Research Activities

November 1997, No. 210

---

Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

More prevalent severe obesity may explain black/white difference in stage at diagnosis of breast cancer

Departments

Outcomes/Effectiveness Research
   Using less expensive antibiotics to treat children's ear infections could save money without compromising care
   Low birthweight PORT publishes latest findings
   Stroke prevention studies examine outcomes and appropriateness of carotid endarterectomy
   People over 45 with pneumonia report fewer symptoms than younger people but may be at higher risk of death or complications
   Visual functioning and patient preferences should guide decisions about cataract surgery

Access to Care
   Millions face obstacles in accessing medical care

Primary Care/Managed Care
   Emergency diagnostic and treatment units may decrease hospitalization rates for adults with acute asthma
   HMO primary care physicians refer as many women as men to specialists

Health Care Financing
   Enrollees in Washington State's subsidized health insurance program did not have high use of services

Special Populations
   Less than one in five nursing home residents has a written advance directive
   Degree of acculturation affects risky behavior among pregnant women of Mexican origin

AHCPR News and Notes
   AHCPR announces first evidence report topics
   Call for papers issued for fourth "Building Bridges" conference

Announcements
   New publications now available from NTIS
   AHCPR funds new studies

Research Briefs
   The impact of neurologic disease on hospitalizations related to human immunodeficiency virus infection in Maryland 1991-1992
   The application of meta-analysis in assessing racial differences in the effects of antihypertensive medication

---

Internet Citation:

Research Activities newsletter. November 1997. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/nov97/

---