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Articles of Interest

May 18, 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

Academic Emergency Medicine
Gorelick MH, Alessandrini EA, Cronan K, et al. Revised Pediatric Emergency Assessment Tool (RePEAT): a severity index for pediatric emergency care. Acad Emerg Med 2007 Apr; 14(4):316-23. [Supported by grant R03 HS11359.]

Vanderweil SG, Pelletier AJ, Hamedani AG, et al. Declining antibiotic prescriptions for upper torso respiratory infections, 1993-2004. Acad Emerg Med 2007 Apr; 14(4):366-9. [Supported by grant R01 HS013915.]

Arthritis and Rheumatism (Arthritis Care and Research
Yazdany J, Gillis ZJ, Trupin L, et al. Association of socioeconomic and demographic factors with utilization of rheumatology subspecialty care in systemic lupus erythematosus care. Arthritis Rheum 2007 May 15; 57(4):593-600. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS013893.]

Gillis ZG, Yazdany J, Trupin L, et al. Medicaid and access to care among persons with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 2007 May 15; 57(4):601-7. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS013893.]

BMC Family Practice
Yawn BP, Wollan PC, Yawn RA, et al. The gender specific frequency of risk factor and CHD diagnoses prior to incident MI: a community study. BMC Fam Pract 2007 Apr; 8:18. [Supported by grant R01 HS10239.]

Clinical Pediatrics
Sangvai S, Cipriani L, Colborn DK, et al. Studying injury prevention: practices, problems, and pitfalls in implementation. Clin Pediatr 2007 Apr; 46(3):228-35. [Supported by grant 5 R21 HS013523-02.]

General Hospital Psychiatry
Rothschild JM, Mann K, Keohane CA, et al. Medication safety in a psychiatric hospital. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2007 Mar-Apr; 29(2):156-62. [Supported by grant P01 HS11534-01.]

Health Affairs
Peters E, Hibbard J, Slovic P, et al. Numeracy skill and the communication, comprehension, and use of risk-benefit information. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):741-8. [Based on work supported by AHRQ's John M. Eisenberg Clinical Decisions and Communications Science Center under contract HHSA 29020050013C.]

Nalli GA, Scanlon DP, Libby D. Developing a performance-based incentive program for hospitals: a case study from Maine. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):817-24. [Supported by AHRQ, no grant number given.]

Health Care Financing Review
Yu H, Dick AW, Szilagyi PG. Role of SCHIP in serving children with special health care needs. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Winter; 28(2):53-64. [Supported by grant HS10450.]

Informatics in Primary Care
Nace GS, Graumlich JF, Aldag JC. Software design to facilitate information transfer at hospital discharge. Inform Prim Care 2006; 14(2):109-19. [Supported by grant 5 R01 HS015084.]

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Hellinger FJ. The changing pattern of hospital care for persons living with HIV: 2000 through 2004. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2007 Mar 29. [Epub ahead of print. Author is research in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.]

Journal of Aging and Social Policy
Sangl J, Buchanan J, Cosenza C, et al. The development of a CAHPS® instrument for nursing home residents (NHCAHPS). J Aging Soc Policy 2007; 19(2):62-82. [First author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.]

Journal of Ambulatory Care Management
WP Welch, Rudolph BA, Blewett LA, et al. Management tools for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). J Ambul Care Manag 2006 Oct-Dec; 29(4):272-82. [Supported by contract 290-00-0012.]

Journal of Clinical Oncology
Mack JW, Wolfe J, Grier HE, et al. Communications about prognosis between parents and physicians of children with cancer; parent preferences and the impact of prognostic information. J Clin Oncol 2006 Dec; 24(33):5265-70. [Supported by grant T32 HS00063.]

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Anderson BO, Carlson RW. Guidelines for improving breast health care in limited resource countries: the Breast Health Global Initiative. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2007 Mar; 5(3):349-56. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS015756-01.]

Neurology
Langfitt JT, McDermott MP, Messing S, et al. Healthcare costs decline after successful epilepsy surgery. Neurology 2007 Apr 17; 68(16):1290-8. [Supported by grant R01 HS09986.]

Psychiatric Services
Huskamp HA, Stevenson DG, Donohue JM, et al. Coverage and prior authorization of psychotropic drugs under Medicare Part D. Psychiatr Serv 2007 Mar; 58(3):308-10. [Supported by grant P01 HS10803.]

Women s Health Issues
Bird CE, Fremond AM, Bierman AS, et al. Does quality of care for cardiovascular disease and diabetes differ by gender for enrollees in managed care plans? Women's Health Issues 2007 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract 290-00-0012; third author is former AHRQ researcher. Also go to AHRQ-funded article by Lederle, et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007), cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Health Line
Comparative effectiveness: bill proposed in House. Am Health Line 2007 May 16. [Reviews provisions of legislation that would provide $3 billion over five years to fund comparative effectiveness studies being conducted by [AHRQ] on drugs, medical devices and treatments.]

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Chung CP, Avalos I, Oeser A, et al. High prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with disease characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors. Ann Rheum Dis 2007 Feb; 66(2):208-14. [First author also received AHRQ grant 5 U18 010384-07S1.]

Health Affairs
Polinski JM, Wang Ps, Fischer MA. Medicaid's prior authorization program and access to atypical antipsychotic medications. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):750-60. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Banthin and Miller (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care, 2006) and cites AHRQ DEcIDE Network.]

Riley GF. Long-term trends in the concentration of Medicare spending. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):808-16. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Cohen, Ezzati-Rice and Yu (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care, 2006), Hellinger and Wong (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization and Markets) (Med Care Res Rev, 2000), and Zuvekas and Cohen (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Health Aff, 2007).]

Buerhaus PI, Donelan K, Ulrich BT, et al. Impact of the nurse shortage on hospital patient care: comparative perspectives. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):853-62. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Needleman et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002) and AHRQ-authored article by Kovner and Gergen (former AHRQ researchers) (Image J Nurs Scholarsh, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded Institute of Medicine report, Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses, 2004).]

Health Affairs Web Exclusives
Baicker K, Buckles KS, Chandra A. Geographic variation in the appropriate use of cesarean delivery. Health Aff 2006 Sep-Oct; 25(5):w355-67. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Shekelle, et al. (N Engl J Med, 1998), and Ayanian, et al. (N Engl J Med, 1998).]

Wilensky GR. Developing a center for comparative effectiveness information. Health Aff 2006 Nov-Dec; 25(6):w572-85. [Discusses AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program and its relation to a proposed comparative effectiveness organization.]

Buto K, Juhn P. Can a center for comparative effectiveness information succeed? Perspectives from a health care company. Health Aff 2006 Nov-Dec; 25(6):w586-8. [Second author is a member of the Stakeholder Group for AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program; states that there should be linkage between AHRQ and this new entity and that AHRQ's critical role in sponsoring health services research should be maintained.]

Rowe JW, Cortese DA, McGinnis JM. The emerging context for advances in comparative effectiveness assessment. Health Aff 2006 Nov-Dec; 25(6):w593-5. [Discusses AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program.]

JAMA
Zarin DA, Ide NC, Tse T, et al. Issues in the registration of clinical trials. JAMA 2007 May 16; 297(19):2112-20. [First author is former AHRQ technology assessment program director; notes receipt of AHRQ research support by the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education, which employs fifth author, West JC.]

Modern Healthcare
Conn J. Blues pitch institute: some question insurer-paid efficacy research. Mod Healthc 2007 May 14; 37(20):8-9. [Notes that insurance industry organizations seek to create an independent, public-private organization that would perform research in some areas already being addressed by a relatively new program under the federally funded [AHRQ].]

Surgery
Makary MA, Epstein J, Pronovost PJ, et al. Surgical specimen identification errors: a new measure of quality in surgical care. Surgery 2007 Apr; 141(4):450-5. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Makary, et al. (Ann Surg, 2006 and J Am Coll Surg, 2006), Raab, et al. (Cancer, 2005), Zarbo, et al. (Arch Pathol Lab Med, 2005), Pronovost et al. (Lancet, 2004 and Jt Comm J Qual Saf, 2006), and Jha, et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 1998).]

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

Annals of Internal Medicine
Kim LG, Scott AP, Ashton HA, et al. A sustained mortality benefit from screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ann Intern Med 2007 May 15; 146(10):699-706. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (Ann Intern Med, 2005).]

Birkmeyer JD, Upchurch GR Jr. Evidence-based screening and management of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ann Intern Med 2007 May 15; 146(10):749-50. [Mentions and cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (Ann Intern Med, 2005).]

Cohen JT, Neumann PJ. What s more dangerous, your aspirin or your car? Thinking rationally about drug risks (and benefits). Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):636-46. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, "Aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events: recommendations and rationale" (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Lederle FA, Kane RL, MacDonald R, et al. Systematic review: repair of unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ann Intern Med 2007 May 15; 146(10):735-41. [Supported by contract 290-02-0009 to the Minnesota AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center; summarizes and updates portions of AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Comparison of Endovascular and Open Surgical Repairs for Adnominal Aortic Aneurysm, 2006.]

Annals of Surgery
Michaels RK, Makary MA, Dahab Y, et al. Achieving the National Quality Forum s never events: prevention of wrong site, wrong procedure, and wrong patient operations. Ann Surg 2007 Apr; 345(4):526-32. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.]

Health Affairs
Juhn P, Phillips A, Buto K. Balancing modern medical benefits and risks. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):647-52. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Total Knee Replacement, 2003.]

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Arthritis and Rheumatism
Yelin E, Murphy L, Cisternas MG, et al. Medical care expenditures and earnings losses among persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003, and comparisons with 1997. Arthritis Rheum 2007 May; 56(5):1397-407. [Uses data from AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 1997 and 2003.]

Health Affairs
Zhang Y, Soumerai SB. Do newer prescription drugs pay for themselves? A reassessment of the evidence. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):880-6. [Uses 1996-1998 MEPS data.]

Lichtenberg FR. Effects of new drugs on overall health spending: Frank Lichtenberg responds. Health Aff 2007 May-Jun; 26(3):887-90. [Uses 1999 and 2002 MEPS data; cites findings from AHRQ-authored article by Miller, Moeller, and Stafford (Inquiry 2005-2006).]

Health Affairs Web Exclusives
Thorpe KE, Howard DH. The rise in spending among Medicare beneficiaries: the role of chronic disease prevalence an changes in treatment intensity. Health Aff 2006 Sep-Oct; 25(5):w378-88. [Uses 1987 data from AHRQ's National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) and 2002 MEPS data.]

Thorpe KE, Howard DH. Rising Medicare costs: the authors respond. Health Aff 2006 Sep-Oct; 25(5):w391-2. [Uses 1987 NMES data and 2002 MEPS data.]

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Badrick E, Kirschbaum C, Kumari M. The relationship between smoking status and cortisol secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 Marl 92(3):819-24, [Analyzes data collected under the Whitehall II study, supported by grant HS06516.]

Journal of Urology
Joudi FN, Allareddy V, Kane CJ, et al. Analysis of complications following partial and total nephrectomy for renal cancer in a population based sample. J Urology 2007 May; 177(5):1709-14. [Uses data from AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2000-2003.]

Current as of May 2007

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, May 18, 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art051807.htm