National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 104 Research Studies DisplayedFerrari RM, Atkins DL, Wangen M
Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.
The objective of this study was to assess patient perspectives on receiving fecal immunochemical colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests through pharmacies. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with participants in North Carolina and Washington. Survey participants reported pharmacy-based CRC screening programs to be highly acceptable, citing convenience, ease of access, and avoidance of co-pays, but they also had concerns about privacy and coordination with primary care providers. The researchers concluded that CRC screening in pharmacies is potentially a good option, provided patients have privacy and their primary care providers are informed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Ferrari RM, Atkins DL, Wangen M .
Patient perspectives on a proposed pharmacy-based colorectal cancer screening program.
Transl Behav Med 2023 Dec 15; 13(12):909-18. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibad057..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Colonoscopy, Screening, Prevention
Danan ER, Than C, Chawla N
Abnormal cervical cancer screening results among US veteran and non-veteran participants in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Researchers tested whether Veterans with a recent cervical cancer screening test were more likely than non-Veterans to have received an abnormal result. Data was taken from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). An adjusted regression model of the date indicated that a previously observed association between Veteran status and abnormal screening result was explained by differences in sociodemographic and health factors between Veterans and non-Veterans. The researchers concluded that clinicians should address modifiable risk factors and provide evidence-based follow-up for abnormal results.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Danan ER, Than C, Chawla N .
Abnormal cervical cancer screening results among US veteran and non-veteran participants in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Prev Med Rep 2023 Dec; 36:102472. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102472..
Keywords: Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Women, Prevention
Tracer H, Lorei NC
AHRQ Author: Tracer H
Preexposure prophylaxis to prevent acquisition of HIV.
This case study described a 28-year-old woman presented to a community health clinic for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. Case study questions related to the USPSTF recommendation on Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent acquisition of HIV, guidelines for candidacy for PrEP, guidelines for the use of PrEP for the primary prevention of HIV in adults.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Tracer H, Lorei NC .
Preexposure prophylaxis to prevent acquisition of HIV.
Am Fam Physician 2023 Dec; 108(6):617-18..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Liebschutz JM, Subramaniam GA, Stone R
Subthreshold Opioid Use Disorder Prevention (STOP) trial: a cluster randomized clinical trial: study design and methods.
This article described the Subthreshold Opioid Use Disorder Prevention (STOP) Trial, a cluster randomized controlled trial designed to study the efficacy of the STOP intervention to reduce risky opioid use and to prevent progression to moderate/severe opioid use disorder (OUD) in adult primary care patients with subthreshold OUD. The STOP intervention consisted of a nurse care manager providing patient-participant education and primary care provider support, brief advice delivered to patient participants about health risks of opioid misuse, and up to six sessions of telephone health coaching to motivate and support behavioral change. The authors concluded that the STOP Trial offers a potential blueprint for feasible and effective improvement of outcomes for adult subthreshold OUD patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS026120.
Citation: Liebschutz JM, Subramaniam GA, Stone R .
Subthreshold Opioid Use Disorder Prevention (STOP) trial: a cluster randomized clinical trial: study design and methods.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2023 Nov 18; 18(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00424-8..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Prevention
Chou R, Selph SS, Bougatsos C
Screening, referral, behavioral counseling, and preventive interventions for oral health in adults: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic evidence review on the effectiveness of primary care screening and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease in adults to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. The main outcomes were dental caries, periodontal disease, morbidity, quality of life, harms; and diagnostic test accuracy. Five randomized clinical trials, 5 nonrandomized trials, and 6 observational studies with a total 3,300 participants were included. There were no trials that evaluated primary care counseling or dental referral. There was very limited evidence on screening accuracy, silver diamine fluoride, xylitol; and harms were very limited, although serious harms were not reported. One small study (n = 86) found oral health examination by 2 primary care clinicians associated with low sensitivity and high specificity for periodontal disease and with variable sensitivity and high specificity for dental caries. Four studies (n = 965) found screening questionnaires associated with a pooled sensitivity of 0.72 and specificity of 0.74 for periodontal disease. For preventive interventions there were no studies that evaluated primary care counseling or dental referral, and evidence from 2 poor-quality trials (n = 178) of sealants, and 1 fair-quality and 4 poor-quality trials (n = 971) of topical fluorides, was found to be insufficient. Three fair-quality trials (n = 590) of persons with mean age 72 to 80 years found silver diamine fluoride solution associated with fewer new root caries lesions or fillings vs placebo (mean reduction, -0.33 to -1.3) and decreased likelihood of new root caries lesion (2 trials). There were no trials that evaluated primary care-administered preventive interventions.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: Chou R, Selph SS, Bougatsos C .
Screening, referral, behavioral counseling, and preventive interventions for oral health in adults: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Nov 14; 330(18):1780-90. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.20685..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Dental and Oral Health, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines
Chou R, Bougatsos C, Griffin J
Screening, referral, behavioral counseling, and preventive interventions for oral health in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic evidence review on the effectiveness of primary care screening and prevention of dental caries in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. The main outcomes were dental caries, morbidity, functional status, quality of life, harms; and diagnostic test accuracy. Three systematic reviews with a total of 20,684 participants were included along with 19 randomized clinical trials, 3 nonrandomized trials, and 1 observational study with a total of 15,026 participants. When administered by dental professionals or in school settings, fluoride supplements compared with placebo or no intervention were associated with decreased change from baseline in the number of decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT index) or decayed or filled permanent teeth (DFT index) at 1.5 to 3 years (6 trials; n = 1395). Fluoride gels were associated with a DMFT- or DFT-prevented fraction of 0.18 at outcomes closest to 3 years (4 trials; n = 1525); fluoride varnish was associated with a DMFT- or DFT-prevented fraction of 0.44 at 1 to 4.5 years (5 trials; n = 3902); and resin-based sealants were associated with decreased risk of carious first molars at 48 to 54 months (4 trials; n = 440). There were no trials that evaluated primary care counseling or dental referral. There was very limited evidence on screening accuracy, silver diamine fluoride, xylitol; and harms were very limited, although serious harms were not reported.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: Chou R, Bougatsos C, Griffin J .
Screening, referral, behavioral counseling, and preventive interventions for oral health in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Nov 7; 330(17):1674-86. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.20435..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Guidelines
Marcotte LM, Deeds S, Wheat C
Automated opt-out vs opt-in patient outreach strategies for breast cancer screening: a randomized clinical trial.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on breast cancer screening of an opt-out automatic mammography referral strategy compared with an opt-in automated telephone message strategy. Participants in the pragmatic randomized clinical trial, conducted at a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center, were female veterans aged 45-75 eligible for breast cancer screening and enrolled in VA primary care. The results indicated that the opt-out population-based breast cancer screening outreach approach compared with an opt-in approach did not result in a significant difference in mammography completion, but did lead to more canceled mammography referrals, which increased staff burden.
AHRQ-funded; HS026369.
Citation: Marcotte LM, Deeds S, Wheat C .
Automated opt-out vs opt-in patient outreach strategies for breast cancer screening: a randomized clinical trial.
JAMA Intern Med 2023 Nov; 183(11):1187-94. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.4321..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention, Health Promotion
Henderson JT, Webber EM, Thomas RG
Screening for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to update the evidence on the effectiveness of screening for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with the purpose of informing the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The main outcome was Morbidity or mortality, with measures of health-related quality of life. The review included 6 fair-quality studies comparing changes in prenatal screening practices with routine screening at in-person office visits (usual care). This systematic review did not find evidence that any alternate screening strategies for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had increased effectiveness over routine blood pressure measurement at in-person prenatal visits. No harms of the different screening strategies were identified.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: Henderson JT, Webber EM, Thomas RG .
Screening for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Sep 19; 330(11):1083-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.4934..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Blood Pressure, Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Maternal Care, Women
Landy R, Gomez I, Caverly TJ
Methods for using race and ethnicity in prediction models for lung cancer screening eligibility.
The purpose of this study was to compare eligibility for lung cancer screening in a representative United States population by refitting the life-years gained from screening-computed tomography (LYFS-CT) model to exclude race and ethnicity versus a counterfactual eligibility method that recalculates life expectancy for racial and ethnic minority individuals utilizing the same covariates but substitutes White race and utilizes the higher predicted life expectancy, preventing historically underserved groups from being penalized. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2015-2018 included 25,601 individuals aged 50 to 80 years who ever smoked. The study found that removing race and ethnicity from the submodels underestimated lung cancer death risk and all-cause mortality in African American individuals. It also overestimated mortality in Hispanic American and Asian American individuals. As a result, the LYFS-CT NoRace model increased Hispanic American and Asian American eligibility by 108% and 73%, respectively, while decreasing African American eligibility by 39%. Utilizing LYFS-CT with the counterfactual all-cause mortality model better maintained calibration across groups and increased African American eligibility by 13% without decreasing eligibility for Hispanic American and Asian American individuals.
AHRQ-funded; HS026198.
Citation: Landy R, Gomez I, Caverly TJ .
Methods for using race and ethnicity in prediction models for lung cancer screening eligibility.
JAMA Netw Open 2023 Sep; 6(9):e2331155. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.31155..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention
Chou R, Spencer H, Bougatsos C
Preexposure prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
This article updates research used in the 2019 US Preventive Services Task Force final recommendation on use of oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV in adults at increased risk. The summary includes newer PrEP regimens that were not available for the 2019 final recommendation. A literature review was conducted that included randomized clinical trials of PrEP vs placebo or no PrEP or newer vs older PrEP regimens and diagnostic accuracy studies of instruments for predicting incident HIV infection. Thirty-two studies were included in the review (20 randomized clinical trials [n = 36,543] and 12 studies of diagnostic accuracy [n = 5,544,500]). Eleven trials in the 2019 review found oral PrEP associated with decreased HIV infection risk vs placebo or no PrEP. One new trial (n = 5335) found oral tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) to be noninferior to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in men who have sex with men. Two new trials found long-acting injectable cabotegravir associated with decreased risk of HIV infection vs oral TDF/FTC in cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women [n = 4490] and RR, 0.11 in cisgender women [n = 3178]). Discrimination of instruments for predicting incident HIV infection was found to be moderate in men who have sex with men (5 studies; n = 25,488) and moderate to high in general populations of persons without HIV (2 studies; n = 5,477,291).
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: Chou R, Spencer H, Bougatsos C .
Preexposure prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Aug 22; 330(8):746-63. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.9865..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Prevention, Medication, Evidence-Based Practice
Hamer MK, DeCamp M, Bradley CJ
Adoption and value of the Medicare annual wellness visit: a mixed-methods study.
Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) was introduced in 2011 to encourage the utilization of preventive services, but many clinicians and patients still do not participate in the visit. We qualitatively and quantitatively assessed motivations and clinical and financial value of AWVs from a primary care perspective using interviews and Medicare claims from 2012 to 2019. Primary care providers with the highest acuity patients had AWV utilization rates 11.2 percentage points lower than providers with the lowest acuity patients; utilization rates were 3.8 percentage points lower in rural counties. Adoption was motivated by patient needs and financial incentives. AWVs closed gaps in preventive care, strengthened patient-provider relationships, facilitated advance care planning, and provided an opportunity to improve quality metrics. Overall, the AWV has the potential to increase the use of high-value preventive services although not all clinics have an economic incentive to adopt the visit, which may explain some of the variability in utilization rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS026613.
Citation: Hamer MK, DeCamp M, Bradley CJ .
Adoption and value of the Medicare annual wellness visit: a mixed-methods study.
Med Care Res Rev 2023 Aug; 80(4):433-43. doi: 10.1177/10775587231166037..
Keywords: Medical Devices, Prevention
Hogg-Graham R, Gatton KR, Ingram R
Association between insurer connectivity in Appalachian population health networks and preventable hospitalizations: evidence from Kentucky.
Capacity in community health and social services networks may be limited in geographic regions like Appalachia because of the combined effects of rurality and consistently poor health and social outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine insurer connectivity in cross-sector networks across Kentucky’s geographic regions and the relationship between connectivity and the probability of preventable hospitalizations. The study found sizable geographic differences in the relationship between insurer connectivity in community networks and preventable hospitalization. Insurer connectivity in rural Appalachian communities was related with decreased likelihood that an individual was admitted for a preventable hospitalization.
AHRQ-funded; HS025494.
Citation: Hogg-Graham R, Gatton KR, Ingram R .
Association between insurer connectivity in Appalachian population health networks and preventable hospitalizations: evidence from Kentucky.
J Appalach Health 2023 Aug; 5(2)..
Keywords: Rural Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Prevention, Hospitalization, Health Insurance
Roberts MM, Marino M, Wells R
Differences in use of clinical decision support tools and implementation of aspirin, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation quality metrics in small practices by race and sex.
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between population-based clinical decision support (CDS) tools and racial and sex disparities in the aspirin use, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation (ABCS) care quality metrics among smaller primary care practices. Researchers used practice-level data from the EvidenceNOW initiative, from practices that submitted both survey data and electronic health record (EHR)-derived ABCS data stratified by race and sex. Their findings suggested that practices using CDS tools had small disparities but were not statistically significant; however, CDS tools were not associated with reductions in disparities. They concluded that more research was needed on effective practice-level interventions to mitigate disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS023940.
Citation: Roberts MM, Marino M, Wells R .
Differences in use of clinical decision support tools and implementation of aspirin, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation quality metrics in small practices by race and sex.
JAMA Netw Open 2023 Aug; 6(8):e2326905. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.26905..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Health Information Technology (HIT), Cardiovascular Conditions, Tobacco Use, Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation, Primary Care, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Miller ME, Rahim MQ, Coven SL
Pediatric hematology and oncology physician and nurse practitioner views of the HPV vaccine and barriers to administration.
This study’s goal was to examine provider views regarding HPV vaccination for pediatric survivors of cancer and pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. The authors conducted qualitative interviews with 20 pediatric hematology/oncology physicians and nurse practitioners. They found that 90% of interviewees support HPV vaccination in their population. The number of providers who reported that they counsel about HPV or provide HPV vaccination was 45%, even in stem cell and sickle cell clinics, where other childhood vaccines are commonly provided. Clinicians identified provider-level, clinic-level, and system-level barriers to giving the HPV vaccination, that included but was not limited to time/flow constraints, lack of resources, and continued education regarding the HPV vaccine.
AHRQ-funded; HS026390.
Citation: Miller ME, Rahim MQ, Coven SL .
Pediatric hematology and oncology physician and nurse practitioner views of the HPV vaccine and barriers to administration.
Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023 Aug 1; 19(2):2224089. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2224089..
Keywords: Vaccination, Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician
Hogg-Graham R, Lang J, Waters TM
The Appalachian gap in preventable hospitalizations: are we seeing any progress? .
The purpose of this study was to explore whether within-rural variations in Kentucky’s preventable hospitalization rates exist and how these variations may be changing longitudinally. The study found that rural Appalachian counties had significantly higher preventable hospitalizations rates compared to their rural non-Appalachian and urban counterparts. A decreasing trend in overall preventable hospitalizations was witnessed for rural Appalachia over time, but trends were relatively stable for rural non-Appalachian and urban counties. Regression results revealed no significant longitudinal decrease in the “Appalachian gap.”
AHRQ-funded; HS025494.
Citation: Hogg-Graham R, Lang J, Waters TM .
The Appalachian gap in preventable hospitalizations: are we seeing any progress? .
J Appalach Health 2023 Aug; 5(2)..
Keywords: Rural Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Prevention, Hospitalization
Guirguis-Blake JM, Evans CV, Coppola EL
Screening for lipid disorders in children and adolescents: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to examine benefits and harms of screening and treatment of pediatric dyslipidemia due to familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and multifactorial dyslipidemia. Forty-three studies were included (n = 491,516). The study found that No RCTs directly addressed screening effectiveness and harms. Three US studies (n = 395,465) reported prevalence of phenotypically defined FH of 0.2% to 0.4% (1:250 to 1:500). Five studies (n = 142,257) reported multifactorial dyslipidemia prevalence; the prevalence of elevated total cholesterol level was 7.1% to 9.4% and of any lipid abnormality was 19.2%. Ten RCTs in children and adolescents with FH (n = 1,230) demonstrated that statins were related with an 81- to 82-mg/dL higher mean reduction in levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C compared with placebo at up to 2 years. Nonstatin-drug trials showed statistically significant lowering of lipid levels in FH populations, but few studies were available for any single drug. Observational studies indicate that starting statin treatment for FH in childhood or adolescence decreases long-term cardiovascular disease risk. Two multifactorial dyslipidemia behavioral counseling trials (n = 934) showed 3- to 6-mg/dL greater reductions in total cholesterol levels compared with the control group, but findings did not continue at longest follow-up. Harms reported in the short-term drug trials were similar in the intervention and control groups.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: Guirguis-Blake JM, Evans CV, Coppola EL .
Screening for lipid disorders in children and adolescents: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Jul 18; 330(3):261-74. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.8867..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Children/Adolescents
Estenson L, Kim N, Jacobson M
Do age-based discontinuation recommendations influence cervical cancer screening rates? Evidence from the United States' Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2016 and 2018.
The purpose of this study was to determine how the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation of discontinuing routine cervical cancer screening for certain women after age 65 affects Papanicolaou (Pap) test rates among women at age 66 in the United States. The researchers utilized nationally representative 2016 and 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data for 226,031 women ages 56-76 to calculate changes in annual Pap test rates at age 66. Among women 66-76, 22.5% indicated they had received a Pap test within the past year. At age 66, annual Pap rates decreased by 5.9 percentage points (p.p.) off a pre-66 rate of 39 percent. The change differed by race/ethnicity, education, and marital status. Pap rates did not change discretely for non-Hispanic Black women but did change for women from other racial/ethnic groups. The decrease was larger for women who graduated college than for women without a college degree and for women who were never married than for women who were married/partnered or divorced/separated. The USPSTF recommendation to stop cervical cancer screening after the age of 65 resulted in a substantial decrease in the rate of Pap tests at age 66 but disparately affects women based on marital status, education and race.
AHRQ-funded; HS026488.
Citation: Estenson L, Kim N, Jacobson M .
Do age-based discontinuation recommendations influence cervical cancer screening rates? Evidence from the United States' Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2016 and 2018.
Prev Med 2023 Jul; 172:107543. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107543..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Women, Sexual Health
Oke I, Lutz SM, Hunter DG
Use and costs of instrument-based vision screening for US children aged 12 to 36 months.
This research letter describes a cohort study that examined patterns and out-of-pocket costs of instrument-based vision screening among US children 12 to 36 months. The authors used 2018 MarketScan Commerical Claims and Encounters data as of January 1, 2018 and excluded those with fewer than 12 months of continuous insurance coverage, enrollment in capitated insurance plans, no preventive care encounters, or missing data on residents. The study included 246,077 children. Instrument-based vision screening was received by 19.5% (n = 48,101) of children during 2018. Median (IQR) practitioner payment for instrument-based vision screening claims was $13. Screening incurred out-of-pocket expenses for 7% of children; 30% of these children had expenses related to co-payment, 20.2% to coinsurance, and 50.7% to deductibles. Median (IQR) out-of-pocket expense was $11. Increased odds of vision screening were associated with older age, high-deductible plan enrollment, having more than 1 preventative visit, and receiving care within an area in the highest quartile of practitioner payment. This study was limited by use of commercial claims data, which excluded 45% of children with public or no coverage. Nationwide prevalence of vision screening therefore may differ for the general population.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Oke I, Lutz SM, Hunter DG .
Use and costs of instrument-based vision screening for US children aged 12 to 36 months.
JAMA Pediatr 2023 Jul; 177(7):728-30. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.0808..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Eye Disease and Health, Screening, Prevention, Healthcare Costs
O'Connor EA, Henninger ML, Perdue LA
Anxiety screening: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
This evidence summary was published in conjunction with the final recommendation statement for the US Preventive Services Task Force on benefits and harms of screening and treatment for anxiety disorders in adults. A literature review was conducted with 59 publications included, 40 were original studies and 19 were systematic reviews. Two screening studies found no benefit for screening for anxiety. Only the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) GAD-2 and GAD-7 screening instruments were evaluated by more than 1 study. Both screening instruments had adequate accuracy for detecting generalized anxiety disorder with a pooled sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.89. Evidence was limited for other instruments and other anxiety disorders. Evidence was insufficient on the benefits or harms of anxiety screening programs. However, there is a large body of evidence supporting the benefit of treatment for anxiety.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500011I; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: O'Connor EA, Henninger ML, Perdue LA .
Anxiety screening: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Jun 27; 329(24):2171-84. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.6369..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Anxiety, Behavioral Health, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention
Ramanathan S, Evans CT, Hershow RC
Comparison of guideline concordant antibiotic prophylaxis in Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs dental settings among those with cardiac conditions or prosthetic joints.
The objective of this retrospective study was to compare prescribing of antibiotic prophylaxis in Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA settings. Subjects were veteran and non-veteran dental patients with cardiac conditions or prosthetic joints; most were males aged 55 years older. The results showed that VA settings had a higher prevalence of guideline concordant prescribing among those with prosthetic joints, and when assessing dosing errors. The authors recommended that future studies focus on the extent to which integrated electronic health records may be responsible for increased guideline concordant prescribing in the VA setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS025177.
Citation: Ramanathan S, Evans CT, Hershow RC .
Comparison of guideline concordant antibiotic prophylaxis in Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs dental settings among those with cardiac conditions or prosthetic joints.
BMC Infect Dis 2023 Jun 23; 23(1):427. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08400-y..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Antibiotics, Medication, Prevention, Cardiovascular Conditions, Practice Patterns
Weinstein R, Brohinsky J, Meltzer A
AHRQ Author: Weinstein R
Establishing and maintaining trust: how the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force uses strategic communications to build confidence in and disseminate its evidence-based recommendations.
This article examined ways in which strategic communications support for the United States Preventive Services Task Force helped to fulfill its mission to improve the health of people nationwide through evidence-based preventive services recommendations. Communications challenges specific to the USPSTF are described, and two case examples of strategic communications approaches provided.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Weinstein R, Brohinsky J, Meltzer A .
Establishing and maintaining trust: how the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force uses strategic communications to build confidence in and disseminate its evidence-based recommendations.
J Health Commun 2023 Jun 3; 28(6):344-48. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2208532..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention
Lee SJC, Lee J, Zhu H
Assessing barriers and facilitators to lung cancer screening: initial findings from a patient navigation intervention.
This study’s objective was to examine the challenges to providing lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography for patients, particularly minority, under-, and uninsured populations. The authors conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of telephone-based navigation for lung cancer screening in an integrated, urban safety-net health care system. They used bilingual navigators (Spanish and English) to make systematic contact with patients, recording standardized call characteristics in a study-specific database. A total of 225 patients (mean age 63 years, 46% female, 70% racial/ethnic minority) were assigned navigators, with a total of 559 barriers to screening identified during 806 telephone calls. The most common barrier types were personal (46%), provider (30%), and practical (17%). System (6%) and psychosocial (1%) barriers were described by English-speaking patients, but not by Spanish-speaking patients. Provider-related barriers decreased by 80% over the course of the lung cancer screening process.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Lee SJC, Lee J, Zhu H .
Assessing barriers and facilitators to lung cancer screening: initial findings from a patient navigation intervention.
Popul Health Manag 2023 Jun; 26(3):177-84. doi: 10.1089/pop.2023.0053..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention, Imaging
Jenkins JL, Hsu EB, Zhang A
Current evidence for infection prevention and control interventions in emergency medical services: a scoping review.
This study’s aim was to summarize current evidence from the United States on the effectiveness of practices and interventions for preventing, recognizing, and controlling occupationally acquired infectious diseases in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) clinicians. A database search was conducted for literature published January 2006 through March 15, 2022 to search for studies in the United States that involved EMS clinicians and firefighters, reported on one or more workplace practices or interventions that prevented or controlled infectious diseases, and included outcome measures. Eleven observational studies reported on infection prevention and control (IPC) practices providing evidence that hand hygiene, standard precautions, mandatory vaccine policies, and on-site vaccine clinics are effective. Less frequent handwashing and less frequent hand hygiene after glove use were positively correlated with nasal colonization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) or PPE breach were correlated with higher severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity and virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity. Workers were more likely to be vaccinated against influenza if their employer offered the vaccine. Vaccination rates for H1N1 influenza increased with the use of active, targeted education modules.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00003.
Citation: Jenkins JL, Hsu EB, Zhang A .
Current evidence for infection prevention and control interventions in emergency medical services: a scoping review.
Prehosp Disaster Med 2023 Jun; 38(3):371-77. doi: 10.1017/s1049023x23000389..
Keywords: COVID-19, Emergency Department, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Tracer H, Haselby C
AHRQ Author: Tracer H
Hormone therapy for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal people.
This case study described a 50-year-old woman whose last menstrual cycle was more than a year previous. Case study questions related to the USPSTF recommendation on hormone therapy addressed whether this patient would benefit from hormone therapy to prevent the onset of chronic conditions that become more common after menopause.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Tracer H, Haselby C .
Hormone therapy for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal people.
Am Fam Physician 2023 Jun; 107(6):645-46..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention, Chronic Conditions, Women
Jonas DE, Riley SR, Lee LC
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection in adults: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
This systematic review and evidence report analyzed the benefits and harms of screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) of adults, which was used to inform the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for their final recommendation. A systematic review was conducted of English-language studies of LTBI screening, LTBI treatment, or accuracy of the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs). A total of 113 publications were identified, with no studies directly evaluating the benefits and harms of screening. For treatment of LTBI, a large (n = 27,830), good-quality randomized clinical trial found a relative risk (RR) for progression to active tuberculosis at 5 years of 0.35 for 24 weeks of isoniazid compared with placebo (number needed to treat, 112) and an increase in hepatotoxicity (RR, 4.59; number needed to harm, 279). Meta-analysis found greater risk for hepatotoxicity with isoniazid than with rifampin (pooled RR, 4.22; n = 7339).
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00007.
Citation: Jonas DE, Riley SR, Lee LC .
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection in adults: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 May 2; 329(17):1495-509. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.3954..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Infectious Diseases, Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice