Table
of Contents
Final Draft
Technology Assessment Report
Project ID: CRDT0607
February 29, 2008
Tufts-NEMC Evidence-based Practice Center
Gowri Raman, MD
Deirdre DeVine, MLitt
Joseph Lau, MD
This report is based on research conducted by the Tufts-New
England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC)
under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-02-0022). The findings
and conclusions in this document are those of the authors who
are responsible for its contents. The findings and conclusions
do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore,
no statement in this report should be construed as an official
position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The information in this report is intended to help health
care decision-makers; patients and clinicians, health system
leaders, and policymakers, make well-informed decisions and
thereby improve the quality of health care services. This report
is not intended to be a substitute for the application of clinical
judgment. Decisions concerning the provision of clinical care
should consider this report in the same way as any medical
reference and in conjunction with all other pertinent information,
i.e., in the context of available resources and circumstances
presented by individual patients.
This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis
for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality
enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage
policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or
implied.
None of the investigators has any affiliations or financial
involvement related to the material presented in this report.