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 222 Research Studies DisplayedHenderson JT, Webber EM, Weyrich MS
Screening for breast cancer: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to review research on various breast cancer screening strategies for the US Preventive Services Task Force. The researchers analyzed randomized clinical trials and nonrandomized studies, focusing on different screening approaches and their associated outcomes. The review encompassed seven randomized clinical trials and 13 nonrandomized studies, with only two nonrandomized studies reporting mortality outcomes. A nonrandomized trial emulation study found no significant mortality difference for screening beyond age 74 years. Advanced cancer detection rates were similar for annual and biennial screening intervals in a nonrandomized study. Three trials comparing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) mammography screening with digital mammography alone showed that DBT detected more invasive cancers at the first screening round, but there were no significant differences in interval cancers or risk of advanced cancer at subsequent screenings. Limited evidence suggested lower recall rates with DBT. For individuals with dense breasts, supplemental screening with magnetic resonance imaging reduced interval cancer risk but increased false-positive recalls and biopsies. Supplemental ultrasound screening showed no differences in interval cancers but increased false-positives.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: Henderson JT, Webber EM, Weyrich MS .
Screening for breast cancer: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2024 Jun 11; 331(22):1931-46. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.25844..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Women, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention, Cancer
Viswanathan M, Rains C, Viswanathan M
Primary care interventions to prevent child maltreatment: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to examine the evidence on primary care-feasible or referable interventions to prevent child maltreatment to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. The researchers reviewed PubMed, Cochrane Library, and trial registries through February 2, 2023; and references, experts, and surveillance through December 6, 2023. Twenty-five trials with a total of 14,355 participants were included. The study found that evidence from 11 studies representing 5,311 participants showed no differences in likelihood of reports to Child Protective Services within 1 year of intervention completion. Five studies representing 3,336 participants showed no differences in removal of the child from the home within 1 to 3 years of follow-up. The evidence reflected no benefit for emergency department visits in the short term and hospitalizations. Additional contextual evidence showed 1) a wide range of practices when screening, identifying, and reporting child maltreatment to Child Protective Services, 2) a wide range of accuracy of screening instruments; and 3) evidence that child maltreatment programs may be related with improvements in some social determinants of health.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: Viswanathan M, Rains C, Viswanathan M .
Primary care interventions to prevent child maltreatment: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2024 Mar 19; 331(11):959-71. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.0276..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Children/Adolescents, Primary Care, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Domestic Violence
Lin JS, Webber EM, Bean SI
Development of a health equity framework for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The objective of this study was to develop a framework to allow the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to incorporate a health equity lens spanning the entirety of its recommendation-making process. Key guidance, policy, and explanatory frameworks related to health equity were identified, and their recommendations and findings mapped to current USPSTF methods. An equity framework was developed that could be applied to all phases of the recommendation process. The authors concluded that executing this framework will be challenging and take additional time and resources, but it will offer guidance to the USPSTF and other evidence-based guideline entities in developing a more transparent, consistent, and intentional approach to addressing health equity in their recommendations.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80121C00001.
Citation: Lin JS, Webber EM, Bean SI .
Development of a health equity framework for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA Netw Open 2024 Mar 4; 7(3):e241875. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.1875..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Disparities, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines
Harris S, Ching SJ, Agarwal R
AHRQ Author: Harris S
Screening and preventive interventions for oral health in children, adolescents, and adults.
This case study and quiz explores the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for oral health screenings in primary care settings. The case presents a scenario of a father and child who have lost dental insurance and experienced dietary changes, prompting the question of whether the primary care physician should screen them for oral health conditions. The USPSTF concludes there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against oral health screening in asymptomatic adults and children over five in primary care, emphasizing the need for clinical judgment in such cases. The quiz further highlights that the USPSTF recommendations cover dental caries in children and adolescents (5-17 years old) and both dental caries and periodontal disease in adults (18+ years old). Additionally, tobacco use is identified as a risk factor for oral health conditions in adults.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Harris S, Ching SJ, Agarwal R .
Screening and preventive interventions for oral health in children, adolescents, and adults.
Am Fam Physician 2024 Mar; 109(3):261-62..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Children/Adolescents, Screening, Dental and Oral Health, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice
Feltner C, Wallace IF, Nowell SW
Screening for speech and language delay and disorders in children 5 years or younger: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
This evidence report and systematic review reviewed the evidence on screening for speech and language delay or disorders in children 5 years or younger to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. This literature review looked at English-language studies of screening test accuracy, trials or cohort studies comparing screening vs no screening; randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of interventions. Main outcomes and measures were screening test accuracy, speech and language outcomes, school performance, function, quality of life, and harms. A total of 38 studies in 41 articles were included (N = 9006). There were 21 studies (n = 7489) that assessed the accuracy of 23 different screening tools that varied with regard to whether they were designed to be completed by parents vs trained examiners, and to screen for global (any) language problems vs specific skills (e.g., expressive language). Three studies assessing parent-reported tools for expressive language skills had consistently high sensitivity (range, 88%-93%) and specificity (range, 88%-85%). Other screening tools had widely varying accuracy. Seventeen RCTs (n = 1517) evaluated interventions for speech and language delay or disorders. There were no RCTs included on the harms of interventions.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00006.
Citation: Feltner C, Wallace IF, Nowell SW .
Screening for speech and language delay and disorders in children 5 years or younger: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2024 Jan 23; 331(4):335-51. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.24647..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Children/Adolescents, Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice
Peaker B, Dooley C B, Peaker B, Dooley C C
AHRQ Author: Peaker B
Screening for syphilis in nonpregnant adolescents and adults.
This case study described a 42-year-old male presenting at the clinic with low back pain that had been radiating down his right leg for one week. Case study questions related to the USPSTF recommendation on Screening for Syphilis in Nonpregnant Adolescents and Adults addressed why this patient was at increased risk, whether screening should take place, and why the USPSTF does not recommend screening for all people.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Peaker B, Dooley C B, Peaker B, Dooley C C .
Screening for syphilis in nonpregnant adolescents and adults.
Am Fam Physician 2024 Jan; 109(1):79-80..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Sexual Health, Children/Adolescents
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
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
Huffstetler AN, Villalobos G, Brooks EM
The current state of alcohol screening and management in Virginia primary care practices: an evaluation of preventive service use.
This study used the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force on screening and behavioral counseling for adults over 18 years for unhealthy alcohol use to examine the current state of alcohol screening and management in Virginia primary care practices. Clinicians were advised to use the following recommended screening instruments: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise and or Single Alcohol Screening Question. Baseline data showed that clinicians appropriately screened only 10.8% of patients and only identified 9.6% as having risky drinking. However, 24% of patients reported risky drinking on a survey, demonstrating the implementation gap of the USPSTF recommendation and opportunity to improve health.
AHRQ-funded; HS027077.
Citation: Huffstetler AN, Villalobos G, Brooks EM .
The current state of alcohol screening and management in Virginia primary care practices: an evaluation of preventive service use.
Med Clin North Am 2023 Nov; 107(6s):e1-e17. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2023.07.001..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Alcohol Use, Screening, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Evidence-Based Practice
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
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
Viswanathan M, Urrutia RP, Hudson KN
Folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The objective of this evidence review was to evaluate new evidence on the benefits and harms of folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. New evidence from observational studies provided evidence of the benefit of folic acid supplementation and no evidence of harms related to multiple gestation, autism, or maternal cancer. The new evidence was consistent with previously reviewed evidence on benefits and harms.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00007.
Citation: Viswanathan M, Urrutia RP, Hudson KN .
Folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Aug 1; 330(5):460-66. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.9864..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Newborns/Infants, Maternal Care, Women
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
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
O'Connor EA, Perdue LA, Coppola EL
Depression and suicide risk screening: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The objectives of this article were to review the benefits and harms of depression and suicide risk screening and treatment and the accuracy of instruments to detect these conditions in primary care patients. Evidence gathered from the literature search supported screening for depression in primary care settings, including during pregnancy and postpartum. The authors noted, however, that there were numerous important gaps in the evidence for suicide risk screening.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500011I; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: O'Connor EA, Perdue LA, Coppola EL .
Depression and suicide risk screening: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Jun 20; 329(23):2068-85. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.7787..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Screening, Depression, Behavioral Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Risk
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
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
Henrikson NB, Ivlev I, Blasi PR
Skin cancer screening: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the advantages and potential risks of skin cancer screening to assist the decision-making of the US Preventive Services Task Force. The researchers utilized the data sources MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, dated between June 1, 2015, and January 7, 2022. Two independent reviewers evaluated the articles and extracted pertinent data from studies of fair or good quality; the findings were summarized narratively. The primary outcomes and indicators were morbidity; mortality; stage, precursor lesions, or lesion thickness of skin cancer at detection; potential harms of screening. Twenty studies from 29 articles were included (N = 6,053,411). Direct evidence on the effectiveness of screening was obtained from 3 nonrandomized analyses of 2 population-based skin cancer screening initiatives in Germany (n = 1,791,615), indicating no significant reduction in melanoma mortality benefit at the population level over a period of 4 to 10 years of follow up activities. Six studies (n = 2,935,513) offered inconclusive evidence on the relationship between physician-conducted skin examination and lesion thickness or stage at diagnosis. Usual care vs. routine physician-conducted skin examination was not associated with increased detection of skin cancer or precursor lesions (5 studies) or stage at melanoma detection (3 studies). The correlation between physician-conducted skin examination and lesion thickness at detection was inconsistent (3 studies). Nine studies (n = 1 326 051) found a consistent positive association between more advanced stage at melanoma detection and increasing risk of melanoma-associated and all-cause mortality. Two studies (n = 232) found negligible enduring cosmetic or psychosocial harms related to screening.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00004.
Citation: Henrikson NB, Ivlev I, Blasi PR .
Skin cancer screening: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Apr 18; 329(15):1296-307. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.3262..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Skin Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines
Barry MJ, Wolff TA, Pbert L
AHRQ Author: Wolff TA, Fan TM, Mabry-Hernandez IR, Mills J
Putting evidence into practice: an update on the US Preventive Services Task Force methods for developing recommendations for preventive services
The purpose of this study was to outline the current methodologies employed by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) evidence-based recommendations regarding preventive services to improve health for people nationwide, discuss the evolution of these methods to address health equity in preventive care, and identify areas requiring further research. The researchers found that the USPSTF selects subjects based on disease impact, the availability of novel evidence, and the feasibility of implementing the service within primary care settings. In the future, health equity will be increasingly taken into account. Analytical frameworks delineate the crucial questions and associations linking preventive measures to health outcomes. Contextual inquiries offer insights into the natural course of diseases, prevailing practices, health outcomes in vulnerable populations, and health equity considerations. The USPSTF allocates a certainty level to the net benefit estimation of a preventive service (high, moderate, or low) and assesses the net benefit magnitude (considerable, moderate, minimal, or none/negative). Utilizing these evaluations, the USPSTF assigns an alphabetic grade ranging from A (endorse) to D (advise against). When evidence is inadequate, an "I" statement is issued. The USPSTF aims to further refine its simulation modeling techniques and apply evidence to address conditions with limited data in populations disproportionately affected by disease. The authors concluded that exploratory efforts are in progress to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between social constructs such as race, ethnicity, and gender and their impact on health outcomes, ultimately informing the creation of a USPSTF health equity framework.
Citation: Barry MJ, Wolff TA, Pbert L .
Putting evidence into practice: an update on the US Preventive Services Task Force methods for developing recommendations for preventive services
Ann Fam Med 2023 Mar-Apr;21(2):165-71. doi: 10.1370/afm.2946.
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention, Screening
Mills J, Harding MC
AHRQ Author: Mills J
Screening for obstructive sleep apnea in adults.
This Putting Prevention into Practice case study was created to increase understanding of the USPSTF final recommendation on screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. A case study was presented using a 41-year-old man with a history of class 1 obesity but was otherwise feeling well. The patient has an uncle who was recently diagnosed with OSA, and the patient has some questions. Three multiple-choice questions are presented regarding USPSTF recommendations whether to screen for OSA for that patient.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Mills J, Harding MC .
Screening for obstructive sleep apnea in adults.
Am Fam Physician 2023 Mar;107(3):297-98.
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Sleep Problems, Guidelines, Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Case Study
Asher GN, Feltner C, Harrison WN
Serologic screening for genital herpes: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
Genital herpes, a viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) subtypes HSV-1 or HSV-2, is a prevalent STI in the US. Early identification of unrecognized HSV-2 infection could reduce transmission and morbidity. In 2016, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routine serologic screening for genital herpes in asymptomatic individuals. This updated evidence report aimed to identify studies published since the previous 2016 evidence review. A literature search was conducted from September 30, 2015, through January 16, 2022, with ongoing surveillance through July 22, 2022. The review identified no new eligible studies, leading to unchanged overall conclusions from the 2016 recommendation against screening. The prior recommendation was based on psychosocial harms from false-positive test results due to poor screening test accuracy and uncertain benefit of preventive viral medications for reducing viral shedding or improving health outcomes. The review focused on the general population of asymptomatic adolescents and adults and may not be applicable to populations at higher risk for infection, such as those with HIV or other immunosuppressive conditions.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00007.
Citation: Asher GN, Feltner C, Harrison WN .
Serologic screening for genital herpes: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2023 Feb 14; 329(6):510-12. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.20356..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, Screening, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Tracer H, Barnhart H
AHRQ Author: Tracer H
Statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults.
In this Putting Prevention into Practice case study to increase understanding of the USPSTF final recommendation on statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults, a 66-year-old woman presents for a wellness visit. The patient’s smoking history, blood pressure, VMI, and cholesterol levels are described. Three multiple-choice questions are presented regarding when to initiate statin use, and other information provided in the final recommendation.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Tracer H, Barnhart H .
Statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults.
Am Fam Physician 2023 Feb; 107(2):185-86..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Medication, Prevention