 Nov-Dec; 23(6):511-17. [Supported by Grant No. 5 T32 HS00020-16.]
New England Journal of Medicine
Huskamp HA, Deverka PA, Epstein AM, et al. The effect of incentive-based formularies on
prescription-drug utilization and spending. N Engl J Med 2003 Dec 4; 349(23):2224-32.
[Supported by Grant No. 5 P01 HS10803.]
Spine Journal
Goldstein MS, Morgenstern H, Hurwitz EL, et al. The impact of treatment confidence on pain
and related disability among patients with low-back pain: results from the University of
California, Los Angeles, low-back pain study. Spine J 2002 Nov-Dec; 2(6):391-9.
[Supported by Grant No. R01 HS07755.]
AHA News
AHRQ to award $41 million in IT grants. AHA News Dec 1; 39(24):6. [Summarizes AHRQ grant
announcement.]
Ambulatory Pediatrics
Steiner JF, Braun PA, Melinkovich P, et al. Primary-care visits and hospitalizations for
ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions in an inner-city health care system. Ambul Ped 2003
Nov-Dec; 3(6):324-8. [Cites Bierman et al. (AHRQ authors), J Gen Intern Med, 1999, and
Friedman (AHRQ author) et al., Med Care Res Rev, 1999.]
Varni JW, Burwinkle TM, Seid M, et al. The PedsQL 4.0 as a pediatric population health measure: feasibility, reliability, and validity. Ambul Ped 2003 Nov-Dec; 3(6):329-41. [Cites Fiscella et al. (fourth author is AHRQ director Clancy), JAMA, 2000; Forrest, Simpson, and Clancy, JAMA, 1997, and Forrest et al. (third author is AHRQ researcher Dougherty), Pediatrics, 2003; cites Friedman et al., Med Care Res Rev, 1999; cites AHRQ's Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey CAHPS®).]
American Journal of Health Promotion
Sofaer S, Gruman J. Consumers of health information and health care: challenging assumptions
and defining alternatives. Am J Health Promot 2003 Nov-Dec; 18(2):151-6. [Cites CAHPS® in
article by Hibbard et al., Med Care Res Rev, 2002, and cites AHRQ/Kaiser survey in article by
Robinson and Brodie, Jt Comm J Qual Improv, 1997.]
American Journal of Public Health
Sharma R, Haas M, Stano M. Patient attitudes, insurance, and other determinants of
self-referral to medical and chiropractic physicians. Am J Public Health 2003 Dec;
93(12):2111-7. [Cites AHRQ guideline Acute Low Back Problems in Adults, 1994.]
Annals of Internal Medicine
Landi F, Aloe L, Russo A, et al. Topical treatment of pressure ulcers with nerve growth factor.
Ann Intern Med 2003 Oct 21; 139(8):635-41. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Berlowitz et al., J
Am Geriatr Soc, 2000, and AHRQ-authored article by Mukamel and Spector, Med Care, 2000.]
Cooper LA, Roter DL, Johnson RL, et al. Patient-centered communication, ratings of care, and concordance of patient and physician race. Ann Intern Med 2003 Dec 2; 139(11):907-15. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ayanian et al., JAMA, 1993, and Schulman et al., N Engl J Med, 1999.]
Deyo RA, Jarvik JJ. New diagnostic tests: breakthrough approaches or expensive add-ons? Ann Intern Med 2003 Dec 2; 139(11):950-1 [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Jarvik et al., JAMA, 2003.]
Mariotto A. A decree against inappropriate medical care in Italy [letter]. Ann Intern Med 2003 Dec 2; 139(11):958. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Shekelle et al., N Engl J Med, 1998.]
Blue Sheet
Medical errors shift from treatment to prevention urged by IoM cmte. Blue Sheet 2003
Dec 1, 46(48):6. [Reviews recommendations in AHRQ-sponsored report, Patient Safety:
Achieving a New Standard for Care.]
AHRQ investing $50 million in health information technology grants in FY 2004. Blue Sheet 2003 Dec 1, 46(48):7. [Summarizes three RFAs covering about 100 grants.]
AHRQ cost-effectiveness. Blue Sheet 2003 Dec 1, 46(48):12. [Cites provision in Medicare drug bill authorizing $50 million for AHRQ to perform cost-effectiveness research.]
British Medical Journal
Lomas J. Health services research: more lessons from Kaiser Permanente and Veterans'
Affairs healthcare system. BMJ 2003 Dec 6; 327(7427):1301-2. [Cites presentation
given at AHRQ-sponsored conference on Translating Research Into Practice: What's Working?
What's Missing? And What's Next?, Washington DC, July 24, 2003.]
Evidence-based Healthcare
Quality of care in the US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system significantly
improved after system-wide re-engineering [abstract]. Evidence-based Healthc 2003 Dec;
7(4):159-61. [Commentary 1 to article abstract cites article by Greco and Eisenberg,
N Engl J Med, 1993.]
Case management saves money and improves quality of life [abstract]. Evidence-based Healthc 2003 Dec; 7(4):162-4. [Commentary to article abstract, cites AHRQ-funded article by Smith et al., Med Care, 1988.]
Prescription of exercise by physicians improves fitness in elderly people [abstract]. Evidence-based Healthc 2003 Dec; 7(4):172-3. [Commentary to article abstract, cites AHRQ guideline Cardiac Rehabilitation, 1995.]
No clinical advantage of rapid MRI over radiographs for people with low back pain [abstract]. Evidence-based Healthc 2003 Dec; 7(4):198-9. [Abstracts AHRQ-funded article by Jarvik et al., JAMA, 2003; Commentary to article abstract, cites AHRQ guideline Acute Low Back Pain in Adults, 1994.]
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety
John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards: introduction. Jt Comm J Qual Saf 2003 Dec; 29(12):623-4. [Describes awards established in honor of former AHRQ director John Eisenberg and
lists this year's winners.]
Cooper JB. John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards: individual lifetime achievement: Jeffrey B. Cooper, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital. Interview by Steven Berman. Jt Comm J Qual Saf 2003 Dec; 29(12):625-33. [Cites AHRQ's establishment of a patient safety research support and its lead in government efforts in patient safety.]
Eikel C, Delbanco S. John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards: the Leapfrog Group for Patient Safety: rewarding higher standards. Jt Comm J Qual Saf 2003 Dec; 29(12):634-9. [Cites the Leapfrog Group's collaboration with AHRQ to develop standards for electronic clinical decision support; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Bates et al., J Am Med Inform Assoc, 1999, and Birkmeyer, N Engl J Med, 2002.]
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Ruland CH, White T, Stevens M, et al. Effects of a computerized system to support shared
decision making in symptom management of cancer patients: preliminary results. J Am Med
Inform Assoc 2003 Nov-Dec; 10(6):573-9. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Barry et al., Med
Care, 1995.]
Journal of Health Economics
Cutler DM, Huckman RS, Technological development and medical productivity: the diffusion of
angioplasty in New York state. J Health Econ 2003 Mar; 22(2):187-217. [Cites Eisenberg et
al., JAMA, 1989.]
Managed Care Quarterly
Hochhauser M. Lousy report card? Most consumers don't pay attention. Manag Care Q 2003
Summer; 11(3):28-33. [Discusses AHRQ-Kaiser Family Foundation Report, A 2000 National Survey
on Americans as Health Care Consumers: An Update on the Role of Quality Information, 2000.]
Medical Care
O'Neill C, Harrington C, Kitchener M, et al. Quality of care in nursing homes: an analysis
of relationships among profit, quality, and ownership. Med Care 2003 Dec; 41(12):1318-30.
[Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Spector et al., Health Econ, 1998 and J Aging Health, 1991,
and by Cohen and Spector, J Health Econ, 1996.]
McMenamin SB, Schauffler HH, Shortell SM, et al. Support for smoking cessation interventions in physician organizations. Med Care 2003 Dec; 41(12):1396-406. [Cites AHRQ guideline, Smoking Cessation, 1996, and PHS guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.]
Medical Care Research and Review
Laditka JN. Hazards of hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions among older
women: evidence of greater risks for African Americans and Hispanics. Med Care Res Rev 2003
Dec; 60(4):468-95. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998, and
Eisenberg, Ann Intern Med, 1979; cites AHRQ-funded article by Bindman et al., JAMA, 1998.]
Van Ryn M, Williams D. Commentary. Med Care Res Rev 2003 Dec; 60(4):496-508. [Comments on article above and cites Eisenberg, Ann Intern Med, 1979, and Fiscella et al. (fourth author is Clancy), JAMA, 2000.]
Medicine and Health
Omnibus ups spending for veterans, global AIDS. Med Health 2003 Dec 8; 57(44):2-3.
[Cites proposed funding for AHRQ of $303.7 million for FY 2004.]
Nursing Research
Naylor MD. Nursing intervention research and quality of care: influencing the future of
healthcare. Nurs Res 2003 Nov-Dec; 52(6):380-385. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Clancy
and Simpson, Health Serv Res, 2002; mentions upcoming publication of the National
Healthcare Quality Report, AHRQ's "leading role" in medical errors initiatives, and AHRQ's
Impact Case Study Program.]
Pink Sheet
Adverse event voluntary reporting useful, needs standardization, IoM says. Pink Sheet
2003 Dec 1; 65(48):19. [Reviews recommendations in AHRQ-sponsored report, Patient Safety:
Achieving a New Standard for Care.]
American Journal of Health Promotion
Dibble R. Eliminating disparities: empowering health promotion within preventive medicine.
Am J Health Promot 2003 Nov-Dec; 18(2):195-9. [Cites Guide to Clinical Preventive
Services: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of 169 Interventions, 1989, and A Step-by-Step
Guide to Delivering Clinical Preventive Services: A Systems Approach. Put Prevention into
Practice, 2001.]
Annals of Internal Medicine
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for obesity in adults: recommendations and
rationale. Ann Intern Med Dec 2; 139(1):930-32. [Summarizes USPSTF recommendations on
screening for obesity.]
McTigue KM, Harris R, Hemphill B, et al. Screening and interventions for obesity in adults: summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med Dec 2; 139(1):933-49, E-950-66. [Supported by Contract No. 290-97-0011; summarizes review of evidence on screening for obesity.]
Summaries for patients: Screening for obesity in adults: recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med Dec 2; 139(1):1-57. [Presents patient-oriented summary of USPSTF recommendations on screening for obesity.]
Blue Sheet
Obesity. Blue Sheet 2003 Dec 8, 46(48):12. [Summarizes USPSTF recommendations on
screening for obesity in adults.]
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Berenson AB, Breitkopf CR, Wu ZH. Reproductive correlates of depressive symptoms among
low-income minority women. Obstet Gynecol 2003 Dec; 102(6):1310-7. [Cites USPSTF
publication, What's New: Screening for Depression, 2002; cites AHRQ press release, U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force Now Finds Sufficient Evidence to Recommend Screening
Adults for Depression, May 2002; cites USPSTF depression screening guidelines as
published in Ann Intern Med, 2002.]
Pink Sheet
AHRQ obesity report recommends behavior therapy, is cautious on drugs. Pink Sheet 2003
Dec 8; 65(49):30. [Reviews USPSTF report, Screening for Obesity in Adults, released
December 1, 2003; cites provision in Medicare Rx bill providing $50 million to AHRQ in FY
2004 for cost-effectiveness research.]
Pediatrics
Takata GS, Chan LS, Morphew T, et al. Evidence assessment of the accuracy of methods of
diagnosing middle ear effusion in children with otitis media with effusion. Pediatrics 2003
Dec; 112(6):1379-87. [Supported by Contract No. 290-97-0001.]
Public Health Reports
Schulman S. Addressing the potential risks associated with ephedra use: a review of recent
efforts. Public Health Rep 2003 Nov-Dec; 118(6):487-92. [Cites AHRQ-funded evidence-based
study on ephedra by Shekelle et al., JAMA, 2003.]
SEA Currents
What's new at NLM, NN/LM and their partners? SEA Currents 2003 Nov-Dec; 21(6):21-5.
[Lists and describes AHRQ's Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults, based on current USPSTF
recommendations.]
Health Affairs
Schoenbaum SC, Audet AJ, Davis K. Obtaining greater value from health care: the roles of
the U.S. government. Health Aff 2003 Nov-Dec; 22(6):183-90. [Cites Commission's
recommendation to establish the National Quality Forum; cites AHRQ management of "an
active research program in quality of care and patient safety" in spite of funding that
"represents less than 0.02 percent of national health care spending and only 0.9 percent
of what the federal government spends on medical research through the National Institutes
of Health (NIH);" recommends establishment of new federal agency that would "separate the
generation of evidence by AHRQ, the NIH, and others from the translation of that evidence
into guidelines and standards."]
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Baier RR, Gifford DR, Lyder CH, et al. Quality improvement for pressure ulcer care in
the nursing home setting: the Northeast Pressure Ulcer Project. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2003
Nov-Dec; 4(6):291-301. [Uses AHRQ guideline, Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Prediction and
Prevention, 1992, to calculate process measures.]
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