Early Evaluations of the Medical Home: Building on a Promising Start

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 Managed Care
Peikes DN, Zutshi A, Genevro JL, Parchman ML, Meyers DS. Early evaluations of the medical home: building on a promising start. Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(2):105-16. [Third and fourth authors are researchers in and last author is director of AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; supported by contracts HHSA290-2009-00019-I/HHSA29032002T, and HHSA290-2009-00019-I/HHSA29032005T; summarizes AHRQ-sponsored report, The Medical Home: What Do We Know, What Do We Need to Know? A Review of the Earliest Evidence on the Effectiveness of the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, 2012, prepared by the Mathematica Policy Research; uses USPSTF review methods, citing USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies.]

Goetz Goldberg D, Kuzel AJ, Feng LB, et al. EHRs in primary care practices: benefits, challenges, and successful strategies. Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(2):e48-e54. [Supported by AHRQ, grant information not given; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC).]

American Journal of Psychiatry
Zuvekas SH, Vitiello B. Stimulant medication use in children: a 12-year perspective. Am J Psychiatry 2012 Feb 1; 169(2):160-6. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 1996-2008 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Surgery
Rosenberg JJ, Haut ER. Surveillance bias and postoperative complication rates. Arch Surg 2012 Feb; 147(2):199-200. [Supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award grant 1 K08 HS17952-01, Does Screening Variability Make DVT an Unreliable Quality Measure of Trauma Care (to second author).]

Osler T, Glance LG, Hosmer DW. Complication-associated mortality following trauma: a population-based observational study. Arch Surg 2012 Feb; 147(2):152-8. [Supported by grant R01 HS16737; cites AHRQ publication, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.2, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

British Medical Journal
Huybrechts KF, Gerhard T, Crystal S, et al. Differential risk of death in older residents in nursing homes prescribed specific antipsychotic drugs: population based cohort study. BMJ 2012; 344:e977. [Supported in part by grants HS17918 (in partnership with the FDA) and HS16097.]

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Huybrechts KF, Schneeweiss S, Gerhard T, et al. Comparative safety of antipsychotic medications in nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Feb 13 [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by grants HS17918 (in partnership with the FDA) and HS16097 (to Rutgers University); uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Romano, Roos, and Jollis (J Clin Epidemiol, 1993).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Chen PG, Curry LA, Nunez-Smith M, et al. Career satisfaction in primary care: a comparison of international and US medical graduates. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):147-52. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS17589-02.] Select to access the abstract.

Nuckols TK, Escarce JJ. Cost implications of ACGME's 2011 changes to resident duty hours and the training environment. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):241-9. [First author is supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award grant K08 HS17954; go to comments by Romano and Volpp (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Newman RE, Hedican EB, Herigon JC, Williams DD, Williams AR, Newland JG. Impact of a guideline on management of children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. Pediatrics 2012 Feb 20 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant U18 HS10399 (to second, third, and last authors). Also refer to AHRQ-funded article by Dahabreh et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Chodosh J, Pearson ML, Connor KI, et al. A dementia care management intervention: which components improve quality? Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(12):85-94. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Shekelle et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2011), Callahan et al. (JAMA, 2006), and Hays et al. (Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1995).]

Lemieux J, Sennett C, Wang R, et al. Hospital readmission rates in Medicare Advantage plans. Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(12):96-104. [Notes that AHRQ is the source of most of the data used in industry readmission studies, citing AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Web site, and as an example America's Health Insurance Plans Center for Policy and Research publication, Using AHRQ's 'Revisit' Data to Estimate 30-Day Readmission Rates in Medicare Advantage and the Traditional Fee-for-Service Program, 2010; cites AHRQ publication, All-Cause Readmissions by Payer and Age, 2008, HCUP Statistical Brief 115, 2011, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.]

Chen Y, Harrold LR, Yood RA, et al. Identifying patients with osteoporosis or at risk for osteoporotic fractures. Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(12):e61-e67. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Ray, Daugherty, and Griffin (Inj Prev, 2002).]

Annals of Family Medicine
Stange KC. In this issue: challenges of managing multimorbidity. Ann Fam Med 2012 Jan-Feb; 10(1):2-3. [Cites AHRQ white paper Coordinating Care for Adults With Complex Care Needs in the Patient-Centered Medical Home: Challenges and Solutions, 2012, prepared by Mathematica Policy Research, as published on AHRQ's Patient Centered Medical Home Resource Center Web site, and related AHRQ-authored/funded article by Rich, Lipson, Libersky, Peikes, and Parchman (Ann Fam Med, 2012); comments on articles by Morris et al. and Baskerville, Liddy, and Hogg cited below in this section and by Mangin et al. (Ann Fam Med, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles.]

Morris DW, Budhwar N, Husain M, et al. Depression treatment in patients with general medical conditions: results from the CO-MED trial. Ann Fam Med 2012 Jan-Feb; 10(1):23-33. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Depression in Primary Care: Volume 2: Treatment of Major Depression, 1993, and related article by Schulberg et al. (Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1998) on updated AHRQ-sponsored guidelines.] Select to access the abstract.

Baskerville NB, Liddy C, Hogg W. Systematic review and meta-analysis of practice facilitation within primary care settings. Ann Fam Med 2012 Jan-Feb; 10(1):63-74. [Cites AHRQ's Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Mold, Aspy, and Nagykaldi (J Am Board Fam Med, 2008) and Margolis et al. (BMJ, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Surgery
Dimick JB. How should we risk-adjust hospital outcome comparisons? Arch Surg 2012 Feb; 147(2):135-136. [Comments on article by Grendar et al. (Arch Surg, 2012) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

Clinical Trials
Goodman SN. Quasi-random reflections on randomized controlled trials and comparative effectiveness research. Clin Trials 2012; 9(1):22-6. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and current AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003); cites AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. (Spine, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Hernán MA, Hernández-Díaz S. Beyond the intention-to-treat in comparative effectiveness research. Clin Trials 2012; 9(1):48-55. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and current AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Current Psychiatry
Burghardt K, Ellingrod VL. Smoking cessation: what to tell patients about over-the-counter treatments. Curr Psychiatr 2012 Jan; 11(1):43-6, A. [Lists AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008, as published on the AHRQ Web site, in the Related Resources box, and cites guideline as published in Am J Prev Med, 2008.]

Hospitals and Health Networks
Kreimer S. Keeping workers alert and patients safe: Joint Commission calls attention to worker fatigue. Hosp Health Netw 2012 Feb; 86(2):16. [Quotes remarks by Jeff Brady, AHRQ patient safety portfolio leader.]

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Listyowardojo TA, Nap RE, Johnson A. Variations in hospital worker perceptions of safety culture. Int J Qual Health Care 2012 Feb; 24(1):9-15. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Singer et al. (Health Care Manag Rev, 2009, and Med Care, 2009), Sexton et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2006), Thomas et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2005), and Pronovost et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Askari M, Wierenga PC, Eslami S, et al. Studies pertaining to the ACOVE quality criteria: a systematic review. Int J Qual Health Care 2012 Feb; 24(1):80-7. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Arora et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Romano PS, Volpp K. The ACGME's 2011 changes to resident duty hours: are they an unfunded mandate on teaching hospitals? J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):136-8. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Nuckols and Escarce (J Gen Intern Med, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Nuckols et al. (N Engl J Med, 2009), Lockley et al. (N Engl J Med, 2004), and Landrigan et al. (N Engl J Med, 2004).]

Ayanian JZ. The Massachusetts journey to expand health insurance coverage. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):139-41. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by McWilliams et al. (JAMA, 2007).]

Bond WF, Schwartz LM, Weaver KR, et al. Differential diagnosis generators: an evaluation of currently available computer programs. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):213-19. [Cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005, as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Modern Healthcare
Robeznieks A. Remodeling required? Medical-home demos advance, but questions persist over performance data. Mod Healthc 2012 Feb 20; 42(8):30-2. [Quotes remarks from David Meyers, director of AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; discusses AHRQ/Mathematica Policy Research patient-centered medical home decisionmaker brief Improving Evaluations of the Medical Home, 2011, and related reports by other organizations.]

New England Journal of Medicine
Ruger JP. Fair enough? Inviting inequities in state health benefits. N Engl J Med 2012 Feb 23; 366(8):681-3. [Cites AHRQ publication, Closing the Quality Gap: The Hypertension Care Strategies. Fact Sheet, 2004.]

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

Annals of Family Medicine
Mangin D, Murdoch D, Wells JE, et al. Chlamydia trachomatis testing sensitivity in midstream compared with first-void urine specimens. Ann Fam Med 2012 Jan-Feb; 10(1):50-3. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Chlamydia Infection, 2007, as published on the USPSTF Web site.]

Clinical Trials
Berry DA. Bayesian approaches for comparative effectiveness research. Clin Trials 2012; 9(1):37-47. [Describes aspects of comparative effectiveness research from AHRQ publication, What Is Comparative Effectiveness Research?, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites AHRQ technology assessment report, Use of Bayesian Techniques in Randomized Clinical Trials: A CMS Case Study, 2009, for comparison with the summarized study by Berry et al. (Med Care, 2010); superimposes updated estimates of mortality risk reductions from USPSTF-sponsored update on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on graph plotting estimates from eight randomized screening trials, noting that "the Bayesian estimates are closer to the updated estimates than are the empirical estimates made in 1998."] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Hingson RW, Heeren T, Edwards EM, et al. Young adults at risk for excess alcohol consumption are often not asked or counseled about drinking alcohol. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):179-84. [Cites USPSTF recommendations in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd edition, 1996; cites article by Solberg, Maciosek, and Edwards (Am J Prev Med, 2008) on USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Rodondi N, Auer R, de Bosset Sulzer V, et al. Atherosclerosis screening by noninvasive imaging for cardiovascular prevention: a systematic review. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):220-31. [Discusses findings from USPSTF-sponsored systematic evidence review Screening for Asymptomatic Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2003, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites and lists in Table 1, Recommendations on Screening for Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Adults, USPSTF recommendations on using nontraditional risk factors in coronary heart disease risk assessment (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Walsh JM, McNamara M, Miller RG, et al. Update in women's health for the general internist. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):232-7. [Lists USPSTF recommendations on screening for osteoporosis in Table 1, Important Women's Health Guidelines in 2010-2011: New or Updated."]

Barrett B. Evidence, values, guidelines and rational decision-making. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):238-40. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Colorectal Cancer, 2008, as published on the USPSTF Web site; cites article by Woloshin and Schwartz (JAMA, 2010) on 2009 updated USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Women's Health
Stiles M, Redmer J, Paddock E, et al. Gynecologic issues in geriatric women. J Womens Health 2012 Jan; 21(1):4-9. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Ovarian Cancer, 2004, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Watson-Johnson LC, Townsend JS, Basile KC, et al. Cancer screening and history of sexual violence victimization among U.S. adults. J Womens Health 2012 Jan; 21(1):17-25. [Uses USPSTF screening interval recommendations from USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009) and from USPSTF recommendation statements, Screening for Cervical Cancer, 2003, Screening for Colorectal Cancer, 2009, and Screening for Prostate Cancer, 2008, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Powell H, O'Connor K, Greenberg D. Adherence to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2002 osteoporosis screening guidelines in academic primary care settings. J Womens Health 2012 Jan; 21(1):50-3. [Uses USPSTF recommendations on screening for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (Ann Intern Med, 2002) to assess physician adherence to guidelines for osteoporosis screening for women >=65 years.] Select to access the abstract.

Banegas MP, Bird Y, Moraros J, et al. Breast cancer knowledge, attitudes, and early detection practices in United States-Mexico border Latinas. J Womens Health 2012 Jan; 21(1):101-107. [Cites patient summary of USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Townsend Letter
Moss R. War on cancer: anxiety/music therapy. 2012 Jan; Online:32-34/35. [Discusses findings from USPSTF draft recommendations on prostate cancer screening, 2011, noting delayed announcement of findings to review results of five well-controlled trials. Also refer to AHRQ-funded/authored article by Peikes et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Fischer H, Eisert SL, Everhart RM, et al. Nurse-run, telephone-based outreach to improve lipids in people with diabetes. Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(2):77-84. [Cites AHRQ-funded meta-regression analysis by Shojania et al. (JAMA, 2006) on the effects of quality improvement strategies for type 2 diabetes on glycemic control, prepared by the Stanford-UCSF EPC under contract 290-02-0017.]

Fischer HH, Moore SL, Ginosar D, et al. Care by cell phone: text messaging for chronic disease management. Am J Manag Care 2012 Feb; 18(2):e42-e47. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Impact of Consumer Health Informatics Applications, 2009, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Dahabreh IJ, Chung M, Balk EM, et al. Active surveillance in men with localized prostate cancer: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2012 Feb 20 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract HHSA290-2007-10055-I (to the Tufts EPC) under the commission and for the support of the National Cancer Institute/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science conference Role of Active Surveillance in the Management of Men With Localized Prostate Cancer, 2011, the statement from which is summarized below; rates study quality and strength of evidence using criteria from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, An Evidence Review of Active Surveillance in Men with Localized Prostate Cancer, 2011, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Web site, Methods Reference Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, Version 1.0, 2010, and AHRQ-authored article by Owens, Lohr, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program; cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer, 2008, and AHRQ technology assessment, Comparative Evaluation of Radiation Treatments for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: An Update, 2010; cites AHRQ-funded systematic reviews by Bannuru et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2011) on the comparative evaluation of radiation treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer (prepared by the Tufts EPC under contract 290-2007-10055-I), and by Wilt et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008) on the comparative effectiveness and harms of treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer (prepared by the Minnesota EPC under contract 290-02-0009); cites AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Ganz PA, Barry JM, Burke W, et al. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science conference: Role of Active Surveillance in the Management of Men With Localized Prostate Cancer. Ann Intern Med 2012 Feb 20 [Epub ahead of print. Based on AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, An Evidence Review of Active Surveillance in Men with Localized Prostate Cancer, 2011, summarized above; notes membership of William Lawrence in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence on the planning committee and acknowledges AHRQ as a conference partner.] Select to access the abstract.

Qureshi N, Armstrong S, Dhiman P, et al. Effect of adding systematic family history enquiry to cardiovascular disease risk assessment in primary care: a matched-pair, cluster randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2012 Feb 21; 156(4):253-62. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, Collection and Use of Cancer Family History in Primary Care, 2007, and Family History and Improving Health, 2009, and associated AHRQ-funded systematic review by Wilson et al. and article by Berg et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2009), which summarize the National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science conference Family History and Improving Health.] Select to access the abstract.

Berg AO. Family history gets a boost. Ann Intern Med 2012 Feb 21; 156(4):315-16. [Comments on article by Qureshi et al. cited above; cites article by Berg et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) which summarizes the National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science conference Family History and Improving Health.]

Clinical Trials
Morton SC, Ellenberg JH. Infusion of statistical science in comparative effectiveness research. Clin Trials 2012; 9(1):6-12. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002, prepared by the Research Triangle Institute-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-97-0011; gives "shorthand" definition of comparative effectiveness research (CER) from AHRQ-authored articles by Slutsky and Clancy (directors of AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and AHRQ, respectively) (Am J Med Qual, 2009) and Tunis, Stryer (former AHRQ center director), and Clancy (JAMA, 2003); mentions increases in AHRQ funding for CER since 2009; cites draft AHRQ prepublication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal for Quality in Health Care
Healy JM. How hospital leaders implemented a safe surgery protocol in Australian hospitals. Int J Qual Health Care 2012 Feb; 24(1):88-94. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Kiser K, Jonas D, Warner Z, et al. A randomized controlled trial of a literacy-sensitive self-management intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):190-5. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by DeWalt et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2004) on literacy and health outcomes, prepared by the RTI International-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-02-0016.] Select to access the abstract.

Jeppesen KM, Hull BP, Raines M, et al. A validation study of the Spoken Knowledge in Low Literacy in Diabetes Scale (SKILLD). J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):207-12. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Literacy and Health Outcomes, Summary, 2004, prepared by the RTI International-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-02-0016.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Women's Health
Sexton MB, Flynn HA, Lancaster C, et al. Predictors of recovery from prenatal depressive symptoms from pregnancy through postpartum. J Womens Health 2012 Jan; 21(1):43-9. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005. Also refer to article by Goetz Goldberg et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, article by Berry (Clin Trials, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles, and article by Drösler et al. (Health Serv Res, 2012) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Bateman BT, Bansil P, Hernandez-Diaz S, et al. Prevalence, trends, and outcomes of chronic hypertension: a nationwide sample of delivery admissions. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012 Feb; 206(2):134.e1-134.e8. [Uses 1995-2008 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) as published on the AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), which uses multiple AHRQ datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Surgery
Grendar J, Shaheen AA, Myers RP, et al. Predicting in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing complex gastrointestinal surgery: determining the optimal risk adjustment method. Arch Surg 2012 Feb; 147(2):126-35. [Uses 2002-2007 HCUP NIS data as described on the Databases landing page of AHRQ's HCUP Web site and in AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series 2007-03, 2007, and uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded articles by Schneeweiss et al. (Am J Epidemiol, 2001) and Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992);also uses the Disease Staging and APR-DRGs algorithms (both of which are described on AHRQ's HCUP Web site); cites articles by Farley, Harley, and Devine (Am J Manage Care, 2006), Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004), and Quan, Parsons, and Ghali (Med Care, 2002), all of which use AHRQ Elixhauser comorbidity measures and/or the adapted Charlson comorbidity index.] Select to access the abstract.

Arthritis and Rheumatism
Yazdanyar A, Chester Wasko M, Kraemer KL, et al. Perioperative all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with unaffected controls and persons with diabetes mellitus. Arthritis Rheum 2012 Feb 21 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2002 HCUP NIS data, HCUP Procedure Classes software tools, HCUP Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), and HCUP NIS Trends Supplemental Files, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007-2009, Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, 2006-2009, NIS Trends Supplemental Files, 2002-2009, and Procedure Classes, 2009, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Drösler SE, Romano PS, Tancredi DJ, et al. International comparability of patient safety indicators in 15 OECD member countries: a methodological approach of adjustment by secondary diagnoses. Health Serv Res 2012 Feb; 47(1 Pt 1):275-92. [Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing AHRQ technical review, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data The Patient Safety Indicators, 2002, and AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 1: Assessment, 2008, as published on the AHRQ Web site, and Patient Safety in Hospitals in 2004: Toward Understanding Variation Across States, HCUP Methods Series Report 2008-02, 2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Houchens, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), and Romano (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2008); cites several AHRQ-funded and other articles which use/describe AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Lê Cook B (incorrectly cited as Cook BL in PubMed), McGuire TG, Zaslavsky AM. Measuring racial/ethnic disparities in health care: methods and practical issues. Health Serv Res 2012 Feb 21 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2004-2007 MEPS data in Table 2, Comparison of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care Adjusting for Different Sets of Variables; gives definition of racial/ethnic disparities from AHRQ's NHDR, 2009 and 2004; mentions AHRQ's MEPS and HCUP databases as nationally representative datasets commonly used to measure health care disparities, citing AHRQ—authored articles by Kirby, Hudson, and Miller (Med Care Res Rev, 2010), Cook, McGuire, and Zuvekas (Med Care Res Rev, 2009); Hudson, Miller, and Kirby (Med Care, 2007), Kirby, Taliaferro, and Zuvekas (Med Care, 2006), and Coffey, Andrews, and Moy (Med Care, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Smith KJ, Wateska AR, Nowalk MP, et al. Cost-effectiveness of adult vaccination strategies using pneumococcal conjugate vaccine compared with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. JAMA 2012 Feb 22; 307(8):804-12. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data as accessed from AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Fine et al. (Arch Intern Med,1999) from the Pneumonia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) study.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Ahalt C, Binswanger IA, Steinman M, et al. Confined to ignorance: the absence of prisoner information from nationally representative health data sets. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):160-6. [Uses/analyzes HCUP and MEPS documentation relative to inclusion/recording of participants' incarceration status.] Select to access the abstract.

Rothberg MB, Steele JR, Wheeler J, et al. The relationship between time spent communicating and communication outcomes on a hospital medicine service. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Feb; 27(2):185-9. [Uses questions derived from AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), citing Appendix A: HCAHPS Mail Survey (English), 2010, as published AHRQ's HCAHPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Gopaldas RR, Bakaeen FG, Dao TK, et al. Outcomes of concomitant aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting at teaching hospitals versus nonteaching hospitals. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012 Mar; 143(3):648-55. [Uses1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing 2001 HCUP NIS data and HCUP Quality Control Procedures, NIS Related Reports, and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), all 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.

Pew Center on the States
The Pew Children's Dental Campaign. A costly dental destination: hospital care means states pay dearly. Pew Center on the States 2012 Feb; Online. [Uses 2009 and 2006 HCUP Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data, 2009 HCUP state statistics for North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah, and 2004 and 2007 state statistics for Hawaii, as accessed from the AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site; cites AHRQ-funded final report, The Value of Hospital Discharge Databases, 2005, prepared by NORC at the University of Chicago under contract 282-98-0024, and "Figure 4: Number of Hospitals in the 2009 Universe, Frame, and Sample for Frame States—Part A: Arkansas Indiana" in Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2009, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites Research in Action: Dental Care: Improving Access and Quality, 2003, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]