Research Activities

November 2001, No. 255

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Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

Studies show racial disparities in receipt of flu shots, cardiovascular surgery, and care preferences

Pharmaceutical Research

Drug benefit caps reduce use of essential drugs among older people who have multiple chronic illnesses

Women's Health

Low education and income are related to poor health, chronic illness, and depression among Medicare-insured older women
Disabled women who have difficulty walking are less likely than other women to receive Pap smears and mammograms
PEACH study examines the causes of upper genital tract infection in women with pelvic inflammatory disease

Clinical Decisionmaking

Measurement of muscle proteins may help ER doctors triage acute coronary syndrome patients who have normal ECGs
Physicians vary in their adherence to guidelines for managing high cholesterol among patients with atherosclerosis
Epoetin may reduce the need for transfusion in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation

Outcomes/Effectiveness Research

Men who have heart disease are at increased risk of BPH, but intense physical exercise may reduce the risk

Epidemiology

Variations in Asthma prevalence rates depend at least in part on diagnostic practices among different population groups

Quality of Care

Changes in physician behavior are necessary to improve quality of pediatric care
Researchers examine the impact of the health care workplace on quality of care and patient safety

Prevention

Computerized reminders dramatically improve preventive care for hospitalized patients
Rural family practice clinics often provide more preventive services than similar urban and suburban clinics
Evidence is inconclusive on the long-term benefits of newborn hearing screening
Researchers discuss preventive care recommendations from the third U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

HIV/AIDS Research

Racial/ethnic disparities remain in HIV-related hospitalizations, despite improved treatments
HCSUS studies examine mental health, drug abuse, insurance effects, and quality of life among people with HIV

Agency News and Notes

AHRQ releases first annual report on new CAHPS® database

Announcements

AHRQ awards nearly $3 million to build and support the research infrastructure

Research Briefs

Current as of November 2001
AHRQ Publication No. 02-0007

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Internet Citation:

Research Activities newsletter. November 2001, No. 255. AHRQ Publication No. 02-0007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/nov01/

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