Title
Update on the methods of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: insufficient evidence
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Date
2-3-2009
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Advisory Committees; Decision Making; Evidence-Based Medicine; Health Services Research; *Preventive Health Services; United States
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Women's Studies
Abstract
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) seeks to provide reliable and accurate evidence-based recommendations to primary care clinicians. However, clinicians indicate frustration with the lack of guidance provided by the USPSTF when the evidence is insufficient to make a recommendation. This article describes a new USPSTF plan to commission its Evidence-based Practice Centers to collect information in 4 domains pertinent to clinical decisions about prevention and to report this information routinely. The 4 domains are potential preventable burden, potential harm of the intervention, costs (both monetary and opportunity), and current practice. The process and rationale used to select these domains are presented, along with examples of how clinicians might use the information to guide clinical decision making when evidence is insufficient.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Ann Intern Med. 2009 Feb 3;150(3):199-205.
Related Resources
PubMed ID
19189910
