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Articles of Interest

October 19, 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

American Journal of Medical Quality
Roberts LL, Ely JW, Ward MM. Factors contributing to maternal birth-related trauma. Am J Med Qual 2007 Sep-Oct; 22(5):334-43. [Supported by grant HS015009; uses AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data for 2003 and Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) and Inpatient Quality Indicator (IQI) tools.]

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Mack JW, Co JP, Goldmann DA, et al. Quality of health care for children: role of health and chronic illness in inpatient care experiences. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Sep; 161(9):828-34. [Supported by grant T32 HS00063.]

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Liang H, Chen D, Wang Y, et al. Different risk factor patterns for metabolic syndrome in men with spinal cord injury compared with able-bodied men despite similar prevalence rates. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2007 Sep; 88(9):1198-204. [Supported by grant R03 HS011277-01.]

Chest
Clancy CM, Slutsky JR. Guidelines for guidelines: we ve come a long way. Chest 2007 Sep; 132(3):746-7. [Authors are AHRQ director and center director, respectively.]

Gerontologist
Han B, McAuley WJ, Remsburg RE. Agency ownership, patient payment source, and length of service in home care, 1992-2000. Gerontologist 2007 Aug; 47(4):438-46. [Second author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.]

Health Care Financing Review
Alfreds ST, Tutty M, Savageau JA, et al. Clinical health information technologies and the role of Medicaid. Health Care Financ Rev 2006-2007 Winter; 28(2):11-20. [Supported by contract 6275-UMASS-00.]

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Glance LG, Osler TM, Mukamel DB, et al. Estimating the potential impact of regionalizing health care delivery based on volume standards versus risk-adjusted mortality rate. Int J Qual Health Care 2007 Aug; 19(4):195-202. [Supported by grant R01 HS13617.]

JAMA
Gray DT, Hollingsworth W, Deyo RA, et al. Thoracic and lumbar vertebroplasties performed in US Medicare enrollees, 2001-2005. JAMA 2007 Oct 17; 298(15):1760-2. [First author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.]

Journal of Clinical Hypertension
Cho AH, Voils CI, Yancy WS Jr, et al. Does participatory decision making improve hypertension self-care behaviors and outcomes? J Clin Hypertens 2007 May; 9(5):330-6. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS00079 to first author.]

Medical Decision Making
Col NF, Ngo L, Fortin JM, et al. Can computerized decision support help patients make complex treatment decisions? Med Decis Making 2007 Sep-Oct; 27(5):585-98. [Supported by grant R01 HS013329-01.]

Politi MC, Han PK, Col NF. Communicating the uncertainty of harms and benefits of medical interventions. Med Decis Making 2007 Sep-Oct; 27(5):681-95. [Supported by contract HHSA29020050013C and previously presented at the 2006 AHRQ Eisenberg Center Conference: Communication of Harms and Benefits of Prescription Pharmaceuticals to Healthcare Consumers.]

Holmes-Rovner M, Nelson WL, Pignone M, et al. Are patient decision aids the best way to improve clinical decision making? Report of the IPDAS Symposium. Med Decis Making 2007 Sep-Oct; 27(5):599-608. Supported by HS1 R13 HS016486-01.]

Lipkus IM. Numeric, verbal, and visual formats of conveying health risks: suggested best practices and future recommendations. Med Decis Making 2007 Sep-Oct; 27(5):697-713. [Supported by contract HHSA29020050013C and previously presented at the 2006 AHRQ Eisenberg Center Conference: Communication of Harms and Benefits of Prescription Pharmaceuticals to Healthcare Consumers.]

Preventing Chronic Disease
Haas JS, Fitzmaurice G, Brawarsky P, et al. Association of regional variation in primary care physicians' colorectal cancer screening recommendations with individual use of colorectal cancer screening. Prev Chronic Dis 2007 Oct; 4(4):A90. [Supported by grants P01 HS10771 and P01 HS10856.]

Social Science & Medicine
Winter L, Parker B. Current health preferences for life-prolonging treatments: an application of prospect theory to end-of-life decision making. Soc Sci Med 2007 Oct; 65(8):1695-707. [Supported by grant HS013785.]

Spine
Martin BI, Mirza SK, Comstock BA, Gray DT, et al. Are lumbar spine reoperation rates falling with greater use of fusion surgery and new surgical technology? Spine 2007 Sep 1; 32(19):2119-26. [Fourth author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. See also AHRQ funded/authored article by Mularski, et al. (Health Serv Res, 2007), cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

Health Care Financing Review
Miranda DJ. Health care quality reporting: changes and challenges. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Spring; 28(3):1-4. [Summarizes findings from article in same issue by Felt-Lisk, et al., cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products below that uses AHRQ's Consumer Assessment of Health Providers (HCAHPS).]

Wodchis WP, Hirth RA, Fries BE. Effect of Medicaid payment on rehabilitation care for nursing home residents. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Spring; 28(3):117-29. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Cohen and Dubay (Inquiry, 1990) and Cohen and Spector (J Health Econ, 1996).]

Health Services Research
Davern M, Rodin H, Blewett LA, et al. Are the Current Population Survey uninsurance estimates too high? An examination of the imputation process. Health Serv Res 2007 Oct; 42(5):2038-55. [Lists AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component (HC) as one of several national surveys that measure health insurance coverage.]

JAMA
Pronovost PJ, Miller M, Wachter RM. The GAAP in quality measurement and reporting. JAMA Oct 17; 298(15):1800-2. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Auerbach, et al. (N Engl J Med, 2007) and Pronovost, et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Duncan KD. Preventing pressure ulcers: the goal is zero. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Oct; 33(10):605-10. [Cites AHRQ guideline, Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Prediction and Prevention, 1992.]

LeMaster KM. Reducing incidence and prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers at Genesis Medical Center. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Oct; 33(10):611-6. [Cites AHRQ guideline, Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Prediction and Prevention, 1992, and AHRQ publication, Preventing Pressure Ulcers: A Patient's Guide, 1992; cites guideline summary Royal College of Nursing: Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment and Prevention, 2001, as identified in AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ guideline repository.]

Aron DC, Pogach LM. One size does not fit all: the need for a continuous measure for glycemic control in diabetes. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2007 Oct; 33(10):636-43. [Cites AHRQ guideline, Depression in Primary Care, Vol. 1: Detection and Diagnosis, 1993.]

Medical Decision Making
O'Connor AM, Stacey D, Barry MJ, et al. Do patient decision aids meet effectiveness criteria of the International Patient Decision Aid Standards Collaboration? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Med Decis Making 2007 Sep-Oct; 27(5):554-74. [Notes that fifth author, Eden KB, is currently directing PtDA development for the John M. Eisenberg Clinical Decisions and Communications Science Center funded by AHRQ (HHSA29020050013C), located at Oregon Health and Science University.]

Modern Healthcare
Lubell J. Death rates decline: study. Source says pressure from payers may be working. Mod Healthc 2007 Oct 15; 37(41):10. [Reviews findings from AHRQ report, Trends in Hospital Risk-Adjusted Mortality for Select Diagnoses and Procedures, 1994-2004, 2007.]

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

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Monk BJ, Herzog TJ. The evolution of cost-effective screening and prevention of cervical carcinoma: implications of the 2006 consensus guidelines and human papillomavirus vaccination. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007 Oct; 197(4):337-9. [Mentions that the consensus guidelines published in the same issue join the recommendations of the USPSTF and other organizations in an attempt to standardize cervical cancer screening practices in the United States.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Glynn RJ, Ridker PM, Goldhaber SZ, et al. Effect of low-dose aspirin on the occurrence of venous thromboembolism.: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2007 Oct 16; 147(8):525-33. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

JAMA
Newcomer JW, Hennekens CH. Severe mental illness and risk of cardiovascular disease. JAMA 2007 Oct 17; 298(15):1794-6. [Notes on first page that only a few states cover all treatments recommended in the US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines on smoking cessation, citing State Medicaid coverage for tobacco-dependence treatments—United States, 2005 (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2006).]

MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Colorectal cancer test use—Maryland, 2002-2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Sep 14; 56(36):932-6. [Cites USPSTF recommendation, Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Recommendations and Rationale, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Health Services Research
Mularski RA, Dy SM, Shugarman SR, et al. A systematic review of measures of end-of-life care and its outcomes. Health Serv Res 2007 Oct; 42(5):1848-70. [Ninth author is Ronda Hughes, researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; supported by contract 290-02-0003. See also article by Anderson, et al. (Am J Hematol, 2007) cited in Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products below.]

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Hematology
Anderson FA Jr, Zayaruzny M, Heit JA, et al. Estimated annual numbers of U.S. acute-care hospital patients at risk for venous thromboembolism. Am J Hematol 2007 Sep; 82(9):777-82. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 2003; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.]

Annals of Vascular Surgery
Henke P, Froehlich J, Upchurch G Jr, et al. The significant negative impact of in-hospital venous thromboembolism after cardiovascular procedures. Ann Vasc Surg 2007 Sep; 21(5):545-50. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 1998-2001.]

Chang DC, Lidor AO, Matsen SL, et al. Reported in-hospital complications following rib resections for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. Ann Vasc Surg 2007 Sep; 21(5):564-70. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 1999-2003.]

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Gardner R, Smith GA, Chany AL, et al. Factors associated with hospital length of stay and hospital charges of motor vehicle crash-related hospitalizations among children in the United States. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Sep; 161(9):889-95. [Uses 2003 data from the HCUP Kids Inpatient Database (KID).]

Archives of Surgery
Rodgers M, Jobe BA, O'Rourke RW, et al. Case volume as a predictor of inpatient mortality after esophagectomy. Arch Surg 2007 Sep; 142(9):829-39. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 1988-2000.]

Health Care Financing Review
Felt-Lisk S, Barrett A, Nyman R. Public reporting of quality information on Medicaid health plans. Health Care Financ Rev 2007 Spring; 28(3):5-16. [Uses AHRQ's Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) as a standard of comparison for identified state-level quality measures.]

Health Services Research
Morgan PA, Strand J, Ostbye T, et al. Missing in action: care by physician assistants and nurse practitioners in national health surveys. Health Serv Res 2007 Oct; 42(5):2022-37. [Uses 2003 MEPS data.]

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine
Lad SP, Path CG, Lad EM, et al. Trends in pathological vertebral fractures in the United States: 1993 to 2004. J Neurosurg Spine 2007 Sep; 7(3):305-10. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 1993-2004.]

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Arnold MA, Chang DC, Nabaweesi R, et al. Risk stratification of 4344 patients with gastroschisis into simple and complex categories. J Pediatr Surg 2007 Sep; 42(9):1520-5. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 1988-2003.]

Journal of Trauma
Pressley JC, Trieu L, Kendig T, et al. National injury-related hospitalizations in children: public versus private expenditures across preventable injury mechanisms. J Trauma 2007 Sep; 63(3 Suppl):S10-S19. [Uses 2003 HCUP KID data.]

Neuroepidemiology
Louis ED, Henchcliffe C, Bateman BT, et al. Young-onset Parkinson s disease: hospital utilization and medical comorbidity in a nationwide survey. Neuroepidemiology 2007 Sep 24; 29(1-2):39-43. [Uses HCUP NIS data for 1998-2003.]

Pediatrics
Miyake CY, Gauvreau K, Tani LY, et al. Characteristics of children discharged from hospitals in the United States in 2000 with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. Pediatrics 2007 Sep; 120(3):503-8. [Uses HCUP KID data for 2000. See also article by Roberts, et al. (Am J Med Qual, 2007) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Current as of October 2007

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, October 19, 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art101907.htm