Quality of Care for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Primer for Gastroenterologists

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 Gastroenterology
Kappelman MD, Dorn SD, Peterson E, et al. Quality of care for gastrointestinal conditions: a primer for gastroenterologists. Am J Gastroenterol 2011 Jul; 106(7):1182-7. [Supported by grant K12 HS19468 (to second author); cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Colorectal Cancer, 2008, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Managed Care
Newcomer SR, Steiner JF, Bayliss EA. Identifying subgroups of complex patients with cluster analysis. Am J Manag Care 2011 Aug 1; 17(8):e324-e332. [Supported by grant K08 HS15476; uses an adaptation of the Elixhauser comorbidity index (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) described in article by Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Mathews JL, Parkhill AL, Schlehofer DA, Starr MJ, Barnett S. Role-reversal exercise with Deaf Strong Hospital to teach communication competency and cultural awareness. Am J Pharm Educ 2011 Apr; 75(3):53. [Supported by grant K08 HS15700 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Haukoos JS, Byyny RL, Erickson C, et al. Validation and refinement of a rule to predict emergency intervention in adult trauma patients. Ann Emerg Med 2011 Aug; 58(2):164-71. [Supported in part by Independent Scientist Award grant K02 HS17526 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Lo Re V 3rd, Teal V, Localio AR, Amorosa VK, Kaplan DE, Gross R. Relationship between adherence to hepatitis C virus therapy and virologic outcomes: a cohort study. Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 20; 155(6):353-60. [Supported in part by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) cooperative agreement grant HS10399 (to first, third, and last authors).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Sittig DF, Singh H. Defining health information technology-related errors: new developments since To Err is Human. Arch Intern Med 2011 Jul 25; 171(14):1281-4. [Supported in part by grant R18 HS17820 (to second author); cites AHRQ case and commentary Patient Mix-Up, 2003, as published on AHRQ's Web M&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web) Web site; cites several AHRQ-funded articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Groeneveld PW, Polsky D, Yang F, et al. The impact of new cardiovascular device technology on health care costs. Arch Intern Med 2011 Jul 25; 171(14):1289-91. [Supported in part by grant 1 R01 HS18403.]

Kistler CE, Kirby KA, Lee D, et al. Long-term outcomes following positive fecal occult blood test results in older adults: benefits and burdens. Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171(15):1344-51. [Supported in part by Mentored Career Development Program in Comparative Effectiveness Development grant K12 HS19468-01 (to first author); uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites AHRQ-funded systematic review on enhancing the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening by Holden et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010), performed by the RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC); see comments by O'Malley (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles and by O'Malley (Arch Intern Med, 2011).] Select to access the abstract.

Schiff GD, Galanter WL, Duhig J, et al. Principles of conservative prescribing. Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12; 171(16):1433-40. [Supported in part by CERTs grant U18 HS16973; cites AHRQ publication, Prescription Drug Expenditures in the 10 Largest States for Persons under Age 65, 2004, MEPS Statistical Brief 158, 2007, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; cites several AHRQ-funded articles; see comments by Grady (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles below.] Select to access the abstract.

Arthritis Care & Research
Yazdany J, Trupin L, Gansky SA, et al. Brief index of lupus damage: a patient-reported measure of damage in systemic lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res 2011 Aug; 63(8):1170-7. [Supported by grant 2 R01 HS13893.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Medical Education
Edwardsen EA, Horwitz SH, Pless NA, et al. Improving identification and management of partner violence: examining the process of academic detailing: a qualitative study. BMC Med Educ 2011 Jun 16; 11:36. [Supported by grant R01 HS11490-01.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Hysong SJ, Sawhney MK, Wilson L, et al. Understanding the management of electronic test result notifications in the outpatient setting. BMC Med Inform Decis Making 2011 Apr 12; 11:22. [Supported by grant T32 HS17586.] Select to access the abstract.

Cancer
Whitley E, Valverde P, Wells K, Williams L, Teschner T, Shih YC. Establishing common cost measures to evaluate the economic value of patient navigation programs. Cancer 2011 Aug; 117(15 Suppl):3616-23. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS18535 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Pasquali SK, Sun JL, d'Almada P, et al. Center variation in hospital costs for patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2011 May; 4(3):306-12. [Supported by grant HS16957.] Select to access the abstract.

General Hospital Psychiatry
Miller SA, Mancuso CA, Boutin-Foster C, et al. Associations between posttraumatic stress disorder and hemoglobin A1c in low-income minority patients with diabetes. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2011 Mar-Apr; 33(2):116-22. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS00066.] Select to access the abstract.

Genetics in Medicine
Burmester JK, Berg RL, Yale SH, et al. A randomized controlled trial of genotype-based Coumadin initiation. Genet Med 2011 Jun; 13(6):509-18. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS16335-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Jena AB, Goldman DP. Growing Internet use may help explain the rise in prescription drug abuse in the United States. Health Aff 2011 Jun; 30(6):1192-9. [Supported by grant T32 HS00046.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Navathe AS, Clancy C, Glied S. Advancing research data infrastructure for patient-centered outcomes research. JAMA 2011 Sep 21; 306(11):1254-5. [Second author is AHRQ director.]

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Ziewacz JE, Arriaga AF, Bader AM, et al. Crisis checklists for the operating room: development and pilot testing. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Aug; 213(2):212-219. [Supported by grant 1 R18 HS18537-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Kao LS, Ghaferi AA, Ko CY, Dimick JB. Reliability of superficial surgical site infections as a hospital quality measure. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Aug; 213(2):231-5. [Supported by Career Development Award grant K08 HS17765 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Cancer Education
Tarasenko YN, Wackerbarth SB, Love MM, et al. Colorectal cancer screening: patients' and physicians' perspectives on decision-making factors. J Cancer Educ 2011 Jun; 26(2):285-93. [Supported by grant R24 HS1184503.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal for Healthcare Quality
McHugh M, Van Dyke KJ, Howell E, Adams F, Moss D, et al. Changes in patient flow among five hospitals participating in a learning collaborative. J Healthc Qual 2011 Sep 13. [Epub ahead of print. Fifth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; supported by AHRQ, no grant number given; acknowledges support from Michael Harrison (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets); cites AHRQ publication, Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Implementation Handbook, 2005.]

Journal of Clinical Oncology
Bernard DS, Farr SL, Fang Z. National estimates of out-of-pocket health care expenditure burdens among nonelderly adults with cancer: 2001 to 2008. J Clin Oncol 2011 Jul 10; 29(20):2821-6. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 2001-2008 MEPS-Household Component (MEPS-HC) data, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Clinical Classifications Software, and HCUP Chronic Condition Indicator (CCI), citing AHRQ publications, Premiums in the Individual Health Insurance Market for Policyholders under Age 65: 2002 and 2005, MEPS Statistical Brief 202, 2008, and Sample Design of the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, MEPS Methodology Report 11, 2000, and Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM and Chronic Condition Indicator (CCI) for ICD-9-CM, the latter two items published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Medical Systems
Bahensky JA, Ward MM, Nyarko K, et al. HIT implementation in critical access hospitals: extent of implementation and business strategies supporting IT use. J Med Syst 2011 Aug; 35(4):599-607. [Supported by grant HS15009.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Neurosurgery
Naftel RP, Argo JL, Shannon CN, et al. Laparoscopic versus open insertion of the peritoneal catheter in ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: review of 810 consecutive cases. J Neurosurg 2011 Jul; 115(1):151-8. [Supported by grant T32 HS13852.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Palliative Medicine
Tubbs-Cooley HL, Santucci G, Kang TI, Feinstein JA, Hexem KR, Feudtner C. Pediatric nurses' individual and group assessments of palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care. J Palliat Med 2011 May; 14(5):631-7. [Supported by grant K08 HS00002 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Prehospital Emergency Care
Wang HE, Balasubramani GK, Cook LJ, et al. Medical conditions associated with out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation. Prehosp Emerg Care 2011 Jul-Sep; 15(3);338-46. [Supported by Clinical Scientist Development Award grant K08 HS13628.] Select to access the abstract.

Quality of Life Research
Bentley TG, Palta M, Paulsen AJ, Cherepanov D, et al. Race and gender associations between obesity and nine health-related quality-of-life measures. Qual Life Res 2011 Jun; 20(5):665-74. [Supported by grant T32 HS00046 (to fourth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Rheumatology
Desai SP, Turchin A, Szent-Gyorgyi LE, Weinblatt M, Coblyn J, Solomon DH, et al. Routinely measuring and reporting pneumococcal vaccination among immunosuppressed rheumatology outpatients: the first step in improving quality. Rheumatology 2011 Feb; 50(2):366-72. [Supported by grants 5 R18 HS17030 (to second author) and an AHRQ Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) center award (to sixth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Social Work in Public Health
Basu J. Admissions for CABG procedure in the elderly: was there a change in access to teaching hospitals after 1997? Soc Work Public Health 2011 Sep 15; 26(6):605-20. [Author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; uses 1997-2001 HCUP SID data for New York and Pennsylvania, citing SID Database Documentation, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; acknowledges support from Anne Elixhauser and Bernard Friedman (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) and the state data organizations participating in the HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) for New York and Pennsylvania.] Select to access the abstract.

Sociology of Health & Illness
Hudak PL, Maynard DW. An interactional approach to conceptualizing small talk in medical interactions. Sociol Illn 2011 May; 33(4):634-53. [Supported by grant R03 HS15579-01A1. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Chou et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2011) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles and by Loit et al. (Clin Biochem, 2011) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Psychiatry
Nussbaum A, Thurstone C, Binswanger I. Medical marijuana use and suicide attempt in a patient with major depressive disorder. Am J Psychiatry 2011 Aug; 168(8):778-81. [Reports that third author receives funding (for other research) from grant K12 HS19464.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Green SM. Trauma is occasionally a surgical disease: how can we best predict when? Ann Emerg Med 2011 Aug; 58(2):172-7.e1. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Haukoos et al. (Ann Emerg Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Weinberger SE. Providing high-value, cost-conscious care: a critical seventh general competency for physicians. Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 20; 155(6):386-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded/authored article by Eisenberg (former AHRQ director) and Williams (JAMA, 1981).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Katz MH. Interventions to decrease hospital readmission rates: who saves? Who pays? Arch Intern Med 2011 Jul 25; 171(14):1230-1. [Comments on articles by Stauffer et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited below in this section and Voss et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

Stauffer BD, Fullerton C, Fleming N, et al. Effectiveness and cost of a transitional care program for heart failure: a prospective study with concurrent controls. Arch Intern Med 2011 Jul 25; 171(14):1238-43. [Cites "Exhibit 2.3 Most Frequent Principal Diagnoses by Age" in HCUP Facts and Figures: Statistics on Hospital-Based Care in the United States, 2008, and The National Hospital Bill: The Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, 2006, HCUP Statistical Brief 59, 2008, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Friedman, Jiang, and Elixhauser (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Inquiry, 2008-2009); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Seow et al. (J Am Geriatr, 2006) and Glasgow et al. (Med Care, 2005).]
Select to access the abstract.

O'Malley PG. Colorectal cancer screening protocols and procedures. Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171(15):1351. [Comments on article by Kistler et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and article by Goodwin et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

Devitt N. The comparative safety of opioids for nonmalignant pain in older adults. Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171(15):1401-1402; author reply 1402. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Solomon et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2010).]

Grady D. Conservative use of prescription drugs. Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12; 171(16):1470. [Comments on AHRQ-funded article by Schiff et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above.]

Pape GA, Hunt JS, Butler KL, et al. Team-based care approach to cholesterol management in diabetes mellitus: 2-year cluster randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12; 171(16):1480-6. [Cites AHRQ publication, Practice-Based Population Health: Information Technology to Support Transformation to Proactive Primary Care, 2010, as prepared for the AHRQ National Resource Center for Health Information Technology under contract 290-04-0016.] Select to access the abstract.

Warner Stevenson L. "A little learning is a dangerous thing". Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12; 171(16):1494-5. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Setoguchi, Stevenson, and Schneeweiss (Am Heart J, 2007).]

Ethnicity and Disease
Walker KO, Leng M, Liang LJ, et al. Increased patient delays in care after the closure of Martin Luther King Hospital: implications for monitoring health system changes. Ethn Dis 2011 Summer; 21(3):356-60. [Cites MEPS Household Component data, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Mitka M. New physician education initiatives seek to remove the devil from the detailing. JAMA 2011 Sep 21; 306(11):1187-8. [Discusses AHRQ's comparative effectiveness research academic detailing initiatives.]

Beitelshees AL, Veenstra DL. Evolving research and stakeholder perspectives on pharmacogenomics. JAMA 2011 Sep 21; 306(11):1252-3. [Notes AHRQ's support of the systematic evidence evaluation of pharmacogenomics.]

Science
Cook-Deegan R. Public health. Boosting health services research. Science 2011 Sep 9; 333(6048):1384-5. [Mentions AHRQ as a source of expertise in the organization, financing and delivery of health care and discusses AHRQ's funding and mission history and its unique role in supporting health services research; cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Acute Low Back Problems in Adults, 1994.]

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

American Family Physician
Moscow D. Cates plot for risks and benefits of aspirin chemoprevention. Am Fam Physician 2011 Sep 15; 84(6):602, author reply 602-4. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

American Journal of Managed Care
Potter MB, Somkin CP, Ackerson LM, et al. The FLU-FIT program: an effective colorectal cancer screening program for high volume flu shot clinics. Am J Manag Care 2011 Aug; 17(8):577-83. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Chou R, Arora B, Dana T, Fu R, Walker M, Humphrey L. Screening asymptomatic adults with resting or exercise electrocardiography: a review of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 20; 155(6):375-85. [Supported by contract HHSA290-2007-10057-I-EPC3, task order 3, and based on USPSTF-sponsored evidence synthesis Screening Asymptomatic Adults for Coronary Heart Disease With Resting or Exercise Electrocardiography: Systematic Review to Update the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation, 2011; updates USPSTF recommendations on screening for coronary heart disease (Ann Intern Med, 2004), using USPSTF methodologies described in USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001); cites previous USPSTF-sponsored evidence reviews on screening and treating adults for lipid disorders (Am J Prev Med, 2001), aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (Ann Intern Med, 2009), exercise tolerance testing to screen for coronary heart disease (Ann Intern Med, 2004), and Screening for Asymptomatic Coronary Artery Disease, 2003, as published on the AHRQ Web site; see comments by Lauer cited below in this section.]
Select to access the abstract.

Lauer MS. What now with screening electrocardiography? Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 20; 155(6):395-7. [Comments on USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening asymptomatic adults with resting or exercise electrocardiography cited above; cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Lipid Disorders in Adults, 2008, as published on the USPSTF Web site; cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for high blood pressure (Ann Intern Med, 2007) and for coronary heart disease (Ann Intern Med, 2004); cites USPSTF-sponsored update on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009) and best-evidence systematic review on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (Ann Intern Med, 2005).]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Imperiale TF. Screening for colorectal cancer in the elderly population: how much is enough? Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171(15):1332-4. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Arch Intern Med, 2011); comments on AHRQ-funded article by Kistler et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and article by Goodwin (Arch Intern Med, 2011), cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

Good Stewardship Working Group. The "top 5" lists in primary care: meeting the responsibility of professionalism. Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171(15):1385-90. [Lists AHRQ as source for first activity and USPSTF as source for third-fifth activities family medicine in Figure 1; lists AHRQ as source for first activity and USPSTF as source for second, third, and fifth activities for internal medicine in Figure 2; lists AHRQ as source for first activity for pediatrics in Figure 3.] Select to access the abstract.

Cho E, Curhan G, Hankinson SE, et al. Prospective evaluation of analgesic use and risk of renal cell cancer. Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12; 171(16):1487-93. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored systematic review of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors for primary prevention of colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Zilberberg MD. Evidence under judgment: can we oversee our own decision making? Arch Intern Med 2011 Sep 12; 171(16):1496-7. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Journal of Health and Biomedical Law
Shamash A. A piecemeal, step-by-step approach toward mental health parity. Journal of Health and Biomedical Law 2011 Sep 22; 7(2):273-324. [Mentions Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requirements to cover preventive services recommended by the USPSTF and summarizes the USPSTF's history and mission, citing About the USPSTF: Introduction, 2010, as published on the USPSTF Web site, and USPSTF recommendations on screening for depression in adults, 2009, screening for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents, 2009, and screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse, 2004, all in The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: 2010-2011, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ publication "Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance: Trends in Cost and Access" in Research in Action 17, 2004, as published on AHRQ Web site. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Kappelman et al. (Am J Gastroenterol, 2011) and Kistler et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and article by Goodwin et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Clinical Biochemistry
Loit E, Tricco AC, Tsouros S, et al. Pre-analytic and analytic sources of variations in thiopurine methyltransferase activity measurement in patients prescribed thiopurine-based drugs: a systematic review. Clin Biochem 2011 Jul; 44(10-11):751-7. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2007-10059-1 (EPC-III); based on AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Assessment of Thiopurine Methyltransferase Activity in Patients Prescribed Azathioprine or Other Thiopurine-based Drugs, 2010, conducted by the University of Ottawa EPC under the same contract.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Health and Biomedical Law
Yaffee A. Financing the pulp to digital phenomenon. 2011 Sep 22; 7(2):325-72. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006, prepared by Southern California EPC under contract 290-02-0003; cites AHRQ publication, Pay for Performance: A Decision Guide for Purchasers, 2006.]

MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vital signs: hospital practices to support breastfeeding—United States, 2007 and 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 Aug 5; 60:1020-5. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Nursing Research
Fowles ER, Bryant M, Kim S, et al. Predictors of dietary quality in low-income pregnant women: a path analysis. Nurs Res 2011 Sep-Oct; 60(5):286-94. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Townsend Letter
Gerber M. Monthly Miracles. Burns: reversing the ischemic damage and angiogenesis. Townsend Letter 2011 Aug/Sep; Online:39-40. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, The Uses of Heparin to Treat Burn Injury, 2006, prepared by the McMaster University EPC under contract 290-02-0020. Also refer to article by Kistler et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Allergy and Asthma Proceedings
Zilberberg MD, Nathanson BH, Jacobsen T, et al. Descriptive epidemiology of hereditary angioedema hospitalizations in the United States, 2004-2007. Allergy Asthma Proc 2011 May-Jun; 32(3):248-54. [Uses 2004-2007 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Family Physician
Martin PL, Kurtzberg J, Hesse B. Umbilical cord blood: a guide for primary care physicians. Am Fam Physician 2011 Sep 15; 84(6):661-6. [Uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ and AHRQ and USPSTF databases as sources for relevant research/publications.] Select to access the abstract.

American Surgeon
Prendergast TI, Ong'uti SK, Ortega G, et al. Differential trends in racial preferences for cosmetic surgery procedures. Am Surg 2011 Aug; 77(8):1081-5. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Voss R, Gardner R, Baier R, et al. The care transitions intervention: translating from efficacy to effectiveness. Arch Intern Med 2011 Jul 25; 171(14):1232-7. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Goodwin JS, Singh A, Reddy N, et al. Overuse of screening colonoscopy in the Medicare population. Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171(15):1335-43. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Enhancing the Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2010, and associated AHRQ-funded systematic review by Holden et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010), both performed by the RTI International-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-2007-10056-I; cites AHRQ-funded article by Frazier et al. (JAMA, 2000).]

BJU International
Trinh QD, Schmitges J, Sun M, et al. Open radical prostatectomy in the elderly: a case for concern? BJU Int 2011 Sep 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1998-2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] abstractSelect to access the .

Cancer
Trinh QD, Schmitges J, Sun M, et al. Improvement of racial disparities with respect to the utilization of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy in the United States. Cancer 2011 Sep 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2001-2007 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2008.]

Clinical Pediatrics
Hains DS, Reagan PB, Smoyer WE. Do declining private insurance coverage rates influence pediatric hospital charging practices? Clin Pediatr 2011 May; 50(5):417-23. [Uses 2000-2006 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data and Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) and Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files: 2006 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) User Guide, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Care of Children and Adolescents in US Hospitals, HCUP Fact Book 4, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Zilberberg MD, de Wit M, Shorr AF. Accuracy of previous estimates for adult prolonged acute mechanical ventilation volume in 2020: update using 2000-2008 data. Crit Care Med 2011 Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print (slated for print publication in 2012 Jan; 40(1)). Uses 2000-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ HCUP Web site, and HCUP NIS data from the HCUPnet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Sozio SM, Coresh J, Jaar BG, et al. Inflammatory markers and risk of cerebrovascular events in patients initiating dialysis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2011 Jun; 6(6):1292-300. [Uses data from the CHOICE study, previously supported by AHRQ grant R01 HS08365.] Select to access the abstract.

Heart & Lung
Conway LJ, Larson EL. Guidelines to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection: 1980 to 2010. Heart Lung 2011 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ database to identify relevant guidelines.] Select to access the abstract.

Implementation Science
Alonso-Coello P, Garcia LM, Gimeno JM, et al. The updating of clinical practice guidelines: insights from an international survey. Implement Sci 2011 Sep 13; 6(1):107. [Uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) to identify producers of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) (questionnaire recipients included 30 institutions in the NGC that published more than 20 CPGs).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Affective Disorders
Jokela M, Singh-Manoux A, Shipley MJ, et al. Natural course of recurrent psychological distress in adulthood. J Affect Disord 2011 May; 130(3):454-61. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Hanlon JT, Wang X, Handler SM, et al. Potentially inappropriate prescribing of primarily renally cleared medications for older Veterans Affairs nursing home patients. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2011 Jun; 12(5):377-83. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); reports that third author receives support (for other research) from grant R01 HS17695.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society
Smith LC, Ratard R. Clostridium difficile hospitalizations in Louisiana: a 10 year review. J La State Med Soc 2011 Jul-Aug; 163(4):192-5. [Uses 2001-2005 HCUP NIS data from AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Jerant A, Fiscella K, Franks P. Health characteristics associated with gaining and losing private and public health insurance. Med Care 2011 Sep 23. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2007 MEPS data on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Blood and Cancer
McCavit TL, Xuan L, Zhang S, et al. Hospitalization for invasive pneumococcal disease in a national sample of children with sickle cell disease before and after PCV7 licensure. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011 Jul 25. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1994-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publications, Final Report on Calculating National Inpatient Sample Variances, 2001, HCUP Method Series Report 2003-2, 2005, and Sickle Cell Disease Patients in U.S. Hospitals, 2004, HCUP Statistical Brief 21, 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Pulmonology
Kopp BT, Wang W, Chisolm DJ, et al. Inpatient healthcare trends among adult cystic fibrosis patients in the U.S. Pediatr Pulmonol 2011 Sep 7. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2007 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP landing page on the AHRQ Web site and AHRQ publication, Final Report on Calculating National Inpatient Sample Variances, 2001, HCUP Method Series Report 2003-2, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Quality of Life Research
Rand-Hendriksen K, Augestad LA, Kristiansen IS, et al. Comparison of hypothetical and experienced EQ-5D valuations: relative weights of the five dimensions. Qual Life Res 2011 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2003 MEPS data (which included the EQ-5D and EQ-Visual Analog Scale (VAS)); cites AHRQ-authored articles by Cohen, Cohen, and Banthin (Med Care, 2009), Yu and Machlin (J Econ Soc Measure, 2005), and Machlin, Zodet, and Nixon (Jt Stat Meet Proc Survey Res Meth Section, 2003), all of which use various MEPS data sets. Also refer to AHRQ-funded/authored articles by Newcomer et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2011), Kistler et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011), Bernard, Farr, and Fang (J Clin Oncol, 2011), and Basu (Soc Work Public Health, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.