Trends in Comorbidity, Disability, and Polypharmacy in Heart Failure

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 Medicine
Wong CY, Chaudhry SI, Desai MM, et al. Trends in comorbidity, disability, and polypharmacy in heart failure. Am J Med2011 Feb; 124(2):136-43. [Supported in part by grant 1 R01 HS16929-02.] Select to access the abstract.

Ruhnke GW, Coca-Perraillon M, Kitch BT, et al. Marked reduction in 30-day mortality among elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Am J Med 2011 Feb; 124(2):171-8.e1. [Supported in part by grant F32 HS16948-01; uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Field TS, Tjia J, Mazor KM, et al. Randomized trial of a warfarin communication protocol for nursing homes: an SBAR-based approach. Am J Med 2011 Feb; 124(2):179.e1-179.e7. [Supported by grant R01 HS16463.] Select to access the abstract.

Gastroenterology
Woreta TA, Sutcliffe CG, Mehta SH, et al. Incidence and risk factors for steatosis progression in adults coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus. Gastroenterology 2011 Mar; 140(3):809-17. [Supported in part by grant HS07809; see comments by McGovern (Gastroenterology, 2011), cited in AHRQ-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Elixhauser A, Andrews R. A tool for reporting hospital data on care. Health Aff 2011 Mar; 30(3):538. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery Organization and Markets; describes AHRQ's My Own Network, Powered by AHRQ (MONAHRQ) 1.0 and the forthcoming MONAHRQ 2.0 release in 2011, which "will add information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Hospital Compare on thirty-day mortality, readmissions, process of care measures, and patient assessments, based on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems [HCAHPS]", citing AHRQ's MONAHRQ Web site.]

Fleming NS, Culler SD, McCorkle R, et al. The financial and nonfinancial costs of implementing electronic health records in primary care practices. Health Aff 2011 Mar; 30(3):481-9. [Supported by grant 1 R03 HS18220-15; acknowledges support from AHRQ project officer Rebecca Roper; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006, prepared by the Southern California EPC under contract 290-02-0003; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, prepared by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)-Stanford EPC.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Sarkar U, Schillinger D, López A, et al. Validation of self-reported health literacy questions among diverse English and Spanish-speaking populations. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):265-71. [Supported in part by grants R18 HS17261-01 (to second author) and K08 HS17594 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Adolescent Health
Wheeler SB. Effects of self-esteem and academic performance on adolescent decision-making: an examination of early sexual intercourse and illegal substance use. J Adolesc Health 2010 Dec; 47(6):582-90. [Supported in part by National Research Service Award Pre-doctoral Traineeship grant T32 HS00032-20 (sponsored by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).] Select to access the abstract.

Pain Medicine
Upshur CC, Bacigalupe G, Luckmann R. "They don't want anything to do with you": patient views of primary care management of chronic pain. Pain Med 2010 Dec; 11(12):1791-8. [Supported by grant 1 R03 HS13455; uses "standardized ambulatory provider satisfaction questions (in Spanish and English) drawn from the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS®) validated surveys", citing CAHPS® : Surveys and Tools to Advance Patient-Centered Care, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Patient Education and Counseling
Meiksin R, Chang JC, Bhargava T, et al. Now is the chance: patient-provider communication about unplanned pregnancy during the first prenatal visit. Patient Educ Couns 2010 Dec; 81(3):462-7. [Supported in part by grant 1 K08 HS13913-01A1 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Pahel BT, Rozier RG, Stearns SC, et al. Effectiveness of preventive dental treatments by physicians for young Medicaid enrollees. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e682-e689. [Supported in part by National Research Service Award (NRSA) postdoctoral traineeship grant T32 HS00032-20 (sponsored by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to first author); cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on physicians' roles in preventing dental caries in preschool children (Am J Prev Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
Holden RJ, Patel NR, Scanlon MC, Shalaby TM, Arnold JM, Karsh BT. Effects of mental demands during dispensing on perceived medication safety and employee well-being: a study of workload in pediatric hospital pharmacies. Res Social Adm Pharm 2010 Dec; 6(4):293-306. [Supported in part by post-doctoral training grant 5 T32 HS00083-11 and grant 1 R01 HS13610 (to last author). Also refer to AHRQ-funded article by  Shamliyan et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) cited in  Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Nursing
Jablonski AM, Dupen AR, Ersek M. The use of algorithms in assessing and managing persistent pain in older adults. Am J Nurs 2011 Mar; 111(3):34-43. [Cites AHRQ publications, Clinical Practice Guideline Development: Methodology Perspectives, 1994, and Choosing Nonopioid Analgesics for Osteoarthritis: Clinician Summary Guide (as published in J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Gastroenterology
McGovern BH. Hepatitis steatosis in HIV/HCV-coninfected patients: time to reevaluate! Gastroenterology 2011 Mar; 140(3):772-5. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Woreta et al. (Gastroenterology, 2011), cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Health Affairs
Reinhard SC, Kassner E, Houser A. How the Affordable Care Act can help move states toward a high-performing system of long-term services and supports. Health Aff 2011 Mar; 30(3):447-53. Mentions AHRQ's involvement on advisory panels supporting a scorecard project for state-level long-term care services.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Care Management Science
Gopalappa C, Aydogan-Cremaschi S, Das TK, et al. Probability model for estimating colorectal polyp progression rates. Health Care Manag Sci 2011 Mar; 14(1):1-21. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Khandker et al. (Int J Technol Assess Health Care, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the Association for Information Systems
Payton FC, Paré G, LeRouge C, et al. Health care IT: process, people, patients and interdisciplinary considerations. J Assoc Inf Syst 2011 Feb; 12(2/3):ii-xiii. [Mentions that federal agencies such as AHRQ and the National Library of Medicine support research on information technology by awarding "considerable sums in grants to 'support organizational and community-wide implementation and diffusion of health information technology [HIT]' ", citing article by Tang et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2006), which discusses AHRQ's role in funding personal health record systems research.]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Jackson JC, Nguyen D, Hu N, et al. Alterations in medical interpretation during routine primary care. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):259-64. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Brach, Fraser (researcher and director, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), and Paez (Health Aff, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Pezzin LE, Feldman PH, Mongoven JM, et al. Improving blood pressure control: results of home-based post-acute care interventions. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):280-6. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000, and AHRQ-funded article by Carter et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2009).] Select to abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Sinaiko AD, Rosenthal MB. Increased price transparency in health care—challenges and potential effects. N Engl J Med2011 Mar 10; 364(10):891-4. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Hsu et al. (JAMA, 2008).]

Pediatrics
Seltz LB, Smith J, Durairaj VD, et al. Microbiology and antibiotic management of orbital cellulitis. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e566-e572. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Ruebner et al. (Pediatrics, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Epstein D, Wong CF, Khemani RG, et al. Race/ethnicity is not associated with mortality in the PICU. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e588-e597. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Fiscella, Franks, Gold, and Clancy (JAMA, 2000); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Slonim et al. (Health Serv Res, 2007) and Smink et al. (Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Wu YW, Xing G, Fuentes-Afflick E, et al. Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of cerebral palsy. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e674-e681. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Bruckner et al. (J Pediatr, 2009) and Fuentes-Afflick and Hessol (Am J Epidemiol, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Kronman MP, Hersh AL, Feng R, et al. Ambulatory visit rates and antibiotic prescribing for children with pneumonia, 1994-2007. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):411-18. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Grijalva et al. (Lancet, 2007), Linder et al. (JAMA, 2005), Stille et al. (Pediatrics, 2004), and Whittle et al. (Am J Med Qual, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Wirtschafter DD, Powers RJ, Pettit JS, et al. Nosocomial infection reduction in VLBW infants with a statewide quality-improvement model. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):419-26. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Horbar et al. (BMJ, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Kaplan HC, Lannon C, Walsh MC, et al. Ohio statewide quality-improvement collaborative to reduce late-onset sepsis in preterm infants. Pediatrics 2011 Mar;127(3):427-35. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Horbar et al. (Pediatrics, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Schulman J, Stricof R, Stevens TP, et al. Statewide NICU central-line-associated bloodstream infection rates decline after bundles and checklists. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):436-44. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Larson K, Russ SA, Kahn RS, et al. Patterns of comorbidity, functioning, and service use for US children with ADHD, 2007. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):462-70. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Starfield, Robertson, and Riley (Ambul Pediatr, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Binder S, Hill K, Meinzen-Derr J, et al. Increasing VLBW deliveries at subspecialty perinatal centers via perinatal outreach. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):487-93. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Phibbs et al. (N Engl J Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Miller MR, Bundy DG. Quality transformation efforts: no quick fixes. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):571-2. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (BMJ, 2010, and N Engl J Med, 2006) and Auerbach, Landefeld, and Shojania (N Engl J Med, 2007).]

Yagupsky P, Porsch E, St Geme JW 3rd. Kingella kingae: an emerging pathogen in young children. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):557-65. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline article, Practice Guideline for the Management of Infants and Children 0 to 36 Months of Age with Fever Without Source (Baraff et al., Ann Emerg Med, 1993).] Select to access the abstract.

Public Health Reports
Hong L, Ahmed A, McCunniff M, et al. Secular trends in hospital emergency department visits for dental care in Kansas City, Missouri, 2001-2006. Public Health Rep 2011 Mar-Apr; 126(2):210-19. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Cohen and Manski (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Fam Med, 2006), Mullins, Cohen, Magder, and Manski (J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2004), Cohen, Magder, Manski, et al. (Am J Emerg Med, 2003), Manski, Cohen, and Hooper (Gen Dent, 1998), and Cohen, Manski, and Hooper (J am Dent Assoc, 1996); cites AHRQ publication, Dental Use, Expenses, Private Dental Coverage, and Changes, 1996 and 2004, MEPS Chartbook 18, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Telemedicine and e-Health
Miller DM, Moore SM, Fox RJ, et al. Web-based self-management for patients with multiple sclerosis: a practical, randomized trial. Telemed J E Health 2011 Jan-Feb; 17(1):5-13. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and current AHRQ director,respectively) (JAMA, 2003); cites AHRQ publication, Patient Self-Management Support Programs: An Evaluation, 2007 (as prepared by RAND Health under contract 282-00-0005).] Select to access the abstract.

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

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Kuhlthau K, Jellinek M, White G, et al. Increases in behavioral health screening in pediatric care for Massachusetts Medicaid patients. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2011 Mar 7. [Epub ahead of print. Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening and treatment for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents (Pediatrics, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Bradley KA, Lapham GT, Hawkins EJ, et al. Quality concerns with routine alcohol screening in VA clinical settings. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):299-306. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce risk/harmful alcohol use by adults (Ann Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Women's Health
Feldstein AC, Perrin N, Rosales AG, et al. Patient barriers to mammography identified during a reminder program. J Womens Health 2011 Jan 28. [Epub ahead of print. Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009, as published on USPSTF Web site and AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Schneeweiss et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Laryngoscope
Dedhia RC, Smith KJ, Johnson JT, et al. The cost-effectiveness of community-based screening for oral cancer in high-risk males in the United States: a Markov decision analysis approach. Laryngoscope 2011 Mar 7. [Epub ahead of print. Discusses findings from USPSTF publication, Screening for Oral Cancer: Brief Evidence Update, 2004, recommending against routinely screening adults for oral cancer; cites Overview of HCUP as published on AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jackson E, Glasier A. Return of ovulation and menses in postpartum nonlactating women: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Mar; 117(3):657-62. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies.] Select to access the abstract.

Espey E, Ogburn T. Long-acting reversible contraceptives: intrauterine devices and the contraceptive implant. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Mar; 117(3):705-19. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for Chlamydial infection (Am J Prev Med, 2007) and gonorrhea (Ann Fam Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Vintzileos AM, Ananth CV. Electronic fetal monitoring as a public health screening program: the arithmetic of failure. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Mar; 117(3):730. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Intrapartum Electronic Fetal Monitoring, 1996, as published on USPSTF Web site.]

Grimes DA, Peipert JF. Electronic fetal monitoring as a public health screening program: the arithmetic of failure. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Mar; 117(3):731-2. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Intrapartum Electronic Fetal Monitoring, 1996, as published on USPSTF Web site.]

Committee on Gynecologic Practice. Colonoscopy and colorectal cancer screening strategies: Committee opinion number 482. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Mar;117(3):766-71. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer and associated targeted, systematic review by Whitlock et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008.]

Pediatrics
Brurås KR, Aukland SM, Markestad T, et al. Newborns with sonographically dysplastic and potentially unstable hips: 6-year follow-up of an RCT. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e661-e666. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored systematic literature review on screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (Pediatrics, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Hughes AR, Sherriff A, Lawlor DA, et al. Timing of excess weight gain in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e730-e736. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening and interventions for childhood overweight (Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Savoye M, Nowicka P, Shaw M, et al. Long-term results of an obesity program in an ethnically diverse pediatric population. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):402-10. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored targeted, systematic review on effectiveness of weight management interventions in children (Pediatrics, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Drake B, Jolley JM, Lanier P, et al. Racial bias in child protection? A comparison of competing explanations using national data. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):471-8. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening children for family violence (Ann Fam Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Donahue SP, Ruben JB, on behalf of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, et al. US Preventive Services Task Force vision screening recommendations. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):569-70. [Expresses support for - with qualifications - USPSTF recommendations on vision screening for children 1 to 5 years of age (Nicolella, Pediatrics, 2011).]

Balk SJ, Council on Environmental Health and Section on Dermatology. Ultraviolet radiation: a hazard to children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):e791-e817. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on skin cancer screening in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2003 and 2009.] Select to access the abstract.

Council on Environmental Health and Section on Dermatology. Ultraviolet radiation: a hazard to children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2011 Mar; 127(3):588-97. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statements, Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer, 2003, as published on AHRQ Web site, and Screening for Skin Cancer, in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2009, as published on USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Public Health Reports
Ross LE, Taylor YJ, Howard DL. Trends in prostate-specific antigen test use, 2000-2005. Public Health Rep 2011 Mar-Apr; 126(2):228-39. [Cites guideline synthesis Screening for Prostate Cancer, 2010, as published on AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ Web site, and USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Radiology
Helvie MA, N, et al. USPSTF erroneously understated life-years-gained benefit of mammographic screening of women in their 40s. Radiology 2011 Mar; 258(3):958-9. [Responds to USPSTF-sponsored article by Petitti, Calonge, LeFevre, Melnyk, Wilt, and Schwartz (authors are USPSTF members) (Radiology, 2010) which provides additional background on and rationale for updated USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening; cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer, associated evidence update by Nelson et al., and related AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (all published in Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Petitti DB, Calonge N, Melnyk BM, et al. Response: USPSTF erroneously understated life-years-gained benefit of mammographic screening of women in their 40s. Radiology 2011 Mar; 258(3):958-9. [Responds to commentary by Helvie cited above; cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Petitti, Calonge, LeFevre, Melnyk, Wilt, and Schwartz (authors are USPSTF members) (Radiology, 2010) which provides additional background on and rationale for updated USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening; cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009, as published on USPSTF Web site. Also refer to  articles by Pahel et al. (Pediatrics, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and by Shamliyan et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles below.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Leonard SA, Labiner-Wolfe J, Geraghty SR, et al. Associations between high prepregnancy body mass index, breast-milk expression, and breast-milk production and feeding. Am J Clin Nutr 2011 Mar; 93(3):556-63. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Buntin MB, Burke MF, Hoaglin MC, et al. The benefits of health information technology: a review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Aff 2011 Mar; 30(3):464-71. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, prepared by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)-Stanford EPC.] Select to access the abstract.

Fleming NS, Culler SD, McCorkle R, et al. The financial and nonfinancial costs of implementing electronic health records in primary care practices. Health Aff 2011 Mar; 30(3):481-9. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006, prepared by the Southern California EPC under contract 290-02-0003; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, prepared by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)-Stanford EPC.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Care Management Science
Isken MW, Ward TJ, Littig SJ. An open source software project for obstetrical procedure scheduling and occupancy analysis. Health Care Manag Sci 2011 Mar; 14(1):56-73. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Caughey et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on elective induction of labor versus expectant management of pregnancy, prepared by Stanford-UCSF EPC under contract 290-02-0017); cites data from AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site on length of stay for uncomplicated Cesarean deliveries nationwide in 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Lie DA, Lee-Rey E, Gomez A, et al. Does cultural competency training of health professionals improve patient outcomes? A systematic review and proposed algorithm for future research. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):317-25. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Strategies for Improving Minority Healthcare Quality, 2004; cites AHRQ-funded systematic reviews by Gozu et al. (Teach Learn Med, 2007) on self-administered instruments to measure cultural competence of health professionals, Price et al. (Acad Med, 2005) on the methodological rigor of studies evaluating cultural competence training of health professionals, and Beach et al. (BMC Public Health, 2006) on improving health care quality for racial/ethnic minorities and (Med Care, 2005) on cultural competence of health care provider educational interventions; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2005) and Brach and Fraser (researcher and director, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Med Care Res Rev, 2000); cites AHRQ-funded article by Reed et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Ehrenkranz NJ, Macintyre AT, Hebert PR, et al. Control of health care-associated infections (HAI): winning both the battles and the war. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):340-42. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001; cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Shamliyan TA, Johnson JR, Macdonald R, et al. Systematic review of the literature on comparative effectiveness of antiviral treatments for chronic hepatitis B infection. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):326-39. [Supported by contract 290-02-0009 to the Minnesota EPC; acknowledges support from AHRQ Task Order Officer Shilpa Amin (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence); cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Management of Chronic Hepatitis B, 2008; cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Slutsky, Atkins, Chang, and Sharp (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) (authors are current director, former researcher, medical officer, and former director, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence), which discusses AHRQ's Effective Health Care (EHC) Program and Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) program, and Chou, Aronson, Atkins, et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010); cites article by Helfand and Balshem (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010), which describes the "preliminary work and key principles that underlie the development of" AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Review, 2009 and discusses AHRQ's EPC program.] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Wing DA, Miller H, Parker L, et al. Misoprostol vaginal insert for successful labor induction: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Mar; 117(3):533-41. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Elective Induction of Labor, 2009. Also refer to article by Fleming et al. (Health Aff, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

[See also article by Fleming et al. (Health Aff, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above.]

National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles

Public Health Reports
Errickson SP, Alvarez M, Forquera R, et al. What will health-care reform mean for minority health disparities? Public Health Rep 2011 Mar-Apr; 126(2):170-5. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2008. Also refer to article by Burgess et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Epidemiology
Kivimäki M, Jokela M, Hamer M, et al. Examining overweight and obesity as risk factors for common mental disorders using fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) genotype-instrumented analysis: the Whitehall II Study, 1985-2004. Am J Epidemiol 2011 Feb 15; 173(4):421-9. [Uses study cohort study data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Diabetic Medicine
Witte DR, Shipley MJ, Marmot MG, et al. Performance of existing risk scores in screening for undiagnosed diabetes: an external validation study. Diabet Med 2010 Jan; 27(1):46-53. [Uses study cohort study data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift
Maass C, Schleiz W, Weyermann M, et al. [Are hospital administrative data suitable for external quality assurance?]Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2011 Mar; 136(9):409-14. [Uses AHRQ's Quality Indicators, citing AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Houchens, Elixhauser, and Romano (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2008), which uses 2003 HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data,  AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, and Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded article by White et al. (Med Care, 2009) and article by Romano et al. (Obstet Gynecol, 2005), which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and Quality Indicators, respectively.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Morrison RS, Dietrich J, Ladwig S, et al. Palliative care consultation teams cut hospital costs for Medicaid beneficiaries. Health Aff 2011 Mar; 30(3):454-63. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded article by Schneiderman et al. (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Juday T, Tang H, Harris M, et al. Adherence to chronic hepatitis B treatment guideline recommendations for laboratory monitoring of patients who are not receiving antiviral treatment. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):239-44. [Uses the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Burgess DJ, van Ryn M, Grill J, et al. Presence and correlates of racial disparities in adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Mar; 26(3):251-8. [Uses the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Ruhnke et al. (Am J Med, 2011) and Upshur, Bacigalupe, and Luckmann (Pain Med, 2010) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.