Research Activities

February 2005, No. 294

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Contents

About Research Activities

Letter to Subscribers

Feature Story

Task Force recommends screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm for male smokers and former smokers ages 65 to 75

Elderly Health

Adding a breakfast portion to home-delivered meals can improve the lives of frail, homebound older adults

Clinical Decisionmaking

Following up on abnormal test results is challenging for busy doctors who view hundreds of results a week
Studies offer guidance to help physical therapists identify and refer patients at risk of deep vein thrombosis
Computed tomography may be more accurate than ultrasound for diagnosing appendicitis in adults and adolescents
Physicians often change their clinical decisions about management of cancer patients based on results of PET scans
Following protocols for managing hypertension and metabolic syndrome can reduce cardiovascular risk factors
Immediate postoperative ECG helps identify non-cardiac surgery patients at risk for cardiac complications
Diagnosis of celiac disease can be an exercise in clinical problem-solving
People with diabetes who have chronic hyperglycemia are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease

Women's Health

Women who are incontinent are more likely to complain about sexual problems than those with pelvic organ prolapse
Drug regimens for treating pelvic inflammatory disease should include metronidazole

Minority Health/Disparities

Study confirms underuse of lipid-lowering agents by Medicaid-insured minority patients with cardiovascular disease
Differences in coexisting illness do not explain racial/ethnic disparities in inpatient deaths from aspiration pneumonia
Study finds racial disparities in receipt of state-of-the-art care for HIV disease

Acute Care/Hospitalization

Out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation found to be associated with adverse outcomes for traumatic brain injury patients
New study sheds light on substantial injuries and deaths due to motorcycle accidents

Evidence-Based Medicine

Organizational research can help clinicians make decisions about staff and IT systems
Mentors may help accelerate the shift toward evidence-based nursing practice

Health Care Costs and Financing

Adoption of medical innovation, which is driving much of health care costs, is largely outside the control of health plans
Study documents cost-effectiveness of targeted chlamydia screening
Policies that have a deductible inserted in the middle instead of at the front expose enrollees to more risk
Policies are being considered to extend medical malpractice tort reforms to the nursing home sector

Agency News and Notes

AHRQ releases second national reports on health care quality and disparities

Annoucements

Journal focuses on evidence-based medicine
Grant final reports now available from NTIS
Research Briefs

Current as of February 2005
AHRQ Publication No. 05-0052

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Internet Citation:

Research Activities Newsletter. February 2005, No. 294. AHRQ Publication No. 05-0052. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/feb05/

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