Emergency Research: Using Exception from Informed Consent, Evaluation of Community Consultations

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

Academic Emergency Medicine
Govindarajan P, Dickert NW, Meeker M, et al. Emergency research: using exception from informed consent, evaluation of community consultations. Acad Emerg Med 2013 Jan; 20(1):98-103. [Supported by Career Development Award grant 1 K08 HS17965 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

AIDS
Palar K, Wagner G, Ghosh-Dastidar B, et al. Role of antiretroviral therapy in improving food security among patients initiating HIV treatment and care. AIDS 2012 Nov; 26(18):2375-81. [Supported by grant T32 HS00046 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Cardiology
Seicean S, Strohl KP, Seicean A, et al. Sleep disordered breathing as a risk of cardiac events in subjects with diabetes mellitus and normal exercise echocardiographic findings. Am J Cardiol 2013 Apr 15; 111(8):1214-20. [Supported by grant HS00059 (attributed to NIH).]  Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Sports Medicine
McCullough KA, Phelps KD, Spindler KP, et al. Return to high school and college-level football after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) cohort study. Am J Sports Med 2012 Nov; 40(11):2523-9. [Supported by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) grant 5 U18 HS16075.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Emergency Medicine
Karaca Z, Wong HS, Mutter RL. Duration of patients' visits to the hospital emergency department. BMC Emerg Med 2012 Nov 6; 12:15. [Second and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses 2008 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data for Arizona, Massachusetts, and Utah, and AHRQ's HCUP Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), citing AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

BMJ Quality and Safety
Romagnoli KM, Handler SM, Ligons FM, et al. Home-care nurses' perceptions of unmet information needs and communication difficulties of older patients in the immediate post-hospital discharge period. BMJ Qual Saf 2013 Apr; 22(4):324-32. [Supported by grant R01 HS18721; briefly describes AHRQ's Project BOOST and Project RED (Re-engineered Discharge) programs.]  Select to access the abstract.

Cancer
Davidoff AJ, Erten M, Shaffer T, et al. Out-of-pocket health care expenditure burden for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer. Cancer 2013 Mar 15; 119(6):1257-1265. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ’s Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Brennan JM, Edwards FH, Zhao Y, et al. Long-term safety and effectiveness of mechanical versus biologic aortic valve prostheses in older patients: results from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery National Database. Circulation 2013 Apr 23;127(16):1647-55. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2005-0032-I-TO2-WA3 as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program.] Select to access the abstract.

Current Rheumatology Reports
Goode AP, Carey TS, Jordan JM. Low back pain and lumbar spine osteoarthritis: how are they related? Curr Rheumatol Rep 2013 Feb;15(2):305. [Supported by K-12 Comparative Effectiveness Career Development Award grant HS19479-01 (to first author).]  Select to access the abstract.

Emergency Medicine Journal
Govindarajan P, Desouza NT, Pierog J, et al. Feasibility study to assess the use of the Cincinnati stroke scale by emergency medical dispatchers: a pilot study. Emerg Med J 2012 Oct;29(10):848-50. [Supported by grant K08 HS17965-02 to first author.] Select to access the abstract.

Geriatric Nursing
Wagner LM, Castle NG, Handler SM. Use of HIT for adverse event reporting in nursing homes: barriers and facilitators. Geriatr Nurs 2013 Mar-Apr;34(2):112-15. [Supported by grants R03 HS16547-01 (Survey of Incident Reporting Systems in Nursing Homes) and 1 R01 HS18721-01 (Enhancing the Detection and Management of Adverse Drug Events in the Nursing Home).]   Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Medical Informatics
Hundt AS, Adams JA, Schmid JA, et al. Conducting an efficient proactive risk assessment prior to CPOE implementation in an intensive care unit. Int J Med Inform 2013 Jan; 82(1):25-38. [Supported by grant R01 HS15274.]  Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of STD & AIDS
Andersson KM, Vardas E, Niccolai LM, et al. Anticipated changes in sexual risk behavior following vaccination with a low-efficiency HIV vaccine: survey results from a South African township. Int J STD AIDS 2012 Oct; 23(10):736-41. [Supported by grant T32 HS17589 (to first author).]  Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Internal Medicine
McConnell KJ, Lindrooth RC, Wholey DR, et al. Management practices and the quality of care in cardiac units. JAMA Intern Med 2013 Apr 22; 123(8):684-92. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS18466; refer to comments by Armstrong, Fox, and Chapman (JAMA Intern Med, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Chen J, Dharmarajan K, Wang Y, et al. National trends in heart failure hospital stay rates, 2001-2009. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013 Mar 12; 61(10):1078-88. [Supported by Career Development Award grant 1 K08 HS18781-01 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Patel MB, Guillamondegui OD, Ott MM, et al. O' surgery case log data, where art thou? J Am Coll Surg 2012 Sep; 215(3):427-31. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS13833-08 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Toneva GD, Deierhoi RJ, Morris M, et al. Oral antibiotic bowel preparation reduces length of stay and readmissions after colorectal surgery. J Am Coll Surg 2013 Apr; 216(4):756-63; discussion 762-3. [Supported by grant T32 HS13852.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Hospital Medicine
Delgado MK, Liu V, Pines JM, Kipnis P, Gardner MN, Escobar GJ. Risk factors for unplanned transfer to intensive care within 24 hours of admission from the emergency department in an integrated healthcare system. J Hosp Med 2013 Jan; 8(1):13-19. [Supported by grants T32 HS00028 (to first author), F32 HS19181-01 (to second author), and grant 1 R01 HS18480-01 (to fourth and sixth authors).]  Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Rural Health
Goode AP, Freburger JK, Carey TS. The influence of rural versus urban residence on utilization and receipt of care for chronic low back pain. J Rural Health 2013 Spring; 29(2):205-14. [Supported by K-12 Comparative Effectiveness Career Development Award grant HS19479-01 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Surgical Research
Patel MB, Guuillamondegui OD, May AK, et al. Twenty-year analysis of surgical resident operative trauma experiences. J Surg Res 2013 Apr; 180(2):191-5. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS13833-08 (to first author).]  Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Min L, Burruss S, Morley E, Mody L, et al. A simple clinical risk nomogram to predict mortality-associated geriatric complications in severely injured geriatric patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2013 Apr; 74(4):1125-32. [Supported by grant R18 HS19979 (to fourth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Urology
Gadzinski AJ, Dimick JB, Ye Z, Miller DC. Inpatient urological surgery at critical access hospitals in the United States. J Urol 2013 Apr;189(4):1475-80. [Supported by grant K08 HS18346-01 (to fourth author); uses 2005-2009 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, AHRQ's HCUP CCS, HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, and Tools for More Accurate Inpatient Cost Estimates with HCUP Databases, 2009, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998)] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Davidoff A, Shaffer T, Erten MZ, et al. Use and spending on antineoplastic therapy for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer. Med Care 2013 Apr; 51(4):351-60. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.]  Select to access the abstract.

Nicotine & Tobacco Research
Kistler CE, Goldstein AO. The risk of adverse cardiovascular events from varenicline balanced against the benefits in mortality from smoking cessation. Nicotine Tob Res 2012 Dec; 14(12):1391-3. [Supported by Mentored Career Development grant K12 HS19468-01 (to first author).]  Select to access the abstract.

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Goode AP, Marshall SW, Kraus VB, et al. Association between serum and urine biomarkers and lumbar spine individual radiographic features: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2012 Nov;20(11):1286-93. [Supported by K-12 Comparative Effectiveness Career Development Award grant HS19479-01 (to first author).]  Select to access the abstract.

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
Dusetzina SB, Busch AB, Conti RM, et al. Changes in antipsychotic use among patients with severe mental illness after a Food and Drug Administration advisory. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2012 Dec; 21(12):1251-60. [Supported by grant R01 HS18996-0.]  Select to access the abstract.

Yun H, Curtis JR, Saag K, et al. Generic alendronate use among Medicare beneficiaries: are Part D data complete? Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2013 Jan; 22(1):55-63. [Supported by grant R01 HS18517 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Population Health Management
Nadpara PA, Madhavan SS, Khanna R, et al. Patterns of cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and follow-up treatment in a state Medicaid fee-for-service population. Popul Health Manag 2012 Dec; 15(6):362-71. [Supported by grant P20 HS15930 (to second author); selects recipients based on USPSTF-recommended age ranges for cervical cancer screening, citing USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Cervical Cancer, 2012.]  Select to access the abstract.

Preventing Chronic Disease
Steiner CA, Friedman B. Hospital utilization, costs, and mortality for adults with multiple chronic conditions, Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2009. Prev Chron Dis 2013 Apr 25; 10:E62. [Authors are current and former researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses 2009 HCUP NIS data compiled in an internal enhanced version to produce robust national estimates stratified by race and ethnicity, citing HCUP NIS Database Documentation, 2013, and uses Clinical Classifications System categories, citing HCUP CCS, 2012, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; notes use of the same data preparation methods for the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), citing NHDR, 2010, and Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Ninth (2011) National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), 2011, HCUP Methods Series Report 2011-06, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.

Machlin SR, Soni A. Health care expenditures for adults with multiple treated chronic conditions: estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2009. Prev Chron Dis 2013 Apr 25; 10:E63. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component (MEPS-HC) and MEPS Medical Provider Component (MEPS-MPC) data, citing Total Expenses and Percent Distribution for Selected Conditions by Type of Service: United States, 2010, Obesity in America: Estimates for the US Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population Age 20 and Older, 2009, 2012, Healthcare Expenses for Chronic Conditions Among Non-Elderly adults: Variations by Insurance Coverage, 2005-2006 (Average Annual Estimates), 2009, Top 10 Most Costly Conditions Among Men and Women, 2008: Estimates for the US Civilian Noninstitutionalized Adult Population, Age 18 and Older, 2011, The Concentration of Health Care Expenditures and Related Expenses for Costly Medical Conditions, 2009, Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1997, Sample Design of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1998-2007, 2008, and Design, Methods, and Field Results of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Medical Provider Component (MEPS MPC)—2006 Calendar Year Data, 2008, all published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; also cites AHRQ publication, Protection of Human Subjects in Research, 2005, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]  Select to access the abstract.

Psychiatric Services
Husky MM, Olfson M, He JP, et al. Twelve-month suicidal symptoms and use of services among adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey. Psychiatr Serv 2012 Oct; 63(10):989-96. [Supported by grant U18 HS02112 (to second author).]  Select to access the abstract.

Dusetzina SB, Farley JF, Weinberger M, et al. Treatment use and costs among privately insured youths with diagnoses of bipolar disorder. Psychiatr Serv 2012 Oct; 63(10):1019-25. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS00032-20.] Select to access the abstract.

Prince JD, Walkup J, Akincigil A, et al. Serious mental illness and risk of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses: an analysis of Medicaid beneficiaries in eight states. Psychiatr Serv 2012 Oct; 63(10):1032-8. [Supported by CERTs grant U18 HS16097 through the Center for Research and Education on Mental Health Therapeutics at Rutgers University.] Select to access the abstract.

Dusetzina SB, Cook BL, Busch AB, et al. Racial-ethnic differences in incident olanzapine use after an FDA advisory for patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatr Serv 2013 Jan; 64(1):83-7. [Supported by grant R01 HS18996-0.]  Select to access the abstract.

Quality Management in Health Care
McAlearney AS, Terris D, Hardacre J, et al. Organizational coherence in health care organizations: conceptual guidance to facilitate quality improvement and organizational change. Qual Manage Health Care 2013 Apr-Jun; 22(2):86-99. [Supported by AHRQ (no funding information given) for pilot studies reported by first author in AHRQ-authored articles by McAlearney, Garman, Song, McHugh, Robbins, and Harrison (last author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) and Garman, McAlearney, Harrison et al. (both in Health Care Manage Rev, 2011). ]

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Law & Medicine
Hoffman AK, Jackson HE. Retiree out-of-pocket healthcare spending: a study of consumer expectations and policy implications. Am J Law Med 2013; 39(1):62-133. [Briefly describes MEPS as one of three datasets considered by researchers to have the most accurate out-of-pocket spending data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Managed Care
Melton LD, Foreman C, Scott E, et al. Prioritized post-discharge telephone outreach reduces hospital readmissions for select high-risk patients. Am J Manag Care 2012 Dec; 18(12):838-44. [Cites AHRQ publication, Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations for Acute and Chronic Conditions, 2008, HCUP Statistical Brief 99, 2010.]  Select to access the abstract.

Applied Radiology
Chen J, Yin M, Glaser KJ, et al. MR elastography of liver disease: state of the art. Appl Radiol 2013 Apr; 42(4):5-12. [Cites data on hospitalizations, deaths, and charges for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis from AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site.]

Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research
Ghomrawi HM, Mancuso CA, Westrich GH, et al. Discordance in TKA expectations between patients and surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2013 Jan;471(1):175-80. [Notes receipt of AHRQ funding for other work by first author's institution under CERTs grant RFA-HS0514.]  Select to access the abstract.

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Ovretveit J, Keller C, Hvitfeldt Forsberg H, et al. Continuous innovation: developing and using a clinical database with new technology for patient-centred care—the case of the Swedish quality register for arthritis. Int J Qual Health Care 2013 Apr;25(2):118-24. [Cites AHRQ publication, Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User's Guide, Second Edition, 2010.]  Select to access the abstract.

Ausserhofer D, Schubert M, Blegen M, et al. Validity and reliability on three European language versions of the Safety Organizing Scale. Int J Qual Health Care 2013 Apr; 25(2):157-66. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Sorra and Dyer (BMC Health Serv Res, 2010) on AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture.] Select to access the abstract.

JAAPA: Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
Anderson J. Can "pimping" kill? The potential effect of disrespectful behavior on patient safety. JAAPA 2013 Apr; 26(4):53, 56. [Mentions AHRQ's TeamSTEPPS™, citing TeamSTEPPS: National Implementation on AHRQ's TeamSTEPPS Web Site.]

JAMA Internal Medicine
Armstrong S, Fox E, Chapman W. To meet health care's Triple Aim, lean management must be applied across the value stream. JAMA Intern Med 2013 Apr 22; 173(8):692-4. [Comments on article by McConnell et al. (JAMA Intern Med, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

MedSurg Nursing
Furse CM, Finto D, Malouf-Todaro N, et al. Changing times: enhancing clinical practice through evolving technology. MedSurg Nurs 2013 Mar; 22(2):131-4. [Cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses, 2008.] 

Quality Management in Health Care
Rangachari P. Rissing P, Rethemeyer K. Awareness of evidence-based practices alone does not translate to implementation: insights from implementation research. Qual Manage Health Care 2013 Apr-Jun; 22(2):117-25. [Based on study supported by grant R03 HS19785 and reported in articles by Rangachari et al. (Qual Manage Health Care, 2013), Rangachari (Qual Manage Health Care, 2011), and Reddy et al. (Crit Care Med, 2011), and in Association of American Medical Colleges publication, Effective Structures for Hospital Infection Prevention: A Resource for Medical Education and Quality Improvement from Research Grant R03 HS019785, 2011; cites AHRQ press releases, HHS Awards $17 Million to Fight Health Care-Associated Infections, 2009, HHS Awards $34 Million to Expand Fight Against Health Care-Associated Infections, 2011, and ICUs in Michigan Sustain Zero BSIs for Up to 2 Years, 2012; cites AHRQ publication, Using a Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infection, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006, and BMJ, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

DiGioia AM, Fann MN, Lou  F, et al. Integrating patient- and family-centered care with health policy: four proposed policy approaches. Qual Manage Health Care 2013 Apr-Jun; 22(2):137-45. [Cites AHRQ-funded Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the Twenty-First Century, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.

Science Translational Medicine
Ohno-Machado L. To share or not to share: that is not the question. Sci Transl Med 2012 Dec 19; 4(165):165cm15. [Notes that research and development in data sharing described in article are funded through grant R01 HS19913.]  Select to access the abstract.

Selby JV, Krumholz HM, Kuntz RE, et al. Network news: powering clinical research. Sci Transl Med 2013 Apr 24; 5(182):182fs13. [Mentions the forthcoming availability of support for network infrastructure stabilization efforts to facilitate clinical research studies by AHRQ and other organizations.]

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

Journal of AAPOS
Donahue SP, Arthur B, Neely DE, et al. Guidelines for automated preschool vision screening: a 10-year, evidence-based update. J AAPOS 2013 Feb; 17(1):4-8. [Reviews USPSTF recommendations on vision screening for children 1 to 5 years of age (Pediatrics, 2011).]  Select to access the abstract.

Obesity
Hampl SE, Davis AM, Sampilo ML, et al. Insurer and employer views on pediatric obesity treatment: a qualitative study. Obesity 2013 Apr; 21(4):795-9. [Discusses findings from a USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on the effectiveness of weight management interventions in children by Whitlock et al. and associated USPSTF recommendations on screening for obesity in children and adolescents (both in Pediatrics, 2010).]  Select to access the abstract.

Pain Physician
Manchikanti L, Singh V, Calodney AK, et al. Percutaneous lumbar mechanical disc decompression utilizing Dekompressor®: an update of current evidence. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2Suppl):SE1-24. [Uses USPSTF evidence grading methodologies to classify levels of evidence for selected studies, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; also uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) to identify relevant publications; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Shojania et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Manchikanti L, Falco FJ, Benyamin RM, et al. An update of the systematic assessment of mechanical lumbar disc decompression with nucleoplasty. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):SE25-54. [Uses USPSTF evidence grading methodologies to classify levels of evidence for selected studies, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; also uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Manchikanti L, Benyamin RM, Singh V, et al. An Update of the systematic appraisal of the accuracy and utility of lumbar discography in chronic low back pain. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):SE55-95. [Uses USPSTF evidence grading methodologies to classify levels of evidence for selected studies, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; also uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Datta S, Manchikanti L, Falco FJ, et al. Diagnostic utility of selective nerve root blocks in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radicular pain: systematic review and update of current evidence. Pain Physician 2013 Apr; 16(2 Suppl):SE97-SE124. [Uses USPSTF grade definitions and quality of evidence criteria, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Helm S, Hayek SM, Colson J, et al. Spinal endoscopic adhesiolysis in post lumbar surgery syndrome: an update of assessment of the evidence. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):SE125-50. [Uses USPSTF grade definitions and quality of evidence criteria, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Manchikanti L, Singh V, Falco FJ, et al. An updated review of automated percutaneous mechanical lumbar discectomy for the contained herniated lumbar disc. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):SE151-84. [Uses USPSTF grade definitions and quality of evidence criteria, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Falco FJ, Patel VB, Hayek SM, et al. Intrathecal infusion systems for long-term management of chronic non-cancer pain: an update of assessment of evidence. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):SE185-216. [Uses USPSTF grade definitions and quality of evidence criteria, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Singh V, Manchikanti L, Calodney AK, et al. Percutaneous lumbar laser disc decompression: an update of current evidence. Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):SE229-60. [Uses USPSTF grade definitions and quality of evidence criteria, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies; uses AHRQ's NGC to identify relevant publications.] Select to access the abstract.

Revue de Praticien
Souliá M, Salomon L. [Screening for prostate cancer: why, how?]. Rev Prat 2013 Apr;63(4):469-71, 473, 475 passim. French. [Mentions USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer and the AHRQ-sponsored PIVOT VA/NCI/AHRQ Cooperative Studies Program 407.] Select to access the abstract.

Townsend Letter
Hudson T. Women's health update 2012 in review. Townsend Lett 2013 Apr; Online. [Mentions Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provisions requiring coverage of preventive services recommended by the USPSTF and USPSTF recommendations on screening for cervical cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2012).]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

BMJ Quality and Safety
Shojania KG, Thomas EJ. Trends in adverse events over time: why are we not improving? BMJ Qual Saf 2013 Apr; 22(4):273-7. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001; cites the AHRQ Mission and Budget landing page on the AHRQ Web site and AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (BMJ, 2010).]

Branch-Elliman W, Wright SB, Gillis JM, et al. Estimated nursing workload for the implementation of ventilator bundles. BMJ Qual Saf 2013 Apr; 22(4):357-61. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Kane et al. (Med Care, 2007) on the association of registered nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes, and AHRQ-funded article by Berenholtz et al. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2011).] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Dubois CA, D'Amour D, Tchouaket E, et al. Associations of patient safety outcomes with models of nursing care organization at unit level in hospitals. Int J Qual Health Care 2013 Apr; 25(2):110-17. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Kane et al. (Med Care, 2007); cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses, 2008, and AHRQ-sponsored IOM report, Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses, 2003; cites AHRQ-funded article by Needleman et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Rozenbaum H, Gordon L, Brezis M, et al. The use of a standard design medication room to promote medication safety: organizational implications. Int J Qual Health Care 2013 Apr;25(2):188-96. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, The Effect of Health Care Working Conditions on Patient Safety, 2003.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the Medical Library Association
Bekhuis T, Demner-Fushman D, Crowley RS. Comparative effectiveness research designs: an analysis of terms and coverage in Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Emtree. J Med Libr Assoc 2013 Apr;101(2):92-100. [Gives AHRQ definition of comparative effectiveness research (CER) from What Is Comparative Effectiveness Research, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; uses and describes the development of CER classification algorithms from AHRQ methods research report, Developing and Testing a Tool for the Classification of Study Designs in Systematic Reviews of Interventions and Exposures, 2010, and AHRQ draft comparative effectiveness review, Framework for Considering Designs for Future Research Needs (FRN), 2011; recommends adding query terms from AHRQ publications, Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User's Guide, 2010, and Glossary of Terms, both published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Rural Health
Gautam S, Hicks L, Johnson T, et al. Measuring the performance of critical access hospitals in Missouri using data envelopment analysis. J Rural Health 2013 Spring; 29(2):150-8. [Cites AHRQ final report, Identifying, Categorizing, and Evaluating Health Care Efficiency Measures, 2008, prepared by the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract 282-00-0005-21, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Rosko and Mutter (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (J Health Polit Policy Law, 2010, and Med Care Res Rev, 2008).]  Select to access the abstract.

Military Medicine
Moore AD, Hamilton JB, Pierre-Louis BJ, et al. Increasing access to care and reducing mistrust: important considerations when implementing the patient-centered medical home in army health clinics.  Mil Med 2013 Mar; 178(3):291-8. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science Series: The Patient-Centered Medical Home, 2012.]   Select to access the abstract.

Psychiatric Services
AHRQ review finds evidence of the effectiveness of collaborative care interventions. Psychiatr Serv 2012 Oct; 63(10):1055. [Reviews findings from AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Practice-Based Interventions Addressing Concomitant Depression and Chronic Medical Conditions in the Primary Care Setting, 2012, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site.]

AHRQ review finds few differences between first- and second-generation antipsychotics. Psychiatr Serv 2012 Oct; 63(10):1056. [Reviews findings from AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, First-Generation Versus Second-Generation Antipsychotics in Adults: Comparative Effectiveness, 2012, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site. Also refer to article by Nadpara et al. (Popul Health Manag, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

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

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Li X, Scarfe A, King K, et al. Timeliness of cancer care from diagnosis to treatment: a comparison between patients with breast, colon, rectal or lung cancer. Int J Qual Health Care 2013 Apr; 25(2):197-204. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007.]  Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Lee MH, Schuur JD, Zink BJ. Owning the cost of emergency medicine: beyond 2%. Ann Emerg Med 2013 Apr 24. [Epub ahead of print] [Uses 2010 MEPS data, citing AHRQ publications, Emergency Room Visits/Use/Events and Expenditures, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component Data, Emergency Room Services Mean and Median Expenses per Person with Expense and Distribution of Expenses by Source of Payment: United States, 2010, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component Data, Total Utilization and Mean Expenses per Visit by Type of Ambulatory Health Care Service, 2010, MEPS HC0126E Codebook, 2009 Emergency Room Visits, and  MEPS HC0126D Codebook, 2009 Hospital Inpatient Stays File; cites several AHRQ-authored articles using MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
Karve S, Misurski D, Herrera-Taracena G, et al. Annual all-cause healthcare costs among influenza patients with and without influenza-related complications. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 2013; 11(2):119-28. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaption of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites data from AHRQ publication, Hospital Stays for Influenza, 2004, HCUP Statistical Brief 16, 2013.]  Select to access the abstract.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Teal GR, Haidet P, Balasubramanyam AS, et al. Measuring the quality of patients' goals and action plans: development and validation of a novel tool. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2012 Dec 27; 12:152. [Uses data from a core demonstration project of the Houston CERTs supported by AHRQ grant U18 HS16093.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Psychiatry
Agarwal P, Pan X, Sambamoorthi U. Depression treatment patterns among individuals with osteoarthritis: a cross sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2013 Apr 22; 13(1):121. [Uses 2008 and 2010 MEPS data, citing AHRQ publications, MEPS-HC Sample Design and Collection Process, MEPS HC-121: 2008 Full Year Consolidated Data File, 2010, and MEPS HC-120: 2008 Medical Conditions, 2010.]  Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research
Memtsoudis SG, Mantilla CB, Parvizi J, Stundner O, Mazumdar M. Have bilateral total knee arthroplasties become safer? A population-based trend analysis. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2013 Jan;471(1):17-25. [Uses 1999-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2011; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), and the AHRQ-funded adaption of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); notes that last author's institution received funding for other work from CERTs grant U18 HS01675.]  Select to access the abstract.

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Hamdan M, Saleem AA. Assessment of patient safety culture in Palestinian public hospitals. Int J Qual Health Care 2013 Apr;25(2):167-75. [Uses a translated version of AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, described as "an extremely useful tool ... widely used in different health-care settings in many countries...", citing AHRQ publications, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2011 User Comparative Database Report, 2011, and Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2004; also cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses, 2008.]  Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine
Jolley JA, Kim S, Wing DA. Acute pyelonephritis and associated complications during pregnancy in 2006 in US hospitals. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2012 Dec;25(12):2494-8. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (Eff Clin Pract, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Rural Health
Casey MM, Moscovice I, Klingner J, et al. Rural relevant quality measures for critical access hospitals.  J Rural Health 2013 Spring; 29(2):159-71. [Uses volume data from AHRQ's HCUP to evaluate the relevance of selected measures; describes AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and gives HCAHPS reporting data, citing CMS publication, Protocol Update: New HCAHPS Exclusion Category Patients Discharged to Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities, 2011, as published on the HCAHPS Web site; discusses the AHRQ-sponsored On the CUSP: Stop BSI project, citing AHRQ publication, Eliminating CLABSI—A National Patient Safety Imperative: Second Progress Report on the National On the CUSP: Stop BSI Project, as published on the AHRQ Web site; discusses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing AHRQ-funded article by Glance et al. (Med Care, 2008) and article by Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009); cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan, Elixhauser (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety and Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively) et al. (Med Care, 2009).]  Select to access the abstract.

Lund BC, Charlton ME, Steinman MA, et al. Regional differences in prescribing quality among elder veterans and the impact of rural residence. J Rural Health 2013 Spring; 29(2):172-9. [Uses the quality indicator for drugs to avoid, as defined by the Zhan criteria, described in AHRQ-authored article by Zhan et al. (JAMA, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Urology
Monn MF, Bahler CD, Schneider EB, et al. Emerging trends in robotic pyeloplasty for the management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in adults. J Urol 2013 Apr; 189(4):1352-7. [Uses 2005-2010 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data (citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS)) and HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, 2006-2009, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Sammon JD, Karakiewicz PI, Sun M, et al. Robot-assisted versus open radical prostatectomy: the differential effect of regionalization, procedure volume and operative approach. J Urol 2013 Apr;189(4):1289-94. [Uses 2009 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaption of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Neurology
Kaffashian S, Dugravot A, Elbaz A, et al. Predicting cognitive decline: a dementia risk score vs. the Framingham vascular risk scores. Neurology. 2013 Apr 2;80(14):1300-6. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Emergency Care
Kellogg KM, Fairbanks RJ, O'Connor AB, et al. Association of pain score documentation and analgesic use in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care 2012 Dec; 28(12):1287-92. [Uses a database developed for a  prospectively enrolled medication study conducted by the second author and others under grant 1 U18 HS15818 and reported in AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 4; Technology and Medication Safety, 2008. Also refer to articles by Karaca et al. (BMC Emerg Med, 2012), Gadzinski et al. (J Urol, 2013), and Steiner and Friedman and Machlin and Soni (both in Prev Chron Dis, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]  Select to access the abstract.