Appendix III

AHRQ Procedure for Preparing Surveillance Literature Summary

LitWatch Instructions

LitWatch is to be completed every 4-8 weeks, to ensure timely data gathering. Articles for consideration should address primary or secondary preventive interventions in the general primary care setting. (For example, an article on cancer screening in diabetics who work in a dye factory would not be included.) Topics of interest are screening, preventive services, effectiveness of early treatment of screen-detected disease, cost-effectiveness analysis for prevention services or early treatment, new technologies, and methodologies. Special attention should be given to topics currently or previously reviewed by the USPSTF. Articles on vaccines (except HPV or a new breakthrough vaccine), community interventions, or general review articles (unless systematic) should not be included. Articles should be considered for inclusion in the LitWatch if they meet the following criteria: possible impact on past USPSTF recommendations, new evidence, and/or importance to current reviews of the USPSTF.

The Table of Contents (TOC) for the following journals will be reviewed for potential articles. A list of potentially important articles will be sent to the USPSTF Scientific Director, the AHRQ lead for the Topic Prioritization Work Group (TP WG), and other medical officers and team members. The USPSTF Scientific Director and the AHRQ lead for the TP WG will review the list for studies that may impact significantly the current or past recommendations and bring these to the attention of the TP WG for discussion.

1. AAP Grand Rounds (American Academy of Pediatricians Grand Rounds). Released monthly, e-TOC available.
2. AFP (American Family Physician). Released on the 1^st and 15^th of the month, e-TOC not-available. Access the Table of Contents on the journal Web site.
3. Am Journal of EPI (American Journal of Epidemiology). Released on the 1^st and 15^th, e-TOC available.
4. AJPM (American Journal of Preventive Medicine). Released 10 times per year, e-TOC available.
5. Annals of Family Medicine. Released bimonthly, e-TOC available.
6. Annals of Internal Medicine. Released 1^st and 15^th, e-TOC available.
7. BMJ (British Medical Journal). Released weekly (Saturdays), e-TOC available.
8. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). Released weekly (Wednesdays), e-TOC available.
9. Journal of Medical Screening. Released quarterly, e-TOC available.
10. JNCI (Journal of the National Cancer Institute). Released 2^nd and 16^th, e-TOC available.
11. The Lancet. Released weekly (Saturday), e-TOC available.
12. MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).. Released weekly (Friday), e-TOC available.
13. NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine). Released weekly (Thursday), e-TOC available.
14. Obstet Gynecol (Obstetrics and Gynecology). Released monthly, e-TOC available.
15. Pediatrics. Released monthly, e-TOC available.
16. Preventing Chronic Disease. Released quarterly, e-TOC available.
17. ACPM Journal Watch (American College of Preventive Medicine) Released quarterly, no electronic notification established.

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