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RTI-UNC EPC Recent Topics and Projects

The RTI-UNC EPC has produced or has in progress over 80 reports since 1997, including multiple assignments related to our work for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm).

Evidence Reports on Key Clinical Topics

• Outcomes of maternal weight gain
  • Viswanathan M, Siega-Riz AM, Moos M-K, Deierlein A, Mumford S, Knaack J, et al. Outcomes of maternal weight gain. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 168. (Prepared by RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0016.) AHRQ Publication No. 08-E009. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2008. 
• Comparative effectiveness of drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gartlehner G, Hansen RA, Jonas BL, Thieda P, Lohr KN. Biologics for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a systematic review and critical analysis of the evidence. Clinical Rheumatology 27:67-76, 2008.
  • Donahue KE, G Gartlehner, DE Jonas, LJ Lux, P Thieda, BL Jonas, RA Hansen, LC Morgan, KN Lohr. Systematic review: Comparative effectiveness and harms of disease-modifying medications for rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of Internal Medicine 148(2):124-134, 2008.
• Comparative effectiveness of second-generation antidepressants
  • Krebs EE, BN Gaynes, G Gartlehner, RA Hansen, P Thieda, LC Morgan, A DeVeaugh-Geiss, KN Lohr. Treating the physical symptoms of depression with second-generation antidepressants: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis. Psychosomatics 49:191-198, 2008.
• Treatment of eating disorders
  • Berkman N, Lohr KN, Bulik C. Outcomes of eating disorders: a systematic review of the literature. Int J Eat Disord 40:293-309, 2007.
  • Bulik C, Berkman N, Brownley K, Sedway J, Lohr KN. Anorexia nervosa treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Int J Eat Disord 40:310-320, 2007.
  • Shapiro J, Berkman N, Brownley K, Sedway J, Lohr KN, Bulik C. Bulimia nervosa treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Int J Eat Disord 40:321-336, 2007.
  • Brownley K, Berkman N, Sedway J, Lohr KN, Bulik C. Binge eating disorder treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Int J Eat Disord 40:337-348, 2007.
• Cesarean section on maternal request
  • Visco A, Viswanathan V, Lohr KN, Wechter ME, Gartlehner G, Wu JM, Palmieri R, Funk MJ, Lux LJ, Swinson TM, Hartmann KE. Cesarean delivery on maternal request: maternal and neonatal outcomes. Obstet Gynecol 108(6):1517–1529, 2006.
• Tobacco use: prevention, cessation, and control
  • Ranney L, Melvin C, Lux L, McClain R, Lohr KN. Systematic review: smoking cessation intervention strategies for adults and adults in special populations. Ann Intern Med 145:845-856, 2006.
• Use of episiotomy in routine obstetrical practice -- see the following published reports
  • Viswanathan M, Hartmann K, Palmieri R, Lux L, Swinson T, Lohr KN, Gartlehner G, Thorp J Jr. The use of episiotomy in obstetrical care: a systematic review. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 112.
  • Hartmann K, Viswanathan M, Palmieri R, Gartlehner G, Thorp J Jr, Lohr KN. Outcomes of routine episiotomy: a systematic review. JAMA 293:2141-2148, 2005.
• Perinatal depression -- see Gaynes BN, Gavin N, Meltzer-Brody S, Lohr KN, Swinson T, Gartlehner G, Brody S, Miller WC. Perinatal depression: prevalence, screening accuracy, and screening outcomes. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 119.
• Management of bronchiolitis in infants and children -- see Viswanathan M, King VJ, Bordely C, Honeycutt AA, Wittenborn J, et al. Management of bronchiolitis in infants and children. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 69.
• Management of preterm labor -- see Berkman ND, Thorp JM, Hartmann KE, Lohr KN, Idicula AE, et al. Management of preterm labor. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 18.

Reports on Health Policy Issues

• Community-based participatory research -- see Viswanathan M, Ammerman A, Eng E, et al. Community-based participatory research: assessing the evidence. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 99.
• Literacy and health outcomes -- see Berkman ND, DeWalt DA, Pignone MP, Sheridan SL, Lohr KN, et al. Literacy and health outcomes. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 87.
• Determining disability in speech-language disorders -- see Biddle AK, Watson LR, Hooper CR, Lohr KN, Sutton SF. Criteria for determining disability in speech-language disorders. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 52.

Reports on Evidence-Based Methods

• Methods reference guide for effectiveness and comparative effectiveness reviews -- see Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Methods Reference Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, Version 1.0 [Draft posted Oct. 2007]. Rockville, MD.
• Distinguishing efficacy from effectiveness -- see Gartlehner G, Hansen RA, Nissman D, Lohr KN, Carey TS. Criteria for distinguishing effectiveness from efficacy trials in systematic reviews. Technical Review 12. AHRQ Publication No. 06-0046. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2006.
• Developing and implementing systematic reviews of economic analyses -- see Pignone M, Saha S, Hoerger T, Lohr KN, Teutsch S, Mandelblatt J. Challenges in systematic reviews of economic analyses. Ann Intern Med 142:1073-1079, 2005.
• Rating the strength of scientific evidence -- see West S, King V, Carey TS, Lohr KN, McKoy N, Sutton SF, Lux L. Systems to rate the strength of scientific evidence. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 47
• Updating clinical practice guidelines -- see Gartlehner G, West SL, Lohr KN, Kahwati L, et al. Assessing the need to update prevention guidelines: a comparison of two methods. Int J Qual Health Care 16(5):399-406, 2004.

Evidence-Based Practice and Policy

• Lohr KN, Eleazer K, Mauskopf J. Health policy issues and applications for evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines. Health Policy 46(1):1-19, October 1998
• Mulrow CD, Lohr KN. Proof and policy from medical research evidence. Health Polit Policy Law 26(2):249-266, April 2001
• Lohr KN. Rating the strength of scientific evidence: relevance for quality improvement programs. Int J Qual Health Care 16(1):9-18, February 2004.

Related Projects

• Participating in developing a methods manual for AHRQ's Effective Healthcare Program, with contributions to chapters on reviews of systematic reviews, diagnostic tests, and avoiding bias in the conduct of reviews
• Developing a tool to rate the quality of non-randomized treatment studies
• Communicating quantitative health promotion and disease prevention information to consumers
• Developing messages about preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries

Contact us for more information

• Meera Viswanathan
• viswanathanrti.org
• 919-316-3930