March 2013 | AJMC

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March 2013

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CLINICAL

Rates of Guideline Adherence Among US Community Oncologists Treating NSCLC

Zhaohui Wang, MD, PhD; Inga Aksamit, RN, MBA; Lisa Tuscher, BA; and Kim Bergstrom, PharmD

US community oncologists treating NSCLC were significantly more likely to be guideline adherent when providing first-line rather than adjuvant treatment.

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Diabetes Prevention Among Adherent Participants

William H. Herman, MD, MPH; Sharon L. Edelstein, ScM; Robert E. Ratner, MD; Maria G. Montez, RN, MSHP; Ronald T. Ackermann, MD, MPH; Trevor J. Orchard, MD; Mary A. Foulkes, PhD; Ping Zhang, PhD; Christopher D. Saudek,† MD; and Morton B. Brown, PhD; The Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group

Over 10 years, among adherent participants, lifestyle intervention and metformin were effective and cost-effective for diabetes prevention compared with placebo.

COMMENTARY

Mental Health in ACOs: Missed Opportunities and Low-Hanging Fruit

Allison N. O’Donnell, MPH; Brent C. Williams, MD; Daniel Eisenberg, PhD; and Amy M. Kilbourne, PhD, MPH

This paper describes the rationale and benefits of incorporating mental health into accountable care organizations using the Chronic Care Model.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Drug Adherence After Price Changes in a Previously Compliant Population

James J. Hill III, MD, MPH; Deron Galusha, MS; Martin D. Slade, MPH; and Mark R. Cullen, MD

The impact of price changes in drugs, at least among previously adherent patients, was modest in size except for drugs with large price changes.

POLICY

Measuring Quality in the Early Years of Health Insurance Exchanges

Ledia M. Tabor, MPH; Phyllis Torda, MA; Sarah S. Thomas, MS; and Jennifer L. Zutz, MHSA

This article recommends quality measures for exchange health plans and strategies to increase the availability of quality results for public reporting.

Multilevel Predictors of Colorectal Cancer Screening Use in California

Salma Shariff-Marco, PhD, MPH; Nancy Breen, PhD; David G. Stinchcomb, MS, MA; and Carrie N. Klabunde, PhD

We studied contextual factors and found that locality, availability of primary care, and HMO membership influenced use of colorectal cancer screening in California.

TRENDS FROM THE FIELD

Engaging Providers in Underserved Areas to Adopt Electronic Health Records

Cleo A. Samuel, BS; Jennifer King, PhD; Fadesola Adetosoye, MS; Leila Samy, MPH; and Michael F. Furukawa, PhD

We assessed Regional Extension Centers’ (RECs’) progress in promoting EHR adoption among providers in rural and health professional shortage areas and found that RECs are achieving much success in enrolling these providers.

Web Exclusives

Factors Associated With Primary Hip Arthroplasty After Hip Fracture

Ishveen Chopra, MS; Khalid M. Kamal, PhD; Jayashri Sankaranarayanan, MPharm, PhD; and Gibbs Kanyongo, PhD

Patient, clinical, and hospital factors were associated with receiving primary hip arthroplasty versus no surgery after hip fracture in the United States.

Measuring Concurrent Oral Hypoglycemic and Antidepressant Adherence and Clinical Outcomes

Hillary R. Bogner, MD, MSCE; Heather F. de Vries, MSPH; Alison J. O’Donnell, BA; and Knashawn H. Morales, ScD

Self-reported adherence tended to overestimate medication adherence compared with electronic monitoring. Electronic monitoring of oral hypoglycemic agents but not self-reported adherence predicted glycemic control.

Computed Tomography Scan Use Variation: Patient, Hospital, and Geographic Factors

Eric A. Vance, PhD; Xiaojin Xie, MS; Andrew Henry, BS; Christian Wernz, PhD; and Anthony D. Slonim, MD, DrPH

We observed small-area variation in computed tomography scan use for inpatients in New York State, even after controlling for relevant patient and hospital characteristics.

Low Clinical Utility of Folate Determinations in Primary Care Setting

Shlomo Vinker, MD; Eli Krantman, MD; Michal Shani, MD; and Sasson Nakar, MD

It seems that folate determinations in patients without known risk factors for folate deficiency are of little clinical significance.

Trends in Inpatient Hospital Prices, 2008 to 2010

Jeff Lemieux, MA; and Teresa Mulligan, MHSA

A comprehensive presentation of intensity-adjusted hospital price levels and growth rates, including national detail on more than 350 types of hospitalizations, and regional and local averages.