ED Antibiotic Use for Acute Respiratory Illnesses Since Pneumonia Performance Measure Inception

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

• Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
• Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
• Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
• Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
• Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
• Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Fee C, Metlay JP, Camargo CA Jr, et al. ED antibiotic use for acute respiratory illnesses since pneumonia performance measure inception. Am J Emerg Med 2010 Jan; 28(1):23-31. [Supported in part by grant 1 R01 HS13915 (for Translating Research into Practice initiative).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Care Management Review
Hoff T. Managing the negatives of experience in physician teams. Health Care Manage Rev 2010 Jan-Mar; 35(1):65-76. [Based on larger study entitled "Creating Learning Cultures for Residents Around Mistakes," supported by grant R03 HS11697-01A1.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Clancy CM. The promise and future of comparative effectiveness research. J Nurs Care Qual 2010 Jan-Mar; 25(1):1-4. [Author is AHRQ director.]

de Cordova PB, Lucero RJ, Hyun S, et al. Using the Nursing Interventions Classification as a potential measure of nurse workload. J Nurs Care Qual 2010 Jan-Mar;25(1):39-45. [Supported by grant R21 HS17423.] Select to access the abstract.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Schultz D, Seid M, Stoto MA, et al. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Children's Health Research Portfolio. Matern Child Health J 2010 Jan; 14(1):1-8. [Supported by contract 282-00-0005-TO19, originating in response to an RFTO from AHRQ; uses Stryer's approach to categorizing the impact of research findings, as described in AHRQ-authored article by Stryer, Tunis, Hubbard, and Clancy (Health Serv Res, 2000); describes and evaluates AHRQ's children's health research using internal and external AHRQ databases.]

Pediatrics
Taylor JA, Geyer LJ, Feldman KW. Use of supplemental vitamin D among infants breastfed for prolonged periods. Pediatrics 2010 Jan; 125(1):105-11. [AHRQ-funded, grant number not given.] Select to access the abstract.

Kroner EL, Hoffmann RG, Brousseau DC. Emergency department reliance: a discriminatory measure of frequent emergency department users. Pediatrics 2010 Jan; 125(1):133-8. [Supported in part by grant K08 HS15482-01A1; uses 2001-2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing AHRQ publication, MEPS HC-060: 2001 Full Year Consolidated Data File, 2004 and MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Cunningham, Clancy (AHRQ director), Cohen (researcher inAHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends), et al. (Med Care Res Rev, 1995), Beal, Co, Dougherty (researcher in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations), et al. (Pediatrics, 2004), and Dougherty and Simpson (former AHRQ deputy director) (Pediatrics, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Pharmacoeconomics
Hellinger FJ, Encinosa WE. The cost and incidence of prescribing errors among privately insured HIV patients. Pharmacoeconomics 2010; 28(1):23-34. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Hellinger(JAMA, 1993) and Hellinger and Encinosa(Med Care, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

Academic Medicine
Call for proposals. Comparative effectiveness research in health care. Acad Med 2010 Jan; 85(1):i. [Announces special issue on comparative effectiveness research (CER) and includes a question on how federal agencies, such as AHRQ, "collaborate in supporting, facilitating and using CER" in a list of possible topics to address in submitted articles.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Sequist TD, Fitzmaurice GM, Marshall R, et al. Cultural competency training and performance reports to improve diabetes care for black patients: a cluster randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2010 Jan 5; 152(1):40-6. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Price et al. (Acad Med, 2005), Trivedi et al. (N Engl J Med, 2005), and Beach et al. (Med Care, 2005 and BMC Public Health, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Surgery
Massarweh NN, Legner VJ, Symons RG, et al. Impact of advancing age on abdominal surgical outcomes. Arch Surg 2009 Dec; 144(12):1108-14. [States that "others have used the [AHRQ]-Patient Safety Indicators system, which may be more inclusive", citing AHRQ-authored articles by Romano, Geppert, Davies, Miller, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), et al. (Health Aff, 2003) and Miller, Elixhauser, Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence), et al. (Health Serv Res, 2001); cites AHRQ publication, Medical Injury Identification Using Hospital Discharge Data, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Hota B, Harting B, Weinstein RA, et al. Electronic algorithmic prediction of central vascular catheter use. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010 Jan; 31(1):4-11. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992) and Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
Turner S, Chase DL, Milne R, et al. The adaptation of health technology assessment reports: identification of the need for, and development of, a toolkit to aid the process. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2009; 25(Suppl 2):28-36. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Eisenberg (former AHRQ director) (Health Aff, 2002).]

JAMA
Haig AJ, Tomkins CC. Diagnosis and management of lumbar spinal stenosis. JAMA 2010 Jan 6; 303(1):71-72. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Deyo, Gray (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) et al. (Spine, 2005).]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Classen DC, Jaser L, Budnitz DS. Adverse drug events among hospitalized Medicare patients: epidemiology and national estimates from a new approach to surveillance. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Jan; 36(1):12-21. [Cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Vol. 2, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Kaushal et al. (JAMA, 2001), Morimoto et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2004), Classen et al. (JAMA, 1991, and Qual Saf Health Care, 2005), and others.]

Buerhaus PI. Quality improvement education for nurses: we can do better. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Jan; 36(1):28. [Notes that nursing quality measures have been endorsed by AHRQ and others.]

Kovner CT, Brewer CS, Yingrengreung S, et al. New nurses' views of quality improvement education. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Jan; 36(1):29-35. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Ho, Brady (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety), and Clancy (AHRQ director) (J Nurs Care Qual, 2008).]

Logio LS, Ramanujam R. Medical trainees' formal and informal incident reporting across a five-hospital academic medical center. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Jan; 36(1):36-42. [Notes that trainee's incident reporting rates reported in the study are "consistent with the aggregate data from 346 hospitals that administered [AHRQ's] Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture in 2007", citing AHRQ publication, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2007 Comparative Database Reports, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Elder et al. (J Am Board Fam Med, 2007) and Garbutt et al. (Health Aff, 2008).]

Journal of Ambulatory Care Management
Quinn K. Achieving cost control, care coordination, and quality improvement in the Medicaid program. J Ambul Care Manage 2010 Jan-Mar; 33(1):38-49; discussion 69-70. [Notes that "Medicaid beneficiaries experience more instability in coverage and visit the ED more often" than Medicare and commercial populations, citing AHRQ publications, Characteristics of People with High Medical Expenses in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002, HCUP Statistical Brief No. 73, 2005, and Payers of Emergency Department Care, 2006, HCUP Statistical Brief no. 77, 2009.] Select to access the abstract.

Roohan PJ. Payment system reform for Medicaid in New York: comment on "Achieving cost control, care coordination, and quality improvement through incremental payment system reform". J Ambul Care Manage 2010 Jan-Mar; 33(1):50-51; discussion 69-70. [Notes that New York state's Quality Incentive program rewards managed care plans for high performance on Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) satisfaction survey measures; cites AHRQ publication, Prevention Quality Indicators, 2004, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Zettler LL, Speechley MR, Foley NC, et al. A scale for distinguishing efficacy from effectiveness was adapted and applied to stroke rehabilitation studies. J Clin Epidemiol 2010 Jan; 63(1):11-18. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (AHRQ director) (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Critical Care
Yang Y, Yang KS, Hsann YM, et al. The effect of comorbidity and age on hospital mortality and length of stay in patients with sepsis. J Crit Care 2009 Oct 14. [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Bone et al. (Chest, 1992) and Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).]

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Siddiqi A, Nguyen QC. A cross-national comparative perspective on racial inequities in health: the USA versus Canada. J Epidemiol Community Health 2010 Jan; 64(1):29-35. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Zuvekas and Weinick (Health Serv Res, 1999).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Tzeng HM. Understanding the prevalence of inpatient falls associated with toileting in adult acute care settings. J Nurs Care Qual 2010 Jan-Mar; 25(1):22-30. [Cites chapter on fall and injury prevention in AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses, 2008; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Hitcho et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2004) and Krauss et al. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Noonan K, Carroll A, Reichman NE, et al. Mental illness as a risk factor for uninsurance among mothers of infants. Matern Child Health J 2010 Jan; 14(1):36-46. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Zuvekas and Meyerhoefer (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (J Ment Health Policy Econ, 2006); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Feinberg et al. (Matern Child Health J, 2002) and Minkovitz et al. (Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Farley JF. Containing cost despite the cost. Med Care 2010 Jan; 48(1):1-3. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Soumerai et al. (N Engl J Med, 1994, and Health Aff, 2008), Huskamp (Health Aff, 2003), and Law, Ross-Degnan, and Soumerai (Psychiatr Serv, 2008).]

Lu CY, Soumerai SB, Ross-Degnan D, et al. Unintended impacts of a Medicaid prior authorization policy on access to medications for bipolar illness. Med Care 2010 Jan; 48(1):4-9. [Notes that second and fourth authors are investigators in the HMO Research Network Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERTs) and are supported by AHRQ; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Huskamp et al. (Psychiatr Serv, 2007), Law, Ross-Degnan, and Soumerai (Psychiatr Serv, 2008), Soumerai et al. (Health Aff, 2008), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Gregg EW, Karter AJ, Gerzoff RB, et al. Characteristics of insured patients with persistent gaps in diabetes care services: the Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) study. Med Care 2010 Jan; 48(1):31-7. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Safran et al. (Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Li Y, Cai X, Mukamel DB, et al. The volume-outcome relationship in nursing home care: an examination of functional decline among long-term care residents. Med Care 2010 Jan; 48(1):52-7. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Spector (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) and Takada (J Aging Health, 1991), Cohen and Spector (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends and Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively) (J Health Econ, 1996), Mukamel, Spectoret al. (J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 2007), and Mukamel, Weimer, Spectoret al. (Health Serv Res, 2008); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Hannan et al. (JAMA, 1995), Birkmeyer et al. (Surgery, 2001 and N Engl J Med, 2003), Grabowski (J Health Econ, 2001), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Ballard DW, Price M, Fung V, et al. Validation of an algorithm for categorizing the severity of hospital emergency department visits. Med Care 2010 Jan; 48(1):58-63. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Clancy (Health Serv Res, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Lowe et al. (Ann Emerg Med, 1994) and Selby et al. (N Engl J Med, 1996).] Select to access the abstract.

New EnglandJournal of Medicine
Hurley JC.Variation in hospital mortality associated with surgery. N Engl J Med 2010 Jan 7; 362(1):78; author reply, 79. [Letter comments on AHRQ-funded article by Ghaferi, Birkmeyer, and Dimick (N Engl J Med, 2009); author reply cites AHRQ-funded articles by Dimick, Welch, and Birkmeyer (JAMA, 2004) and Ghaferi, Birkmeyer, and Dimick (Ann Surg, 2009).]

Gray TF 3rd. Variation in hospital mortality associated with surgery. N Engl J Med 2010 Jan 7; 362(1):78; author reply, 79. [Letter comments on AHRQ-funded article by Ghaferi, Birkmeyer, and Dimick (N Engl J Med, 2009); author reply cites AHRQ-funded articles by Dimick, Welch, and Birkmeyer (JAMA, 2004) and Ghaferi, Birkmeyer, and Dimick (Ann Surg, 2009).]

Nursing Research
Marshall JG, Cowell JM, Campbell ES et al. Regional variations in cancer screening rates found in women with diabetes. Nurs Res 2010 Jan-Feb; 59(1):34-41. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Bindman et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 1998), Kiefe et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 1998), and Lim et al. (Med Care, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

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

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Leaberry BA. Aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review. J Nurs Care Qual 2010 Jan-Mar; 25(1):17-21. [Uses National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as source for relevant evidence; cites and reviews findings from USPSTF-sponsored systematic review of the evidence on aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (Hayden et al., Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

Hyman Z, Crosby F. Study of implementation of a guideline for brief alcohol intervention in primary care. J Nurs Care Qual 2010 Jan-Mar; 25(1):46-55. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse and associated evidence review (Ann Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Policy Review
Alper PR. Primary care's dim prognosis. Policy Rev 2009-2010 Dec-Jan; (158):63-74. [Mentions that "a study of the recommendations of the authoritative U.S. Preventive Services Task force (self-described as 'an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services') showed that if a doctor with a practice of 2,000 patients complied with all its recommendations, there would be only 30 minutes per day left to care for the sick and injured."]

Psychiatric Services
Cuddeback GS, Scheyett A, Pettus-Davis C, et al. General medical problems of incarcerated persons with severe and persistent mental illness: a population-based study. Psychiatr Serv 2010 Jan; 61(1):45-9. [Cites Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2008: Recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

BMJ
Cohen AT. Prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism. BMJ 2010 Jan 2; 340(7736):2-3. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Healthcare Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.]

JAMA
Fournier JC, DeRubeis RJ, Hollon SD, et al. Antidepressant drug effects and depression severity: a patient-level meta-analysis. JAMA 2010 Jan 6; 303(1):47-53. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Treatment of Depression: Newer Pharmacotherapies, 1999; cites AHRQ publication, Depression in Primary Care, Vol. 2, Treatment of Major Depression, 1993.] Select to access the habstract.

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

American Journal of Public Health
Zambrana RE, Carter-Pokras O. Role of acculturation research in advancing science and practice in reducing health care disparities among Latinos. Am J Public Health 2010 Jan; 100(1):18-23. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Hunt DR. A patient-centered approach to detecting harm in adverse drug events. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Jan; 36(1):10-11. [Notes "that the Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring Systems (MPSMS) was explicitly created as an information channel for the annual reports [NHQR and NHDR] on health care quality and disparities mandated by the U.S. Congress and published through [AHRQ];" cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Vol. 2, 2005, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Medical Care
Peabody JW, Florentino J, Shimkhada R, et al. Quality variation and its impact on costs and satisfaction: evidence from the QIDS study. Med Care 2010 Jan; 48(1):25-30. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007, and NHQR, 2007; cites AHRQ-authored article by McNamara (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Int J Qual Health Care, 2005); cites AHRQ-funded article by Schneider et al. (Med Care, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

AIDS Care
Bansil P, Jamieson DJ, Posner SF, et al. Trends in hospitalizations with psychiatric diagnoses among HIV-infected women in the USA, 1994-2004. AIDS Care 2009 Nov; 21(11):1432-8. [Uses 1994-2004 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, using Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site and AHRQ publication, Using the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample to Estimate Trends, HCUP Methods Series Report, No. 2005-01, 2005, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Cardiology
Movahed MR, John J, Hashemzadeh M, et al. Trends in the age adjusted mortality from acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in the United States (1988-2004) based on race, gender, infarct location and comorbidities. Am J Cardiol 2009 Oct 15; 104(8):1030-4. [Uses 1988-2004 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP NIS Web site; cites article by Movahed et al. (Am J Cardiol, 2009), using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Gastroenterology
Nguyen GC, Patel H, Chong RY. Increased prevalence of and associated mortality with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among hospitalized IBD patients. Am J Gastroenterol 2009 Oct 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2004 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publication, 2002 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, 2005, HCUP Method Series Report no. 2005-03.] Select to access the abstract.�

American Journal of Hematology
Dinan MA, Chou CH, Hammill BG, et al. Outcomes of inpatients with and without sickle cell disease after high-volume surgical procedures. Am J Hematol 2009 Nov; 84(11):703-9. [Uses 2000-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP NIS Web site, HCUP Cost-to Charge Ratio Files (CCR), 2002-2005, and AHRQ publication, Sickle Cell Disease Patients in U.S. Hospitals,HCUP Statistical BriefNo. 21, 2004,as published on AHRQ Web site; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998); cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for hemaglobinopathies in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
Max W, Sung HY, Tucker LY, et al. The disproportionate cost of smoking for African Americans in California. Am J Public Health 2010 Jan; 100(1):152-8. [Uses 1998 and 2002 MEPS data linked to NHIS Adult sample files; cites AHRQ publications, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2002 Full Year Consolidated Data File Documentation, 2004, and Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1991, both as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Surgery
Gopaldas RR, Chu D, Dao TK, et al. Predictors of surgical mortality and discharge status after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients 80 years and older. Am J Surg 2009 Nov; 198(5):633-8. [Uses 2004 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP NIS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Kaafarani HM, Rosen AK. Using administrative data to identify surgical adverse events: an introduction to the patient safety indicators. Am J Surg 2009 Nov; 198(5 Suppl): S63-S68. [Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing AHRQ publications, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site, and Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Vol. 2, 2005; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Houchens and Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), and Romano (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2008) and Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence), et al. (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2007); cites article by Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009), using AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Anesthesia and Analgesia
Brady JE, Sun LS, Rosenberg H, et al. Prevalence of malignant hyperthermia due to anesthesia in New York State, 2001-2005. Anesth Analg 2009 Oct; 109(4):1162-6. [Uses 2001-2005 HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data, citing HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Schipper PH, Diggs BS, Ungerleider RM, et al. The influence of surgeon specialty on outcomes in general thoracic surgery: a national sample 1996 to 2005. Ann Thorac Surg 2009 Nov; 88(5):1566-72; discussion 1572-3. [Uses 2005 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP-Databases, 1996-2005, as published on AHRQ Web site; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Chest
Park B, Messina L, Dargon P, et al. Recent trends in clinical outcomes and resource utilization for pulmonary embolism in the United States: findings from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Chest 2009 Oct; 136(4):983-90. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publications, Introduction to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2002, 2004, and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2000, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Child's Nervous System
Mukherjee D, Zaidi HA, Kosztowski TA, et al. Variations in referral patterns for hypophysectomies among pediatric patients with sellar and parasellar tumors. Childs Nerv Syst 2009 Nov 10. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1988-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002); cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2005, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites article by Edelstein, Manski, and Moeller (Pediatr Dent, 2000), usingMEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Csikesz NG, Singla A, Murphy MM, et al. Surgeon volume metrics in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Dig Dis Sci 2009 Nov 13. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1999-2005 HCUP NIS data on patients with acute cholecystectomy and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites authors' previous related study (Surgery, 2008) using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Internal Medicine Journal
Evans SM, Lowinger JS, Sprivulis PC, et al. Prioritizing quality indicator development across the healthcare system: identifying what to measure. Intern Med J 2009 Oct; 39(10):648-54. [Uses AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators and Quality Indicators, citing AHRQ publication, Comparison of Recommended Evaluation Criteria in Five Existing National Frameworks, 2005, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Miller (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Szekendi MK, Barnard C, Creamer J, et al. Using patient safety morbidity and mortality conferences to promote transparency and a culture of safety. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2010 Jan; 36(1):3-9. [Uses AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2004, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2003, and Jt Comm J Qual Saf, 2004) and Sexton et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2006).]

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Hill JS, McPhee JT, Whalen GF, et al. In-hospital mortality after pancreatic resection for chronic pancreatitis: population-based estimates from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. J Am Coll Surg 2009 Oct; 209(4):468-76. [Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP NIS Web site and HCUP NIS related reports, 2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP NIS Web site; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Endovascular Therapy
Giles KA, Hamdan AD, Pomposelli FB, et al. Population-based outcomes following endovascular and open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. J Endovasc Ther 2009 Oct; 16(5):554-64. [Uses 2000-2005 HCUP NIS data; citing HCUP Tools and Software Web page, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Simons JP, Shah SA, Ng SC, et al. National complication rates after pancreatectomy: beyond mere mortality. J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Oct; 13(10):1798-1805. [Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Movahed MR, Hashemzadeh M, Khoynezhad A, et al. Sex- and ethnic group-specific nationwide trends in the use of coronary artery bypass grafting in the United States. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009 Oct 22; (Epub):1-4. [Uses 1988-2004 HCUP NIS data; cites article by Movahed (J Interv Cardiol, 2009), using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Varghese JJ, Koneru S, Scaife SL, et al. Mortality after coronary artery revascularization of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2003-2005 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

�Journal of Vascular Surgery
Eslami MH, Csikesz N, Schanzer A, et al. Peripheral arterial interventions: trends in market share and outcomes by specialty, 1998-2005. J Vasc Surg 2009 Nov; 50(5):1071-8. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP Web site; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Viral Hepatitis
Ananthakrishnan AN, McGinley EL, Fangman J, et al. Hepatitis C/HIV co-infection is associated with higher mortality in hospitalized patients with Hepatitis C or HIV. J Viral Hepat 2009 Nov 30; (Epub):1-10. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data, citing 2004 HCUP NIS data, as published on AHRQ Web site, AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Method Series Report No. 2007-03, and articles by Nguyen (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2007, and Hepatology, 2007), Ananthakrishnan, McGinley, and Saeian (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2009, Gastrointest Endosc, 2009, and Liver Transpl, 2008), Gebo et al. (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2005), and others using HCUP NIS data; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Liao C, Ganz ML, Jiang H, et al. The impact of the public insurance expansions on children's use of preventive dental care. Matern Child Health J 2010 Jan;14(1):58-66. [Uses 1996-2000 MEPS data, citing AHRQ publications, Design, Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1997, MEPS Methodology Report No. 1, 1997, Access and Cost Trends, MEPS HC-036: 1996-2001 Pooled Estimation File, 2003, andDental Services: Use, Expenses and Sources of Payment, 1996-2000,MEPS Research Findings No. 20, 2004; acknowledges support by "Data Center at C group in [AHRQ]; cites AHRQ-authored article by Vistnes and Schone (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends (Health Aff, 2008).]

Pediatrics
Li ST, Tancredi DJ. Empyema hospitalizations increased in US children despite pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Pediatrics 2010 Jan; 125(1):26-33. [Uses 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 HCUP KID data, citing KID data as published on AHRQ Web site and AHRQ publication, Using the KIDS' Inpatient Database (KID) to Estimate Trends, 2007, HCUP Methods Series Report No. 2007-02, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Urology
Strope SA, Wolf JS Jr, Hollenbeck BK. Changes in gender distribution of urinary stone disease. Urology 2009 Oct 23; (Epub):1-4, 4.e1. [Uses 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004 State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD) and HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data, citing AHRQ publication, Introduction to the HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD), 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

World Journal of Surgery
Abdullah F, Gabre-Kidan A, Zhang Y, et al. Report of 2,087,915 surgical admissions in U.S. children: inpatient mortality rates by procedure and specialty. World J Surg 2009 Oct 1; (Epub):1-8. [Uses AHRQ's Inpatient Quality Indicators, citing AHRQ publication, Inpatient Quality Indicators Overview, 2006; uses 1988-1996, 1998-1999, 2001-2002, and 2004-2005, HCUP NIS data and 1997, 2000, and 203 HCUP Kids Inpatient Database (KID) data, citing AHRQ publications, Overview of the Kids Inpatient Database (KID), 2008 and Overview of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007, HCUP Web site; uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators definition of "surgical procedures", citing AHRQ publication, Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, version 3.2, 4.1, 2009.] Select to access the abstract.