EPC-Related Articles, December 12, 2014

Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology
Morton SC. Evidentiary challenges in comparative effectiveness research. Health Serv Outcomes Res Methodol 2014 Dec 1; 14(4): 159-65. [Cites and comments on "Grading the Strength of a Body of Evidence When Assessing Health Care Interventions for the Effective Health Care Program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: An Update," in Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2013, prepared by the RTI-University of North Carolina EPC; gives brief definition of comparative effectiveness research ("Which treatment works best, for whom, and under what circumstances") from AHRQ-authored article by Slutsky and Clancy (former AHRQ center director and director respectively) (Am J Med Qual, 2009); mentions the use of USPSTF strength of evidence criteria in the Task Force's 2009 recommendations on screening for breast cancer.]

JAMA Internal Medicine
Segal JB, Maruthur NM. Initial therapy for diabetes mellitus. JAMA Intern Med 2014 Dec; 174(12):1962-3. [Cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness summaries by Bennett et al. and Bolen et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2011 and 2007) on effectiveness and safety of type 2 diabetes medications and AHRQ-funded systematic review by Bennett et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) on the evaluation of guideline recommendations on oral medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus; comments on article by Berkowitz et al. in same issue (JAMA Intern Med, 2014).]