STS Database Risk Models: Predictors of Mortality and Major Morbidity for Lung Cancer Resection

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

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Kozower BD, Sheng S, O'Brien SM, et al. STS database risk models: predictors of mortality and major morbidity for lung cancer resection. Ann Thorac Surg 2010 Sep; 90(3):875-81; discussion 881-883. [Supported by grant K08 HS18049 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Strom BL, Schinnar R, Aberra F, et al. Unintended effects of a computerized physician order entry nearly hard-stop alert to prevent a drug interaction: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2010 Sep 27; 170(17):1578-83. [Supported in part by cooperative agreement grant U18 HS16946; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Lapane et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2008), Feldstein et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2006), Koppel et al. (JAMA, 2005), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Kirby JB, Lau DT. Community and individual race/ethnicity and home health care use among elderly persons in the United States. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1251-67. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 2000-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data; citing AHRQ publication, Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, MEPS Methodology Report No. 1, 1997, and AHRQ-authored article by Cohen, Monheit, Beauregard, Cohen, Lefkowitz, Potter, Sommers, Taylor, Arnett (current and former researchers in/directors of AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Inquiry, 1996-1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Anastario MP, Rodriguez HP, Gallagher PM, et al. A randomized trial comparing mail versus in-office distribution of the CAHPS Clinician and Group survey. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1345-59. [Supported in part by AHRQ, grant number not given (through the the Yale CAHPS® Grantee Contract); uses AHRQ's Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinician and Group survey (C/G CAHPS); cites AHRQ-sponsored publication, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinician and Group Survey: Submission to National Quality Forum, 2006, and articles by Elliott et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009) and de Vries et al. (Health Serv Res, 2005), both of which use CAHPS.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Utter GH, Cuny J, Sama P, et al. Detection of postoperative respiratory failure: how predictive is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety Indicator? J Am Coll Surg 2010 Sep; 211(3):347-54.e1-e29. [Supported in part by contract 290-04-0020; uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator SAS Software, Version 3.1, citing AHRQ Quality Indicators section as published on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site, Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, 2007, and AHRQ publication, Refinement of the HCUP Quality Indicators, Technical Review No. 4, 2001; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Houchens, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Deliver, Organization, and Markets) and Romano (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2008) and Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Miller (JAMA, 2003); cites articles by Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009), Bahl et al. (Med Care, 2008), and Scanlon et al. (Pediatrics, 2008), which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators or Pediatric Quality Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Walkup JT, Akincigil A, Amin S, et al. Prevalence of diagnosed HIV disease among Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia in U.S. metropolitan areas. J Nerv Ment Dis 2010 Sep; 198(9):682-6. [Supported in part by cooperative agreement grant U18 HS16097 (for the Center for Research and Education Mental Health Therapeutics at Rutgers, as part of AHRQ's Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) program).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Palliative Medicine
Reinke LF, Shannon SE, Engelberg R, et al. Nurses' identification of important yet under-utilized end-of-life care skills for patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. J Palliat Med 2010 Jun; 13(6):753-9. [Supported by grant R01 HS11425-02.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Kokorowski PJ, Routh JC, Graham DA, et al. Variations in timing of surgery among boys who underwent orchidopexy for cryptorchidism. Pediatrics 2010 Sep; 126(3):e576-e582. [Supported by grant T32 HS00063 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Medical Quality
Rogers RS, Pronovost P, Isaac T, et al. Systematically seeking clinicians' insights to identify new safety measures for intensive care units and general surgery services. Am J Med Qual 2010 Sep-Oct; 25(5):359-64. [Cites Patient Safety Indicators Overview, 2006, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ's publication, Advances in Patient Safety, Vol. 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded article by Iezzoni et al. (Med Care, 1994).] Select to access the abstract.

Stahel PF, Flierl MA, Smith WR, et al. Disclosure and reporting of surgical complications: a double-edged sword? Am J Med Qual 2010 Sep-Oct; 25(5):398-401. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Gallagher, Studdert, and Levinson (N Engl J Med, 2007).]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Bates DW. CPOE and clinical decision support in hospitals: getting the benefits. Arch Intern Med 2010 Sep 27; 170(17):1583-4. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Strom et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2010) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Family Medicine
Bloom MV, Huntington MK. Faculty, resident, and clinic staff's evaluation of the effects of EHR implementation. Fam Med 2010 Sep; 42(8):562-6. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by El-Kareh et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2009) and Tierney et al. (Acad Med, 1994).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Silber JH, Rosenbaum PR, Brachet TJ, et al. The Hospital Compare mortality model and the volume-outcome relationship. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1148-67. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Li, Cai, Glance, Spector (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Mukamel et al. (Am J Public Health, 2010) and Normand et al. (J Am Stat Assoc, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Meterko M, Wright S, Lin H, et al. Mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction: the influences of patient-centered care and evidence-based medicine. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1188-1204. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Davies et al. (Health Expect, 2008), O'Malley et al. (Health Serv Res, 2005), and Hargraves et al. (Health Serv Res, 2003), all of which uses CAHPS; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Hargraves et al. (Med Care, 2001), Landon et al. (JAMA, 2004 and 1998), and Cleary and Edgman-Levitan (JAMA, 1997); cites article by Goldstein et al. (Health Care Financ Rev, 2001), which uses CAHPS.] Select to access the abstract.

Yoo BK, Holland ML, Bhattacharya J, et al. Effects of mass media coverage on timing and annual receipt of influenza vaccination among Medicare elderly. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1287-1309. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Landon et al. (JAMA, 2004) and Schneider et al. (JAMA, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Neuman MD, Schwartz JS, Fleisher LA. Commentary: what conclusions can we draw from recent analyses of anesthesia provider model and patient outcomes? Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1390-1396; discussion 1397-1406. [Cites AHRQ publication, Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, 2007.]

Needleman J, Minnick AF. Response to commentary: what conclusions can we draw from recent analyses of anesthesia provider model and patient outcomes? Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1397-1406. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Silber et al. (Anesthesiology, 2002 and 2000); comments on and cites above article.]

McWilliams JM, Meara E, Zaslavsky AM, et al. Commentary: assessing the health effects of Medicare coverage for previously uninsured adults: a matter of life and death? Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1407-1422; discussion 1423-9. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Franks, Clancy (AHRQ director), and Gold (JAMA, 1993); cites AHRQ-funded articles by McWilliams et al. (JAMA and N Engl J Med, 2007), Baker et al. (Med Care, 2006 and 2002, Arch Intern Med, 2005, and N Engl J Med, 2001), and Sudano and Baker (Am J Public Health, 2003).]

Rosenbaum S. Data governance and stewardship: designing data stewardship entities and advancing data access. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1442-55. [Mentions that "Insight into how stakeholders view data stewards can be gleaned from public comments in response to a 2007 request for information (RFI) focusing on a national data stewardship project, which was issued by the [AHRQ]," citing Summary of Responses: National Health Data Stewardship Entity Request for Information, as issued by AHRQ on June 4, 2007, and Summary of Responses: National Health Data Stewardship RFI, as published on AHRQ's National Resource Center for Health Information Technology Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Lane J, Schur C. Balancing access to health data and privacy: a review of the issues and approaches for the future. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1456-67. [Notes data items omitted from MEPS and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data files and discusses AHRQ's data center usage access; notes that "microdata from the insurer/employer component of MEPS are only available through the Census Bureau RDCs"; cites AHRQ-authored article by Machlin, Cohen, Elixhauser, Beauregard, and Steiner (first, second, and fourth authors are current/former researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends and third and fifth authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Med Care, 2009), which uses 2002-2005 MEPS Household Component and Medical Provider Component data.] Select to access the abstract.

Bradley CJ, Penberthy L, Devers KJ, et al. Health services research and data linkages: issues, methods, and directions for the future. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1468-88. [Table 1 lists HCUP as example; Table 2 lists and describes HCUP and MEPS; recommends establishment of a panel of experts sponsored by AHRQ and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to "develop a comprehensive plan for expanding the warehouse of linked files" and establishment of a task force convened by AHRQ and NIH "to develop a robust set of policies, standards, and best practices for linking and using secondary data...".] Select to access the abstract.

Iezzoni LI. Multiple chronic conditions and disabilities: implications for health services research and data demands. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1523-40. [Notes recommendations by international health services research researchers to translate the Elixhauser comorbidity classification system into ICD-10 and to redo AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators using ICD-10-based codes.] Select to access the abstract.

Ringel JS, Eibner C, Girosi F, et al. Modeling health care policy alternatives. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1541-58. [Mentions AHRQ's MEPSIM, KIDSIM, and PUBSIM as models used to simulate policy changes; mentions and describes MEPS data files; cites AHRQ-authored article by Selden and Moeller (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Natl Tax J, 2000); cites MEPS Data and Analytic Capabilities for Supporting Health Policy Research, 2009, and MEPS LINK_96HC/IC: Household Component - Insurance Component Linked Data for 1996, 2000, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Shone et al. (Health Serv Res, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

McHugh M, Joshi M. Improving evaluations of value-based purchasing programs. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1559-69. [Recommends that AHRQ and other funding organizations "partner with researchers as early in the process as possible so that implementation studies can incorporate the planning stages;" notes delays associated with the OMB clearance process for federally funded research involving specified data collection activities, citing Navigating the OMB Clearance Process: Guidance for ACTION Task Orders, 2008; states that AHRQ and CMS "are the best positioned to fund and coordinate the development of new measures" on the relative performance of providers; proposes that "AHRQ convene a roundtable of experts … to consider ways in which researchers could conduct synthesis research or even meta-analyses of VBP evaluations"; cites AHRQ's Pay for Performance: The US Experience, 2009, and AHRQ-funded article by Rosenthal and Dudley (JAMA, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Luft HS. Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1570-80. [Mentions the near defunding of AHRQ, citing newspaper article by Meier (The New York Times, 2009), which discusses AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Acute Low Back Problems in Adults, 1994, and quotes AHRQ director Carolyn Clancy; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser (JAMA, 2007) and Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (former center director and AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Studdert (N Engl J Med, 2006), Werner and Asch (JAMA, 2005), and Hofer et al. (JAMA, 1999).] Select to access the abstract.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Wylie MC, Graham DA, Potter-Bynoe G, et al. Risk factors for central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric intensive care units. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Oct; 31(10):1049-56. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Jeffries et al. (Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2009) and Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Dale W. What is the best model for estimating joint health states utilities? Comparing the linear index model to the proportional decrement model. Med Dec Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30(5):531-3. [Comments on article by Hu and Fu (Med Decis Making, 2010), cited in Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products below; cites articles by Fu and Kattan (Med Care, 2008), which uses 2001-2003 MEPS data, and Boyd et al. (JAMA, 2005), which uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ for locating evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for various chronic diseases.]

Bundorf MK, Szrek H. Choice set size and decision making: the case of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Med Dec Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30(5):582-93. [Uses 2005 MEPS data generated from AHRQ's MEPSnet Web site as a nationally representative sample to compare with study population characteristics.] abstract.

Braddock CH 3rd. The emerging importance and relevance of shared decision making to clinical practice. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:5S-7S. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ling et al. (Med Care, 2008), Braddock et al. (JAMA, 1999), and Schulman et al. (N Engl J Med, 1999).]

Fowler FJ Jr. The origins of the DECISIONS survey. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:17S-19S. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Braddock et al. (JAMA, 1999) and Fowler (Eur Urol, 1991).]

Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Couper MP, Singer E, et al. The DECISIONS study: a nationwide survey of United States adults regarding 9 common medical decisions. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:20S-34S. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Levinson et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2005) and Braddock et al. (JAMA, 1999); cites articles by Fagerlin et al. (Med Decis Making, 2010), Hoffman et al. (Med Decis Making, 2010), and Ratanawongsa et al. (Med Decis Making, 2010) all cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles.]

Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Couper MP, Singer E, et al. Deficits and variations in patients' experience with making 9 common medical decisions: the DECISIONS survey. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:85S-95S. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Street et al. (Med Care, 2005), Whitney, McGuire, and McCullough (Ann Intern Med, 2003), Braddock et al. (JAMA, 1999), and others.]

Couper MP, Singer E, Levin CA, et al. Use of the Internet and ratings of information sources for medical decisions: results from the DECISIONS survey. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:106S-114S. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Hsu et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2005).]

Modern Healthcare
Robeznieks A. The fear factor. Malpractice reforms haven't done much to end defensive medicine and the costs it adds to the system. Mod Healthc 2010 Sep 13; 40(37):6-7. [Mentions AHRQ's award of "$25 million in grants for several patient safety and medical liability demonstration projects, with $2 million awarded to JBA/RAND to evaluate the findings from these projects and develop evidence to guide long-term solutions to current liability problems"; quotes remarks by AHRQ director Carolyn Clancy and AHRQ public affairs representative Karen Migdail.]

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

American Journal of Medical Quality
Parkinson MD, Ahluwalia JS, Shih DC, et al. Advancing aspirin utilization: a review of clinical and systems-based interventions. Am J Med Qual 2010 Sep-Oct; 25(5):351-8. [Notes the USPSTF's consistent "A" recommendation for "the use of low-dose aspirin for men aged 45 to 79 for the primary prevention of myocardial infarction and for women aged 55 to 79 for the primary prevention of ischemic stroke", citing USPSTF recommendation statement, Aspirin for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, 2009, as published on AHRQ Web site; describes AHRQ's Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP) campaign, citing Put Prevention Into Practice: Clinician's Handbook of Preventive Services, 2nd Edition, 1998, as published on AHRQ's Web site, and article by Thomas and Kamerow (Am J Prev Med, 1996), which discusses AHRQ's PPIP campaign; cites USPSTF recommendations in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2002; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites article by Pignone et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2007), which cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Maciosek et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2006) on the cost-effectiveness of preventive services considered effective by the USPSTF; cites AHRQ Evidence Review/Technology Assessment, Economic Incentives for Preventive Care, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Canadian Medical Association Journal
Smith RA. Mathematical models and cost-effective screening strategies for colorectal cancer. CMAJ 2010 Sep 7; 182(12):1283-4. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Zauber et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008), which evaluates test strategies for colorectal cancer screening to support USPSTF recommendations.]

Telford JJ, Levy AR, Sambrook JC, et al. The cost-effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer. CMAJ 2010 Sep 7; 182(12):1307-13. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites USPSTF-sponsored systematic review on the cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening (Pignone et al., Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ-funded article by Zauber et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008), which evaluates test strategies for colorectal cancer screening to support USPSTF recommendations.] Select to access the abstract.

Cereal Chemistry
Chapman JS, Steele FM, Eggett DL, et al. Stability of native folate and added folic acid in micronutrient-fortified corn masa and tortillas. Cereal Chem 2010 Sep-Oct; 87(5):434-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
Shellnut JK, Wasvary HJ, Grodsky MB, et al. Evaluating the age distribution of patients with colorectal cancer: are the United States Preventative Services Task Force guidelines for colorectal cancer screening appropriate? Dis Colon Rectum 2010 Jan; 53(1):5-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites AHRQ-funded article by Zauber et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008), which evaluates test strategies for colorectal cancer screening to support USPSTF recommendations; see also commentary by Zauber et al. (Dis Colon Rectum, 2010) below.] Select to access the abstract.

Zauber AG, van Ballegooijen M, Petitti D, et al. United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations: age to end screening misunderstood. Dis Colon Rectum 2010 Oct; 53(10):1453. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); comments on article by Shellnut et al. cited above; cites AHRQ-funded article by Zauber et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008), which evaluates test strategies for colorectal cancer screening to support USPSTF recommendation.]

Shellnut J, Wasvary H, Barkel D. The authors reply: United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations: age to end screening misunderstood. Dis Colon Rectum 2010 Oct; 53(10):1453. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); responds to commentary by Zauber et al. cited above.]

Medical Decision Making
Fagerlin A, Sepucha KR, Couper MP, et al. Patients' knowledge about 9 common health conditions: the DECISIONS study. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:35S-52S. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on on screening for colorectal cancer in adults at average risk (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ publication, Total Knee Replacement, 2003; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Williams et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2000) on newer pharmacotherapies for depression in adults; cites AHRQ-funded article by Braddock et al. (JAMA, 1999).]

Hoffman RM, Lewis CL, Pignone MP, et al. Decision-making processes for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening: DECISIONS survey. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30 Suppl 1:53S-64S. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on breast cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ-funded article by Braddock et al. (JAMA, 1999).]

Ratanawongsa N, Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Couper MP, et al. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct;30(5 Suppl):65S-76S. Race, ethnicity, and shared decision making for hyperlipidemia and hypertension treatment: the DECISIONS survey. [Cites article by Sheridan, Harris, and Woolf (Am J Prev Med, 2004) on USPSTF methodologies.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Koh HK, Sebelius KG. Promoting prevention through the Affordable Care Act. N Engl J Med 2010 Sep 30; 363(14):1296-1299. [Discusses the PPACA requirement that health insurance plans cover preventive services rated as "A" or "B" by the USPSTF.]

Thyroid
Costeira MJ, Oliveira P, Ares S, et al. Parameters of thyroid function throughout and after pregnancy in an iodine-deficient population. Thyroid 2010 Sep; 20(9):995-1001. [States that the USPSTF "suggests 'performing testing only in women with personal history or symptoms of thyroid disease and do not recommend universal testing', citing Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy, ACOG Practice Bulletin no. 37, 2002 (Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2002). See also article by Shamliyan et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Shamliyan T, Kane RL, Dickinson S. A systematic review of tools used to assess the quality of observational studies that examine incidence or prevalence and risk factors for diseases. J Clin Epidemiol 2010 Oct; 63(10):1061-70. ["Part of a larger collaborative project conducted by AHRQ to develop quality criteria to evaluate observational research"; from Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center; acknowledges assistance from David Atkins and Carmen Kelly, former and current researchers at AHRQ; cites AHRQ Evidence Review/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002 (from the University of California San Francisco-Stanford Evidence-based Practice Center); cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies.] Select to access the abstract.

Modern Healthcare
Rhea S. Proton pros and cons. Some cite dearth of studies on effectiveness; others see therapy's unique value. Mod Healthc 2010 Sep 27; 40(38):30-2. [Quotes Elise Berliner, director of AHRQ's health technology assessment program, on AHRQ technical brief, Particle Beam Radiation Therapies for Cancer, 2009.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Stein CM, Ray WA. The ethics of placebo in studies with fracture end points in osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 2010 Sep 30; 363(14):1367-70; discussion e21. [Cites AHRQ systematic review of the comparative effectiveness of treatments to prevent fractures in men and women with low bone density or osteoporosis (Ann Intern Med, 2008), performed by the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center. See also article by Parkinson et al. (Am J Med Qual, 2010) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles. ]

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

American Journal of Medical Quality
Bhalla R, Yongue BG, Currie BP, et al. Improving primary percutaneous coronary intervention performance in an urban minority population using a quality improvement approach. Am J Med Qual 2010 Sep-Oct; 25(5):370-7. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Bilheimer LT, Klein RJ. Data and measurement issues in the analysis of health disparities. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1489-1507. [Mentions the establishment of AHRQ by the Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999 and its direction to AHRQ to produce an annual National Healthcare Disparities Report; notes the first NHDR's distinction between disparity and inequity; notes the lack of income data in HCUP and that MEPS inputs missing income by linking to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).] Select to access the abstract.

Pronovost PJ, Goeschel CA. Viewing health care delivery as science: challenges, benefits, and policy implications. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 2):1508-22. [Notes the conclusion in AHRQ's 2008 NHQR that "most areas of quality lack valid measures to evaluate progress"; discusses the AHRQ-sponsored Michigan central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) program and notes implementation of the program in all 50 states; cites AHRQ's NHQR, 2007; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (Circulation, 2009, JAMA, 2007 and 2006, Health Serv Res, Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, and N Engl J Med, 2006), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Steyerberg EW, Lingsma HF. Complexities in quality-of-care information. Med Decis Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30(5):529-30. [Cites systematic review by Fung et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008), which uses AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR), 2004, and CAHPS® data.]

Dijs-Elsinga J, Otten W, Versluijs MM, et al. Choosing a hospital for surgery: the importance of information on quality of care. Med Dec Making 2010 Sep-Oct; 30(5):544-55. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Werner and Asch (JAMA, 2005) and Hibbard and Jewett (Health Aff, 1997); cites systematic review by Fung et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008), which uses AHRQ's NHQR, 2004, and CAHPS® data.] Select to access the abstract.

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Tsai CL, Clark S, Camargo CA Jr. Risk stratification for hospitalization in acute asthma: the CHOP classification tree. Am J Emerg Med 2010 Sep; 28(7):803-8. [Uses study cohort data from the AHRQ-funded National Emergency Department Safety Study supported by grant R01 HS13099.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Medical Quality
Gardner LA, Snow V, Weiss KB, et al. Leveraging improvement in quality and value in health care through a clinical performance measure framework: a recommendation of the American College of Physicians. Am J Med Qual 2010 Sep-Oct; 25(5):336-42. [Gives definitions of process measures and outcome measures from Using Measures on AHRQ's National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™ Web site; gives definition of access of care measures from Glossary on AHRQ's National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Chest
Link JJ, Glazer C, Torres FT, et al. ICD coding changes lead to profound declines in reported idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension mortality and hospitalizations: implications for database studies. Chest 2010 Aug 19. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1993-2007 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), citing data published on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Landon BE, O'Malley AJ, Giles K, et al. Volume-outcome relationships and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Circulation 2010 Sep 28; 122(13):1290-7. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Hockenberry JM, Lien HM, Chou SY. Surgeon and hospital volume as quality indicators for CABG in Taiwan: examining hazard to mortality and accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. Health Serv Res 2010 Oct; 45(5 Pt 1):1168-87. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Tsai et al. (Health Serv Res, 2006), Hannan et al. (Health Serv Res, 2005 and 1997, Med Care, 1992), and Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002 and Surgery, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Dental Association
Allareddy V, Lin CY, Shah A, et al. Outcomes in patients hospitalized for periapical abscess in the United States: an analysis involving the use of a nationwide inpatient sample. J Am Dent Assoc 2010 Sep; 141(9):1107-16. [Uses 2007 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), citing Nationwide HCUP Databases as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites article by Allareddy and Konety (Cancer, 2006), which uses 2000-2003 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Iezzoni et al. (JAMA, 1997 and 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Kumari M, Chandola T, Brunner E, et al. A nonlinear relationship of generalized and central obesity with diurnal cortisol secretion in the Whitehall II study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010 Sep; 95(9):4415-23. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Hu B, Fu AZ. Predicting utility for joint health states: a general framework and a new nonparametric estimator. Med Decis Making 2010 Jul 19; Online:E29-E39. [Uses 2001-2003 MEPS data to empirically test the proportional decrement model; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Yu and Machlin (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (J Econ Soc Meas, 2005), which uses MEPS data; cites AHRQ publication, Clinical Classifications for Health Policy Research: Hospital Inpatient Statistics, 1995, HCUP Research Note 3, 2000.] Select to access the abstract.

Vascular
Mousa AY, Dombrovskiy VY, Haser PB, et al. Thoracic aortic trauma: outcomes and hospital resource utilization after endovascular and open repair. Vascular 2010 Sep-Oct; 18(5):250-5. [Uses 2005-2006 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), which uses HCUP data. See also AHRQ-authored article by Kirby and Lau (Health Serv Res, 2010) and AHRQ-funded articles by Anastario et al. (Health Serv Res, 2010) and Utter et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2010) all cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.