Research Activities December 2009, No. 352 ContentsAbout Research ActivitiesFeature StoryHigh blood pressure medicines show promise for treating heart diseaseChronic DiseaseLifestyle changes are needed in addition to drugs to prevent heart attacksBest time to start statins in patients with diabetes depends on the cardiovascular risk model usedCare is poor for diabetic patients without insurance and no regular care providerPatient Safety and QualitySpecimens from multiple body sites are needed to accurately test for MRSAUsing trigger tools to review medical charts helps identify adverse drug events among older adultsPharmaceutical ResearchCommon attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder drugs have similar risk for emergency visits for cardiac problemsMore antipsychotic medications are being prescribed for youth and nursing home residents, despite lack of evidenceLong-Term use of beta blockers is associated with reduced mortality in patients with heart failureDisparities/Minority HealthHigh blood pressure control is often elusive for blacks and Mexican Americans, despite adherence to treatment and lifestyle changesBetter educational materials are needed to boost the health literacy of individuals who are deafOutcomes/Effectiveness ResearchSeverity of small blood vessel damage predicts clinical outcome after strokePublic reporting of hospital antibiotic timing for patients with pneumonia is not linked to antibiotic overuse or overdiagnosisMysterious skin infection is linked to World War II bomb cratersMen's HealthVigorous physical activity may reduce risk of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding among menMen with prostate cancer who receive androgen deprivation therapy are at elevated risk of bone fractures, cardiovascular mortality, and diabetesWomen's HealthWomen in Michigan who suffer miscarriages may not be receiving patient-centered careChild/Adolescent HealthNew guidelines issued for nephrotic syndrome in childrenEmergency MedicineTelemedicine reduces children's emergency department visits for nonemergency problemsLaptop test in an emergency department can help detect subtle cognitive deficits following concussionsHealth Information TechnologyElectronic patient-provider messaging is linked to good diabetes controlCertain types of hospitals are more likely to use computerized physician order entryStaff willingness to change and adapt is important when implementing electronic pharmacy systemsPublic Health PreparednessA substantial number of adults stockpiled drugs for the avian flu outbreak in 2005Primary CareMajority of primary care physicians now recommend colonoscopyPrimary care physicians do not always discuss the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening with patientsMore than half of primary care physicians report stressful working conditionsHIV/AIDS ResearchSmoking is particularly hazardous for individuals with HIV infectionObserving patients swallowing one HIV drug on weekdays has little impact on drug adherenceAgency News and NotesCare costs for middle-aged Americans have doubled in the past decadePatient deaths in hospitals cost nearly $20 billionGeorgians and Ohioans pay less for dental care than the national averageAnnouncementsAHRQ awarded $17 million to fund projects to fight health care-associated infectionsAHRQ introduces new Pharmacy Health Literacy CenterResearch BriefsResearch BriefsHealthcare 411Subscribe to AHRQ's Electronic NewsletterVisit the AHRQ Patient Safety Network Web Site Current as of December 2009 Internet Citation: Research Activities: December 2009, No. 352. December 2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/dec09/index.html
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