Antibiotic Prescriptions Are Associated with Increased Patient Satisfaction with Emergency Department Visits for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

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

Academic Emergency Medicine
Stearns CR, Gonzales R, Camargo CA Jr, et al. Antibiotic prescriptions are associated with increased patient satisfaction with emergency department visits for acute respiratory tract infections. Acad Emerg Med 2009 Oct; 16(10):934-41. [Supported in part by grant 1 R01 HS13915 (in joint partnership with the Veteran's Administration Health Services Research and Development Service Award.)] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
Baron S, McPhaul K, Phillips S, et al. Protecting home health care workers: a challenge to pandemic influenza preparedness planning. Am J Public Health 2009 Oct; 99 Suppl 2:S301-7. [Third author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; cites AHRQ publication, Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Answers, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Griffin MR, Braun MM, Bart KJ. What should an ideal vaccine postlicensure safety system be? Am J Public Health 2009 Oct; 99 Suppl 2:S345-50. [Supported in part by contract HHSA 290-2005-0042-IT02 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Carter BL, Rogers M, Daly J, et al. The potency of team-based care interventions for hypertension: a meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 26; 169(19):1748-55. [Supported in part by grant 5 U18 HS16094.] Select to access the abstract.

Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology
Schwarz EB, Santucci A, Borrero S, et al. Perspectives of primary care clinicians on teratogenic risk counseling. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2009 Oct; 85(10):858-63. [Supported by grant R18 HS17093-01; study was presented at the 21st annual meeting of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, June 28-July 1, 2008, Monterey, California.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Infectious Diseases
Byrd KK, Holman RC, Bruce MG, Hennessy TW, Wenger JD, Bruden DL, Haberling DL, Steiner C, et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-associated hospitalizations among the American Indian and Alaska native population. Clin Infect Dis 2009 Oct 1; 49(7):1009-15. [Eighth author is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses and cites 2003-2005 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), using HCUP data; cites AHRQ publication, Infections with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in US Hospitals, 1993-2005, HCUP Statistical Brief No. 35, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology
Plantinga LC, Fink NE, Coresh J, et al. Peripheral vascular disease-related procedures in dialysis patients: predictors and prognosis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2009 Oct; 4(10):1637-45. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS08365.] Select to access the abstract.

Family Medicine
DeVoe JE. Educaid: what if the US systems of education and health care were more alike? Fam Med 2009 Oct; 41(9):652-5. [Supported in part by grant 1 K08 HS16181.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Volume
Lyman S, Koulouvaris P, Sherman S, et al. Epidemiology of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: trends, readmissions, and subsequent knee surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2009 Oct; 91(10):2321-8. [Supported by grant U18 HS16075; notes one or more authors' receipt of outside funding or grants of less than $10,000 from the Weill-Cornell/Hospital for Special Surgery Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERTs); uses HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), using HCUP data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Dosa DM, Dore DD, Mor V, et al. Frequency of long-acting opioid analgesic initiation in opioid-naïve nursing home residents. J Pain Symptom Manage 2009 Oct; 38(4):515-21. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS00011-21 (third author is principal investigator).] Select to access the abstract.

Seow H, Snyder CF, Mularski RA, et al. A framework for assessing quality indicators for cancer care at the end of life. J Pain Symptom Manage 2009 Sep 21. [Epub ahead of print :1-10. Supported in part by contract no. 290-2005-0034 I (as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions About Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Pediatrics
Bruckner TA, Saxton KB, Anderson E, et al. From paradox to disparity: trends in neonatal death in very low birth weight non-Hispanic black and white infants, 1989-2004. J Pediatr 2009 Oct; 155(4):482-7. [Supported in part by Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 HS00086-09.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Trivedi RB, Blumenthal JA, O'Connor C, et al. Coping styles in heart failure patients with depressive symptoms. J Psychosom Res 2009 Oct; 67(4):339-46. [Supported in part by National Research Service Award grant 5 T32 HS00079-10.] Select to access the abstract.

Psychiatric Services
Ngo VK, Asarnow JR, Lange J, et al. Outcomes for youths from racial-ethnic minority groups in a quality improvement intervention for depression treatment. Psychiatr Serv 2009 Oct; 60(10):1357-64. [Supported in part by grant HS09908 (for the Youth Partners in Care study).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Public Health
Goldman DP, Zheng Y, Girosi F, et al. The benefits of risk factor prevention in Americans aged 51 years and older. Am J Public Health 2009 Nov; 99(11):2096-101. [Uses data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to model medical spending and quality of life; mentions effective interventions described in AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2008 Update; cites AHRQ-authored article by Cohen, Monheit, Beauregard (first and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends), et al. (Inquiry, 1996) and AHRQ-funded article by Shaw, Johnson, and Coons (Med Care, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Campbell VA, Gilyard JA, Sinclair L, et al. Preparing for and responding to pandemic influenza: implications for people with disabilities. Am J Public Health 2009 Oct; 99 Suppl 2:S294-S300. [Cites AHRQ publication, Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Rust G, Melbourne M, Truman BI, et al. Role of the primary care safety net in pandemic influenza. Am J Public Health 2009 Oct; 99 Suppl 2:S316-S323. [Cites AHRQ publications Access to Care and Use of Preventive Services, 2002: Estimates for the US Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, Age 18 to 64, MEPS Statistical Brief No. 82, 2005, and Variation in Ambulatory Health Care Visits and Visits for General Checkup by Demographic Characteristics and Insurance Status, US Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population Ages 18-64, MEPS Statistical Brief No. 201, 2008, both published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Gary TL, Batts-Turner M, Yeh HC, et al. The effects of a nurse case manager and a community health worker team on diabetic control, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations among urban African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 26; 169(19):1788-94. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ziener et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2006) and Shojania et al. (JAMA, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Mieres JH, Phillips LM. The interdisciplinary approach to culturally tailored medical care: "social networking"for decreasing risk. Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 26; 169(19):1804-5. [Cites AHRQ publication, Excellence Centers to Eliminate Ethnic/Racial Disparities (EXCEED): Program Brief, 2001; comments on article by Gary et al. cited above.] Select to access the abstract.

British Medical Journal
Barach P, Johnson JK. Variation in adverse events over the academic year. BMJ 2009 Oct 24; 339(7727):929-30. [Cites AHRQ publication, TeamSTEPPS, Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety, 2006, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Kamerow D. All or nothing at all? If US health reform doesn't change coverage, costs, and quality, will it matter? BMJ 2009 Oct 24; 339(7727):948. [Author is former AHRQ center director.]

CMAJ
McGuire W, Fowlie TW. Bridging the gaps: getting evidence into practice. CMAJ 2009 Oct 13; 181(8):457-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Horbar et al. (BMJ, 2004).]

Lee SK, Aziz K, Singhal N, et al. Improving the quality of care for infants: a cluster randomized controlled trial. CMAJ 2009 Oct 13; 181(8):469-76. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by O'Connor et al. (JAMA, 1996) and Horbar et al. (BMJ, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Ioannidis JP. Integration of evidence from multiple meta-analyses: a primer on umbrella reviews, treatment networks and multiple treatments meta-analyses. CMAJ 2009 Oct 13; 181(8):488-93. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ioannidis and Lau (JAMA, 2001) and Balk et al. (JAMA, 2002).]

Evidence-based Nursing
Dicenso A, Bayley L, Haynes RB. Accessing pre-appraised evidence: fine-tuning the 5S model into a 6S model. Evid Based Nurs 2009 Oct; 12(4):99-101. [Mentions AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse as a "freely accessible comprehensive source of CPGs".]

JAMA
Madden JM, Graves AJ, Ross-Degnan D, Briesacher BA, Souverai SB. Cost-related medication nonadherence after implementation of Medicare Part D, 2006-2007. JAMA 2009 Oct 28; 302(16):1755-6. [Notes that third, fourth, and fifth authors are investigators in the HMO Research Network Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERTs), supported by grant 2 U18 HS10391.]

Keirns CC, Goold SD. Patient-centered care and preference-sensitive decision making. JAMA 2009 Oct 28; 302(16):1805-6. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), et al. (JAMA, 2007) and AHRQ-funded article by Parchman et al. (Ann Fam Med, 2007).]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Peto RR, Tenerowicz LM, Benjamin EM, et al. One system's journey in creating a disclosure and apology program. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2009 Oct; 35(10):487-96, AP1-AP4. [Cites AHRQ publications Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Vol. 4, 2005, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2004, and TeamSTEPPS Curriculum Tools and Materials as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Shojania, Wald, and Gross (Med Clin North Am, 2002), Hobgood et al. (Pediatrics, 2005), Duclos et al. (Int J Qual Health Care, 2005), and others.]

Bray P, Cummings DM, Wolf M, et al. After the collaborative is over: what sustains quality improvement initiatives in primary care practices? Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2009 Oct; 35(10):502-8, AP1-AP3. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Seow et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2006).]

Rodriquez KL, Burkitt KH, Sevick MA, et al. Assessing processes of care to promote timely initiation of antibiotic therapy for emergency department patients hospitalized for pneumonia. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2009 Oct; 35(10):509-18. [Cites AHRQ publication, Getting a Good Report Card: Unintended Consequences of the Public Reporting of Hospital Quality, 2006, as published on AHRQ's Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web (WebM&M) Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Yealy et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2005).]

Gurses AP, Murphy DJ, Martinez EA, et al. A practical tool to identify and eliminate barriers to compliance with evidence-based guidelines. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2009 Oct; 35(10):526-32. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Dougherty and Conway (researchers in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations and Office of the Director, respectively) (JAMA, 2008); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006 and J Patient Saf, 2005) and Carayon et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2006).]

Military Medicine
Shiner B, Watts BV, Pomerantz A, et al. Access to what? An evaluation of the key ingredients to effective advanced mental health access at a VA medical center and its affiliated community-based outreach clinics. Mil Med 2009 Oct; 174(10):1024-32. [Cites article by Schulberg et al. (Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1998) updating the AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treatment of Major Depression, Vol. 2, 1993.]

Quality Safety in Health Care
Nelson WA, Beyea SC. The role of an ethical culture for the prevention and recovery of "second victims". Qual Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):323-4. [Cites findings on medical error reporting from AHRQ's 2009 Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2009 Comparative Database Report, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]

Scott SD, Hirschinger LE, Cox KR, et al. The natural history of recovery for the healthcare provider "second victim" after adverse patient events. Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):325-30. [Notes the addition of two items to an "internal patient safety culture survey" (citing AHRQ's Patient Safety Culture Surveys on the AHRQ Web site).] Select to access the abstract.

Kazandjian VA, Ogunbo S, Wicker KG, et al. Enhancing medication use safety: benefits of learning from your peers. Qual Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):331-5. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Porter et al. (Ambul Pediatr, 2008), Ursprung et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2005), and Leape et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Barber ND, Alldred DP, Raynor DK, et al. Care homes' use of medicines study: prevalence, causes and potential harm of medication errors in care homes for older people. Qual Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):341-6. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Gurwitz et al. (Am J Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Agoritsas T, Lubbeke A, Schiesari L, et al. Assessment of patients' tendency to give a positive or negative rating to healthcare. Qual Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):374-9. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Fiscella, Franks, Gold, and Clancy (AHRQ director) (JAMA, 2000); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Veroff et al. (Int J Qual Health Care, 1998), Zaslavsky (Int J Qual Health Care, 2001), Hargraves et al. (Med Care, 2001), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Social Science & Medicine
Lhila A. Does government provision of healthcare explain the relationship between income inequality and low birthweight? Soc Sci Med 2009 Oct; 69(8):1236-45. [Cites abstract of AHRQ-funded article by Morrisey, Wedig, and Hassan (Health Aff, 1996), published in AHRQ's Research Activities, Feb 1997, archived on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

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

Archives of Internal Medicine
Largent EA, Miller FG, Pearson SD. Going off-label without venturing off-course: evidence and ethical off-label prescribing. Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 26; 169(19):1745-7. [Notes that linkage of "levels of certainty to an assessment of evidence" is "an approach perhaps best developed by the [USPSTF], citing USPSTF-sponsored/authored article by Sawaya et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007) updating the USPSTF's evidence evaluation processes.]

Journal of Family Practice
Nimalasuriya K, Compton MT, Guillory VJ, et al. Screening adults for depression in primary care: a position statement of the American College of Preventive Medicine. J Fam Pract 2009 Oct; 58(10):535-8. [Discusses USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Depression: Recommendations and Rationale, 2002, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) which reviews USPSTF methodologies; cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Depression in Primary Care. Vol. 2: Treatment of Major Depression, 1993.] Select to access the abstract.

Ellsworth PI, Brunton SA, Wein AJ, et al. Frequently asked questions in the evaluation and management of overactive bladder. J Fam Pract 2009 Oct; 58(10):S1-S12. [Cites USPSTF recommendation on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Urinary Incontinence in Adults: Acute and Chronic Management, 1996.]

Rawlins S. Approaches to osteoporosis: screening and implementing treatment in clinical practice. J Fam Pract 2009 Oct; 58(10):S39-S44. [Cites USPSTF recommendations and rationale on screening for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

Journal of Medical Screening
Hofvind S, Yankaskas BC, Bulliard JL, et al. Comparing interval breast cancer rates in Norway and North Carolina: results and challenges. J Med Screen 2009 Sep; 16(3):131-9. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Laboratory Observer
Abou-Diwan C, Young AN, Molinaro RJ. Hemoglobinopathies and clinical laboratory testing. MLO Med Lab Obs 2009 Aug; 41(8):8, 10-6, 18; quiz 20-1. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Sicle-Cell Disease in Newborns, 2007.]

Quality Safety in Health Care

Baker Baker AN, Parsons M, Donnelly SM, et al. Improving colon cancer screening rates in primary care: a pilot study emphasising the role of the medical assistant. Qual Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):355-9. [Cites USPSTF recommendation and rationale on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ publication, Put Prevention Into Practice—A Step-by-Step Guide to Delivering Clinical Preventive Services: A Systems Approach, 2002, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Statistics in Medicine
Yu Z, Tu W, Lee ML. A semi-parametric threshold regression analysis of sexually transmitted infections in adolescent women. Stat Med 2009 Oct 30; 28(24):3029-42. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for chlamydial infections (Ann Intern Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

JAMA
Campbell EG, Rosenthal M. Reform of continuing medical education: investments in physician human capital. JAMA 2009 Oct 28; 302(16):1807-8. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Effectiveness of Continuing Medical Education, 2007.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Leekha S, Thomas KG, Chaudhry R, et al. Patient preferences for and satisfaction with methods of communicating test results in a primary care practice. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2009 Oct; 35(10):497-501, AP1-AP4. [Cites AHRQ's Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Quality and Safety in Health Care
Dembe AE, Delbos R, Erickson JB. Estimates of injury risks for healthcare personnel working night shifts and long hours. Qual Saf Health Care 2009 Oct; 18(5):336-40. [Cites AHRQ's Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.

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

American Journal of Public Health
Graham GN, Spengler RF. Collaborating to end health disparities in our lifetime. Am J Public Health 2009 Nov; 99(11):1930-32. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Rashid JR, Spengler RF, Wagner RM, et al. Eliminating health disparities through transdisciplinary research, cross-agency collaboration, and public participation. Am J Public Health 2009 Nov; 99(11):1955-61. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Menzin J, Meyers JL, Friedman M, et al. Mortality, length of hospitalization, and costs associated with invasive fungal infections in high-risk patients. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2009 Oct 1; 66(19):1711-17. [Uses and cites 2004 HCUP NIS data; cites HCUP clinical classifications software, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
Ma L, El Khoury AC, Itzler RF. The burden of rotavirus hospitalizations among Medicaid and non-Medicaid children younger than 5 years old. Am J Public Health 2009 Oct; 99 Suppl 2:S398-S404. [Uses and cites 2000 and 2003 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KIDS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Ophthalmology
Lad EM, Hernandez-Boussard T, Morton JM, et al. Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in the United States: 1997 through 2005. Am J Ophthalmol 2009 Sep; 148(3):451-8. Uses and cites 1997-2005 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Anesthesia and Analgesia
Cheesman K, Brady JE, Flood P, et al. Epidemiology of anesthesia-related complications in labor and delivery, New York State, 2002-2005. Anesth Analg 2009 Oct; 109(4):1174-81. [Uses and cites 2002-2005 HCUP State Inpatient Database (SID) files (for New York).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Mitra S, Findley PA, Sambamoorthi U. Health care expenditures of living with a disability: total expenditures, out-of-pocket expenses, and burden, 1996 to 2004. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009 Sep; 90(9):1532-40. [Uses 1996-2004 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

British Journal of Neurosurgery
Koubeissi MZ, Puwanant A, Jehi L, et al. In-hospital complications of epilepsy surgery: a six-year nationwide experience. Br J Neurosurg 2009 Oct; 23(5):524-9. [Uses 2000-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites articles by Dubinsky, Chen, and Lai (Neurology, 2006) and Koubeissi and Alshekhlee (Neurology, 2007), using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Diabetes Care
Kivimaki M, Tabak AG, Batty GD, et al. Hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, and depressive symptoms: the British Whitehall II study. Diabetes Care 2009 Oct; 32(10):1867-9. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Dorn SD, Shah ND, Berg BP, et al. Effect of weekend hospital admission on gastrointestinal hemorrhage outcomes. Dig Dis Sci 2009 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print:1-9. Uses 1998-2003 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ publication, Databases and Related Tools from HCUP, 2006, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Gastroenterology
Singla A, Simons J, Li Y, et al. Admission volume determines outcome for patients with acute pancreatitis. Gastroenterology 2009 Sep 3 [Epub ahead of print:1-7. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites articles by Eppsteiner et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2008) and Csikesz et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2008), using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Injury
Ong KL, Lau E, Moore T, et al. Accidental falls involving medical implant re-operation. Injury 2009 Oct; 40(10):1088-92. [Uses and cites 1988-2007 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Argyropoulos C, Chang CC, Plantinga L, et al. Considerations in the statistical analysis of hemodialysis patient survival. J Am Soc Nephrol 2009 Sep; 20(9):2034-43. [Uses study cohort from the CHOICE study, previously funded by AHRQ from 1995-2000.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Volume
Browne JA, Cook C, Olson SA, et al. Resident duty-hour reform associated with increased morbidity following hip fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2009 Sep; 91(9):2079-85. [Uses 2001-2002 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ publications HCUP Quality Control Procedures, 2003, and Final 2000 Comparison Report, 2003, HCUP Method Series Report No. 2003-01, both published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Dolan JP, Diggs BS, Sheppard BC, et al. The national mortality burden and significant factors associated with open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy: 1997-2006. J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Sep 2 (Epub):1-10. [Uses and cites 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Csikesz NG, Singla A, Simons JP, et al. The impact of socioeconomic status on presentation and treatment of diverticular disease. J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Sep 16; [Epub ahead of print:1-10. Uses 2006 HCUP SID data (for New York); uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Fiscella, Franks, Gold, and Clancy (JAMA, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Kohn GP, Galanko JA, Meyers MO, et al. National trends in esophageal surgery—are outcomes as good as we believe? J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Sep 16. [Epub ahead of print:1-13. Uses and cites 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Ananthakrishnan AN, McGinley EL, Saeian K, et al. Laparoscopic resection for inflammatory bowel disease: outcomes from a nationwide sample. J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print:1-8. Uses and cites 2004 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, 2007, HCUP Method Series Report No. 2007-03, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Westerlund H, Kivimaki M, Ferrie JE, et al. Does working while ill trigger serious coronary events? The Whitehall II study. J Occup Environ Med 2009 Sep; 51(9):1099-104. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Nguyen GC, Munsell M, Brant SR, et al. Racial and geographic disparities in the use of parenteral nutrition among inflammatory bowel disease inpatients diagnosed with malnutrition in the United States. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2009 Sep-Oct; 33(5):563-8. [Uses 1998-2003 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ publication, 2002 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Knee
Browne JA, Cook C, Hofmann AA, et al. Postoperative morbidity and mortality following total knee arthroplasty with computer navigation. Knee 2009 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print:1-5. Uses 2005 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ publications HCUP Quality Control Procedures, 2003, and Final 2000 Comparison Report, 2003, HCUP Method Series Report No 2003-01, both published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Lagenbeck's Archives of Surgery
Harrison BJ, Triponez F. Intraoperative adjuncts in surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2009 Sep; 394(5):799-809. [Uses "levels of evidence and the grading of recommendations as proposed by [AHRQ]", no specific citation given.] Select to access the abstract.

Liver International
Sam J, Nguyen GC. Protein-calorie malnutrition as a prognostic indicator of mortality among patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Liver Int 2009 Oct; 29(9):1396-402. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Nursing Outlook
Sarna L, Bialous S, Wewers ME, et al. Nurses trying to quit smoking using the Internet. Nurs Outlook 2009 Sep-Oct; 57(5):246-56. [Uses and cites AHRQ guidelines Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008, and Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2000.] Select to access the abstract.

Psychiatric Services
Konrad TR, Ellis AR, Thomas KC, et al. County-level estimates of need for mental health professionals in the United States. Psychiatr Serv 2009 Oct; 60(10):1307-14. [Uses 2000 MEPS data; cites AHRQ publication, Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1997, MEPS Methodology Report No. 1, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Social Science and Medicine
Frederiksen BL, Osler M, Harling H, et al. Do patient characteristics, disease, or treatment explain social inequality in survival from colorectal cancer? Soc Sci Med 2009 Oct; 69(7):1107-15. [Uses and cites AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Endoscopy
Singla A, Simons JP, Carroll JE, et al. Hospital volume as a surrogate for laparoscopically assisted colectomy. Surg Endosc 2009 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print:1-8. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites articles by Eppsteiner et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2008) and Csikesz et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2008), using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Wound Repair and Regeneration
Fogerty M, Guy J, Barbul A, et al. African Americans show increased risk for pressure ulcers: a retrospective analysis of acute care hospitals in America. Wound Repair Regen 2009 Sep-Oct; 17(5):678-84. [Uses 2003 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Miller (JAMA, 2003), using HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ's clinical classifications software, 1999; cites AHRQ publication, Using the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample to Estimate Trends, 2005, HCUP Methods Report No. 2005-01, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.