A Comprehensive Framework for Data Quality Assessment in CER

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

AMIA Summits on Translational Science Proceedings
Holve E, Kahn M, Nahm M, et al. A comprehensive framework for data quality assessment in CER. AMIA Summits Transl Sci Proc 2013 Mar 18; 2013:86-8. [Supported by grant 1 U18 HS22789-01 through the Electronic Data Methods Forum.] Select to access the abstract.

Biodemography and Social Biology
Belsky DW, Moffitt TE, Sugden K, et al. Development and evaluation of a genetic risk score for obesity. Biodemography Soc Biol 2013; 59(1):85-100. [Supported by grant 1 R36 HS20524-01 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Breast Journal
Hernandez-Boussard T, Zeidler K, Barzin A, et al. Breast reconstruction national trends and healthcare implications. Breast J 2013 Sep-Oct; 19(5):463-9. [Supported by grant K01 HS18558 (to first author); uses 1998-2008 HCUP NIS data, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
Nguyen C, Hernandez-Boussard T, Khosla RK, et al. A national study on craniosynostosis surgical repair. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2013 Sep; 50(5):555-60. [Supported by grant K01 HS18558 (to second author); uses 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 HCUP Kids Inpatient Database (KID) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Economic Outlook
Fraser I, Sandmeyer B. Improving quality through enhanced public reporting. Econ Outlook 2013 Summer; online. [Authors are director of and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively; cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), 2012, AHRQ systematic review protocol, Public Reporting as a Quality Improvement Strategy: A Systematic Review of the Multiple Pathways Public Reporting May Influence Quality of Health Care. A Review for the Series Closing the Quality Gap: Revisiting the State of the Science, 2011, and AHRQ publications, AHRQ Chartered Value Exchanges (CVE): Public Reporting Web Sites, 2012, Public Reporting: Research and Data, 2013, and Building the Science of Public Reporting: Research Grants, 2012; also cites AHRQ-sponsored Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, 2001.]

Health Affairs
Arling G, Cooke V, Lewis T, et al. Minnesota's provider-initiated approach yields care quality gains at participating nursing homes. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1631-8. [Supported by grant R18 HS18464.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Kesselheim AS, Green MD, Avorn J. Who is now responsible for discovering and warning about adverse effects of generic drugs? JAMA 2013 Sep 11; 310(10):1023-4. [Supported by Career Development Award grant K08 HS18465-01 (to first author).]

Bardach NS, Wang JJ, De Leon SF, et al. Effect of pay-for-performance incentives on quality of care in small practices with electronic health records: a randomized trial. JAMA 2013 Sep 11; 310(10):1051-9. [Supported by grants R18 HS17059 and R18 HS18275; cites AHRQ technical review, Strategies to Support Quality-based Purchasing: A Review of the Evidence, 2004, as published on the NLM Bookshelf Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Reed M, Huang J, Brand R, et al. Implementation of an outpatient electronic health record and emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and office visits among patients with diabetes. JAMA 2013 Sep 11; 310(10):1060-5. [Supported by grant R01 HS15280; uses AHRQ's ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), citing AHRQ publications, Quality Indicators: Guide to Prevention Quality Indicators (PQI): Hospital Admission for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, 2004, and Quality Indicators: Quality Indicator User Guide: Prevention Quality Indicators (PQI): Composite Measures, 2012; cites data from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) publications, Hospital Stays for Patients with Diabetes, 2010, and Statistics on Hospital-based Care in the United States, 2012; also 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, performed by the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC), and data on costs of emergency department visits from AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Survey (MEPS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Internal Medicine
McCullough BJ, Comstock BA, Deyo RA, et al. Major medical outcomes with spinal augmentation vs conservative therapy. JAMA Intern Med 2013 Sep 9; 173(16):1514-21. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS19222; uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index, citing AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Utter GH, Cox GL, Owens PL, et al. Challenges and opportunities with ICD-10-CM/PCS: implications for surgical research involving administrative data. J Am Coll Surg 2013 Sep; 217(3):516-26. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2012-00001C.] Select to access the abstract.

Parikh M, Issa R, Vieira D, et al. Role of bariatric surgery as treatment for type 2 diabetes in patients who do not meet current NIH criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Coll Surg 2013 Sep; 217(3):527-32. [Supported by grant K12 HS19473.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Beaubrun AC, Kilpatrick RD, Freburger JK, et al. Temporal trends in fracture rates and postdischarge outcomes among hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 2013 Sep; 24(9):1461-9. [Supported by National Research Service Award Pre-Doctoral Traineeship grant T32 HS00032.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Buys DR, Flood KL, Real K, et al. Mealtime assistance for hospitalized older adults: a report on the SPOONS volunteer program. J Gerontol Nurs 2013 Sep; 39(9):18-22. [Supported by grant T32 HS13852 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Abrahamson K, Davila H, Mueller C, et al. Examining the lived experience of nursing home quality improvement: the case of a multifacility falls reduction project. J Gerontol Nurs 2013 Sep; 39(9):24-30; quiz 32-3. [Supported by grant 5 R18 HS18464.] Select to access the abstract.

Ostomy Wound Management
Nix M. Guest editorial: guideline clearinghouse updates inclusion criteria. Ostomy Wound Manage 2013 Sep; 59(9):6. [Author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence; discusses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse^TM (NGC), citing AHRQ's NGC Web site, G-I-N North America presentation, The National Guideline Clearinghouse's Revised Criteria for Clinical Practice Guideline Inclusion by Nix M and Slutsky J, 2013, and National Guideline Clearinghouse^TM Inclusion Criteria, as published on AHRQ's NGC Web site.]

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
Baur C, Brach C. Pharmacy research on health literacy can contribute to national goals and health care system improvements. Res Social Adm Pharm 2013 Sep-Oct; 9(5):498-502. [Second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; cites AHRQ publications, Preventing Medication Errors in Ambulatory Care: The Importance of Establishing Regimen Concordance, 2005, Is Our Pharmacy Meeting Patients' Needs? A Pharmacy Health Literacy Assessment Tool: User's Guide, 2007, and Advancing Pharmacy Health Literacy Practices through Quality Improvement Curricular Modules for Faculty, 2011.]

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Nursing
Kennedy MS. It's about the patients: focusing only on HCAHPS scores misses the point. Am J Nurs 2013 Sep; 113(9):7. [Discusses AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).]

American Surgeon
Ladd MR, Pajewski NM, Becher RD, et al. Delays in treatment of pediatric appendicitis: a more accurate variable for measuring pediatric healthcare inequalities? Am Surg 2013 Sep; 79(9):875-81. [Cites data on hospitalizations for and costs of acute appendicitis in children from AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
Hall AJ, Lopman BA, Payne DC, et al. Norovirus disease in the United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2013 Aug; 19(8):1198-1205. [Reviews findings from article by Lopman et al. (Clin Infect Dis, 2011) which uses HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Generations
Townley C, Kaye N. Medical and health homes provide enhanced care coordination for elders with complex conditions. Generations 2013 Summer; 37(2):39-46. [Cites AHRQ publication, The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures, Research in Action, 2006.]

Health Affairs
Buchmueller T, Carey C, Levy HG. Will employers drop health insurance coverage because of the Affordable Care Act? Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1522-30. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Monheit and Vistnes (former and current researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, respectively) (J Hum Res, 1999).]  Select to access the abstract.

Miranda ML, Ferranti J, Strauss B, et al. Geographic health information systems: a platform to support the 'triple aim'. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1608-15. [Cites data from HCUP statistical brief, Emergency Department Visits for Adults in Community Hospitals, 2008, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

Nimptsch U, Mansky T. Quality measurement combined with peer review improved German in-hospital mortality rates for four diseases. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1616-23. [Notes that the German Inpatient Quality Indicators are similar to AHRQ's Inpatient Quality Indicators, citing Inpatient Quality Indicators Overview, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Nasseh K, Vujicic M. Health reform in Massachusetts increased adult dental care use, particularly among the poor. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1639-45. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Macek, Manski, Vargas, and Moeller (second and fourth authors are current and former researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, respectively) (Health Serv Res, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Pediatrics
Williams DJ, Shah SS, Myers A, et al. Identifying pediatric community-acquired pneumonia hospitalizations: accuracy of administrative billing codes. JAMA Pediatr 2013 Sep;167(9):851-8. [Cites National Estimates on the Use of Hospitals by Children from the HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2009, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site; cites articles by Cima et al. (Surgery, 2011) and Sedman et al. (Pediatrics, 2005) on AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators. Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Davis M, Balasubramanian BA, Waller E, et al. Integrating behavioral and physical health care in the real world: early lessons from Advancing Care Together. J Am Board Fam Med 2013 Sep-Oct; 26(5):588-602. [Cites AHRQ publication, Integrating Mental Health Treatment into the Patient-Centered Medical Home, 2010, as published on the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Drug Issues
Cho YI, Johnson TP, Fendrich M, et al. Treatment facility neighborhood environment and outpatient treatment completion. J Drug Issues 2013 Jul; 43(3):374-85. [Summarizes findings from AHRQ-authored article by Kirby (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) and Taneda (J Health Soc Behav, 2005).]

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)-Related Articles

Clinical Advisor
Bigelow A, Dahlem CH, Pardee M. Hypertension and substance abuse mask an underlying condition. Clin Advis 2013 Sep; online. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for thyroid disease (Ann Intern Med, 2004).]

Clinical Medicine & Research
Chung S, Azar K, Zhao B, et al. Diabetes screening and detection in an ambulatory clinical population. Clin Med Res 2013 Sep; 11(3):145-6. [Compares positive detection rates for participants who met the USPSTF or American Diabetes Association screening criteria and those that did not.]

Families, Systems & Health
Landis SE, Barrett M, Galvin SL. Effects of different models of integrated collaborative care in a family medicine residency program. Fam Syst Health 2013 Sep; 31(3):264-73. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening adults for depression in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2012, as published on the USPSTF Web site, and associated evidence summary Screening for Depression in Adults: Summary of the Evidence, 2013, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Integrating Chronic Care and Business Strategies in the Safety Net: A Toolkit for Primary Care Practices and Clinics, 2008, and AHRQ-funded systematic review by Butler et al. (J Ambul Care Manag, 2011) on integrated care and depression treatment, performed by the Minnesota EPC.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Dolor RJ, Schulman KA. Financial incentives in primary care practice: the struggle to achieve population health goals. JAMA 2013 Sep 11; 310(10):1031-2. [Gives as an example a goal of 90% achievement of services recommended by the USPSTF "or similar levels of guideline ascertainment on a population level;" comments on article by Bardach et al. (JAMA, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Levy BT, Xu Y, Daly JM, Ely JW. A randomized controlled trial to improve colon cancer screening in rural family medicine: an Iowa Research Network (IRENE) study. J Am Board Fam Med 2013 Sep-Oct; 26(5):486-97. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer and associated updated systematic evidence review (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Scheid DC, Hamm RM, Ramakrishnan K, McCarthy LH, Mold JW; Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network. Improving colorectal cancer screening in family medicine: an Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network (OKPRN) study. J Am Board Fam Med 2013 Sep-Oct; 26(5):498-507. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Public Management and Social Policy
Pynes JE, Suprenand L. Religious freedom and/or contraception coverage: time to shelve the disagreement. J Public Manag Soc Policy 2013 Fall; 19(2):151-67. [Mentions Affordable Care Act provision requiring coverage of preventive services recommended by the USPSTF.]

Lancet
PRAISE Investigators, Sprague S, Bhandari M, et al. Prevalence of abuse and intimate partner violence surgical evaluation (PRAISE) in orthopaedic fracture clinics: a multinational prevalence study. Lancet 2013 Sep 7; 382(9895):866-76. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement summary Screening for Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse of Elderly and Vulnerable Adults: Clinical Summary of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations, 2013, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Also refer to article by Davis et al. (J Am Board Fam Med, 2013) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC)-Related Articles.

Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC)-Related Articles

Cancer
Webb ML, Cady B, Michaelson JS, et al. A failure analysis of invasive breast cancer: most deaths from disease occur in women not regularly screened. Cancer 2013 Sep 9. [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Nelson et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) performed by the Oregon EPC under contract 290-2007-10057-1 (to the as part of AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program.] Select to access the abstract.

Families, Systems & Health
Margolis RB, Pollard CA, Niemiec R. Transporting integrated primary care to the private sector: addressing the business challenges. Fam Syst Health 2013 Sep; 31(3):239-47. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Integration of Mental Health/Substance Abuse and Primary Care, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Pediatrics
Belfort MB, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinman KP, et al. Infant feeding and childhood cognition at ages 3 and 7 years: effects of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. JAMA Pediatr 2013 Sep; 167(9):836-44. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.]
Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Schwartz KL, Bartoces M, Campbell-Voytal K, et al. Estimating health literacy in family medicine clinics in metropolitan Detroit: a MetroNet study. J Am Board Fam Med 2013 Sep-Oct; 26(5):566-70. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by DeWalt et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2004) on literacy and health outcomes, performed by the RTI-UNC EPC.] Select to access the abstract.

Davis M, Balasubramanian BA, Waller E, et al. Integrating behavioral and physical health care in the real world: early lessons  from Advancing Care Together. J Am Board Fam Med 2013 Sep-Oct; 26(5):588-602. [Uses definitions modified from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Integration of Mental Health/Substance Abuse and Primary Care, 2008, as published on the AHRQ Web site; also cites AHRQ publications, Integrating Mental Health Treatment into the  Patient-Centered Medical Home, 2010, as published on the PCPCC Web site, and Lexicon for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration: Concepts and Definitions Developed by Expert Consensus, 2014, as published on AHRQ's Integration Academy Web site; cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for depression in adults and associated evidence review (both in Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Also refer to articles by Fraser and Sandmeyer (Econ Outlook, 2013), Bardach et al. (JAMA, 2013), and Reed et al. (JAMA, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above, and article by Landis, Barrett, and Galvin (Fam Syst Health, 2013) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)-Related Articles.

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

Families, Systems & Health
Bacigalupe G, Askari SF. E-Health innovations, collaboration, and healthcare disparities: developing criteria for culturally competent evaluation. Fam Syst Health 2013 Sep; 31(3):248-63. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2004 and 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

Also refer to article by Fraser and Sandmeyer (Econ Outlook, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Academic Emergency Medicine
Self WH, Grijalva CG, Zhu Y, et al. Rates of emergency department visits due to pneumonia in the United States, July 2006-June 2009. Acad Emerg Med 2013 Sep; 20(9): 957-60. [Uses 2006-2009 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Enterprise Institute Papers and Studies
Bhattacharya J, Chandra A, Chernew M, et al. Best of both worlds: uniting universal coverage and personal choice in health care. AEI Pap Stud, 2013, Aug 1; online. [Uses MEPS data to compute mean individual expenditures.]

American Journal of Gastroenterology
Myer PA, Mannalithara A, Singh G, et al. Clinical and economic burden of emergency department visits due to gastrointestinal diseases in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol 2013 Sep; 108(9):1496-1507. [Uses 2007 NEDS data, citing Introduction to the NEDS, 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Medicine
Stein PD, Matta F, Sabra MJ. Case fatality rate with vena cava filters in hospitalized stable patients with cancer and pulmonary embolism. Am J Med 2013 Sep; 126(9):819-24. [Uses 1998-2009 HCUP NIS data, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.]  Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Nursing
Bolton L, Girolami S, Hurlow J. The AAWC pressure ulcer guidelines. Am J Nurs 2013 Sep; 113(9):58-63. [Adapts A-level  evidence rating criteria from AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treatment of Pressure Ulcers, 1994, and lists this guideline under "Source Guidelines for AAWC Pressure Ulcer Guideline;" notes the publication of a guideline summary for the AAWC guideline in AHRQ's NGC.]

American Journal of Public Health
Stewart ST, Cutler DM, Rosen AB. US trends in quality-adjusted life expectancy from 1987 to 2008: combining national surveys to more broadly track the health of the nation. Am J Public Health 2013 Nov; 103(11):e78-e87. [Uses 1987 National Medical Expenditure (NMES) data and 1992, 1996, and 2000-2008 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Lin RY, Ji R, Liao W. Age dependent sex disproportion in US asthma hospitalization rates, 2000-2010. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2013 Sep;111(3):176-81. [Uses 2000-2010 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2012, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
Jafari MD, Halabi WJ, Smith BR, et al. A decade analysis of trends and outcomes of partial versus total esophagectomy in the United States. Ann Surg 2013 Sep; 258(3):450-8. [Uses 2001-2010 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures, citing article by Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

McCutcheon BA, Talamini MA, Chang DC, et al. The comparative effectiveness of surgeons over interventionalists in endovascular repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ann Surg 2013 Sep; 258(3):476-82. [Uses 1998-2009 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
Wielage RC, Bansal M, Andrews JS, et al. Cost-utility analysis of duloxetine in osteoarthritis: a US private payer perspective. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 2013 Jun; 11(3):219-36. [Uses 2011 HCUP data.] Select to access the abstract.

Chest
Mokhlesi B, Hovda MD, Vekhter B, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and postoperative outcomes after elective surgery: analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Chest 2013 Sep; 144(3):903-14. [Uses 2004-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing What is the NIS? as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), citing Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Gellad ZF, Thompson CP, Taheri J. Endoscopy unit efficiency: quality redefined. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013 Sep; 11(9):1046-9.e1. [Uses characteristics of ideal efficiency measures identified by AHRQ in proposed framework for GI endoscopy efficiency measures, citing AHRQ publication, Health Care Efficiency Measures: Identification, Categorization, and Evaluation, 2008.]

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Hsu RK, McCulloch CE, Ku E, et al. Regional variation in the incidence of dialysis-requiring AKI in the United States. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2013 Sep; 8(9):1476-81. [Uses 2007-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), 2007-2009.] Select to access the abstract.

Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
Hansen DG, Fox JP, Gross CP, et al. Hospital readmissions and emergency department visits following laparoscopic and open colon resection for cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 2013 Sep; 56(9):1053-61. [Uses 2008-2009 HCUP State Inpatient Database (SID) data and State Emergency Department Database (SEDD) data for California, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites MEPS statistical brief, Expenses and Characteristics of Physician Visits in Different Ambulatory Care Settings, 2008, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.

Endocrinologia y Nutricion
Vicente A, Lecumberri B, Gálvez MA; en nombre del Grupo de Trabajo de Neuroendocrinología. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary apoplexy. Endocrinol Nutr 2013 Dec; 60(10):582.e1-582.e12. [Uses AHRQ evidence quality and strength of evidence criteria, citing AHRQ-authored article by Atkins, Eccles, and Fottorp (BMC Health Serv Res, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Epilepsy & Behavior
Widjaja E, Smith ML, Jette N, et al. Patient and hospital characteristics are associated with cost of hospitalizations in children with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2013 Sep; 28(3):335-42. [Uses 2009 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Gynecologic Oncology
McMaster J, Dua A, Desai SS, et al. Short term outcomes following breast cancer surgery in pregnant women. Gynecol Oncol 2013 Sep 13. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1999-2006 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Austin DR, Luan A, Wang LL, et al. Bhattacharya J. Small increases to employer premiums could shift millions of people to the exchanges and add billions to federal outlays. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1531-7. [Uses MEPS Household Component and Insurance Component data, citing MEPS methodology reports, esign and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1997, and Estimation Procedures for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

Kocher KE, Nallamothu BK, Birkmeyer JD, et al. Emergency department visits after surgery are common for Medicare patients, suggesting opportunities to improve care. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1600-7. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Bruen BK, Ku L, Lu X, et al. Shin P. No evidence that primary care physicians offer less care to Medicaid, community health center, or uninsured patients. Health Aff 2013 Sep; 32(9):1624-30. [Uses level 1 of AHRQ's CCS, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Labreche MJ, Lee GC, Attridge RT, et al. Treatment failure and costs in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections: a South Texas Ambulatory Research Network (STARNet) study. J Am Board Fam Med 2013 Sep-Oct; 26(5):508-17. [Derives medical cost estimates from HCUP fact book, Hospitalization in the United States, 2002, 2005, MEPS statistical brief, Expenses for a Hospital Emergency Room Visit, 2003, 2006, MEPS statistical brief, Expenses for Office-based Physician Visits by Specialty, 2004, 2007, and HCUP fact book, Ambulatory Surgery in U.S. Hospitals, 2003, 2007; cites AHRQ publication, Community-Acquired Skin Infections in the Age of Methicillin-Resistant Organisms, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Tangka FK, Trogdon JG, Nwaise I, et al. State-level estimates of cancer-related absenteeism costs. J Occup Environ Med 2013 Sep; 55(9):1015-20. [Uses 2004-2008 MEPS data and AHRQ's CCS, citing AHRQ-authored article by Cohen et al. (Inquiry, 1996) and Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, respectively; cites MEPS statistical brief, The Five Most Costly Conditions, 1996 and 2006: Estimates for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2009, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Military Medicine
Chao SY, Zarzabal LA, Walker SM, et al. Estimating diabetes prevalence in the Military Health System population from 2006 to 2010. Mil Med 2013 Sep; 178(9):986-93. [Uses 2006-2010 AHRQ's CCS, citing Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Paediatric Respiratory Reviews
Bekhof J, Reimink R, Brand PL. Systematic review: Insufficient validation of clinical scores for the assessment of acute dyspnoea in wheezing children. Paediatr Respir Rev 2013 Oct 10. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's NGC as a source for the literature search.] Select to access the abstract.

Quality of Life Research
Le QA. Probabilistic mapping of the health status measure SF-12 onto the health utility measure EQ-5D using the US-population-based scoring models. Qual Life Res 2013 Sep 13. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2003 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Women's Health Issues
Keller AO, Gangnon R, Witt WP. Favorable ratings of providers' communication behaviors among U.S. women with depression: a population-based study applying the behavioral model of health services use. Womens Health Issues 2013 Sep-Oct; 23(5):e309-e317. [Uses 2002-2008 MEPS data, citing Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Condition Enumeration (CE) Section, 2002, and MEPS HC-070: 2002 Full Year Consolidated Data File, 2004, both accessed on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; also uses four items incorporated into the MEPS survey from AHRQ's CAHPS, citing Instructions for Analyzing Data From CAHPS: Using the CAHPS Analysis Program Version 4.0, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.

Also refer to articles by Hernandez-Boussard et al. (Breast J, 2013), Nguyen et al. (Cleft Palate Craniofac J, 2013), Reed et al. (JAMA, 2013) and McCullough et al. (JAMA Intern Med, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.