Principal Investigator: Evelyn P.Whitlock, MD, MPH, Senior Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research; Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, OHSU School of Medicine; Adjunct Associate Professor of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, OHSU School of Medicine
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Project Period: 9/30/02 – Present
Project Summary and Current Topics
The Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) is a collaboration of Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR), and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC). The EPC is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to provide systematic evidence reviews on health care topics related to screening and prevention services. These reviews are used to inform the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The Oregon EPC has provided reports since 1998, and previous reports and recommendations can be reviewed and downloaded at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm.
Investigators from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR) are currently working on the following topics:
| Topic | Project Team | Project Description |
| Adult Obesity Screening | Erin LeBlanc, MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Elizabeth O'Connor, PhD, Co-Investigator Cat Livingston, MD, Research Associate Sarah Zuber, MSW, Project Manager/Research Associate |
Update on the effectiveness of obesity screening. |
| Bladder Cancer Screening | Roger Chou, MD, Lead Investigator Tracy Dana, MLS, Research Associate Christina Bougatsos, BS, Project Manager Michelle Pappas, BA, Research Assistant |
Update on the efficacy of bladder cancer screening. |
| Cervical Cancer Screening | Kimberly Vesco, MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH, Co-Investigator Michelle Eder, PhD, Research Associate/Project Manager |
Update on the efficacy of cervical cancer screening on reduced morbidity and mortality. |
| Childhood Overweight Screening | Evelyn Whitlock MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Elizabeth O'Connor, PhD, Co-Investigator Selvi Williams, MD, MPH, Co-Investigator |
Update on the effectiveness of behavioral and pharmacological weight-management interventions for overweight and obese children and adolescents. |
| Electrocardiogram and Exercise Treadmill Test for Coronary Heart Disease | Roger Chou, MD, Lead Investigator Linda Humphrey, MD, MPH, Co-Investigator Bhaskar Arora, MD, Fellow Tracy Dana, MLS, Research Associate Miranda Walker, MA, Project Manager/Research Associate Rosalind Janik, BA, Research Assistant |
Update on the benefits of screening asymptomatic adults for coronary heart disease with electrocardiogram and exercise treadmill test. |
| Falls in Older Adults | Yvonne Michael, ScD, Lead Investigator Evelyn Whitlock MD, MPH, Co-Investigator Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, Consultant Jennifer Lin, MD, Co-Investigator Rongwei (Rochelle) Fu, PhD, Statistician Elizabeth O’Connor, PhD, Research Analyst Rachel Gold, PhD, Research Associate Sarah Zuber, MSW, Research Associate/Project Manager |
To assess the effectiveness of clinical interventions to reduce falling. |
| Family and Intimate Partner Violence | Heidi Nelson, MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Peggy Nygren, MA, Research Associate Christina Bougatsos, BS, Project Manager Rosalind Janik, BA, Research Assistant |
Update on the effectiveness of screening asymptomatic individuals for family and intimate partner violence in primary care settings. |
| Functional Limitations in Older Adults | Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Yvonne Michael, ScD, Co-Investigator Jennifer Lin, MD, Co-Investigator Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, Co-Investigator Rongwei (Rochelle) Fu, PhD, Co-Investigator Sarah Zuber, MSW, Project Manager/Research Associate Leslie Perdue, MPH, Research Associate |
To assess the effectiveness of multifactorial assessment and management interventions in reducing disability and maintaining independence among older adults. |
| Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Counseling | Jennifer Lin, MD, Lead Investigator Elizabeth O’Connor, PhD, Lead Investigator Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH, Co-Investigator Tracy Beil, MS, Research Associate Sarah Zuber, MSW, Research Associate Leslie Perdue, MPH, Research Associate |
Update on the effectiveness of counseling for healthy diet and physical activity. |
| Hearing Impairment in Older Adults Screening | Roger Chou, MD, Lead Investigator Tracy Beil, MS, Research Associate Tracy Dana, MLS, Research Associate Christina Bougatsos, BS, Project Manager Michelle Pappas, BA, Research Assistant |
Update on the efficacy of hearing impairment screening in older adults. |
| Medications to Reduce Risk of Primary Breast Cancer in Women | Heidi Nelson, MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Beth Smith, MD, Co-Investigator Linda Humphrey, MD, MPH, Co-Investigator Jessica Griffin, MS, Project Manager/Research Associate Peggy Nygren, MA, Research Associate Rongwei (Rochelle) Fu, PhD, Statistician |
Update on the efficacy of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen citrate and raloxifene, and the selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator (STEAR) tibolone, when used for the primary prevention of breast cancer. |
| Osteoporosis Screening | Heidi Nelson, MD, MPH, Lead Investigator Roger Chou, MD, Co-Investigator Elizabeth Haney, MD, Co-Investigator Tracy Dana, MLS, Research Associate Christina Bougatsos, BS, Project Manager Michelle Pappas, BA, Research Assistant |
Update on the efficacy of screening for osteoporosis. |
| Skin Cancer Counseling | Jennifer Lin, MD, Lead Investigator Sarah Zuber, MSW, Research Associate |
Update on effectiveness of counseling to prevent skin cancer. |
| Vision Screening in Children | Roger Chou, MD, Lead Investigator David Wheeler, MD, Consultant Tracy Dana, MLS, Research Associate Christina Bougatsos, BS, Project Manager Michelle Pappas, BA, Research Assistant |
Update on the efficacy of vision screening in preschool children. |
Previous USPSTF reports published since 1997 are listed below and can be accessed at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
Adult Depression Screening
Bacterial Vaginosis Screening in Pregnancy
Breast Cancer Screening
Child and Adolescent Depression Screening
Chlamydial Infection Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer
Counseling to Promote Physical Activity
Domestic Violence Screening
Drug Misuse Screening
Intermediate Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease Screening
Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding
Genetic Screening for Breast Cancer Susceptibility
Glaucoma Screening
Gonorrhea Screening
Hemochromatosis Screening
Hepatitis C Screening
Herpes Screening
Hip Dysplasia Screening
HIV Screening
Iron Deficiency Anemia Screening
Lead Screening
Lipid Disorders in Children Screening
Lipid Disorders in Adults Screening
Lung Cancer Screening
Newborn Hearing Screening
Ovarian Cancer Screening
Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy
Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Screening
Screening and Counseling for Alcohol Misuse
Screening and Counseling for Childhood Obesity Prevention
Skin Cancer Screening
Speech and Language Delay Screening in Children
Syphilis Screening
Thyroid Disease Screening
Type 2 Diabetes Screening
Vision Screening in Older Adults
Vision Screening in Preschoolers
Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Oregon EPC USPSTF Project Personnel:
| Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research |
Oregon Health & Science University |
|
| Investigative Lead | Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH |
Roger Chou , MD |
| Project Coordinator | Tracy Beil, MS |
Christina Bougatsos, BS |
| Current Investigators | Erin LeBlanc, MD, MPH Jennifer Lin, MD Elizabeth O'Connor, PhD Kimberly Vesco, MD, MPH |
Elizabeth Haney, MD Linda Humphrey, MD, MPH Heidi Nelson, MD, MPH |
| Fellow/Residents | Bhaskar Arora, MD |
|
| Research Associates/ Project Managers |
Tracy Beil, MS Michelle Eder, PhD Leslie Perdue, MPH Sarah Zuber, MSW |
Christina Bougatsos, BS Tracy Dana, MLS Peggy Nygren, MA Miranda Walker, MA |
| Research Assistants | Rosalind Janik, BA |
|
| Statistician | Rongwei (Rochelle) Fu, PhD |
|
| Librarian | Daphne Plaut, MLS, MS |
Andrew Hamilton, MLS, MS Tracy Dana, MLS |
| Editor | Kevin Lutz, MFA |
Oregon EPC Journal Publications from USPSTF Projects (Alphabetical Order by Author)
Buckley DI, Fu R, Freeman M, Rogers K, Helfand M. C-reactive protein as a risk factor for coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analyses for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2009;151:483-495.
Chou R, Clark EC, Helfand M. Screening for hepatitis c virus infection: a review of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2004;140:465-479.
Chou R, Dana T, Bougatsos C. Screening older adults for impaired visual acuity: a review of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2009;151:44-58.
Chou R, Fu R, Huffman LH, Korthuis PT. Initial highly active antiretroviral therapy with a protease inhibitor versus a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor: discrepancies between direct and indirect meta-analyses. Lancet 2006; 368: 1503-1515.
Chou R, Huffman LH, Fu R, Smits AK, Korthuis PT. Screening for HIV: A review of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2005; 143: 55-73.
Chou R, Smits AK, Huffman LH, Fu R, Korthuis PT. Prenatal screening for HIV: A review of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2005; 143: 38-54.
Eden KB, Orleans CT, Mulrow CD, Pender NJ, Teutsch SM. Does counseling by clinicians improve physical activity? A summary of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2002;137:208-215.
Fleming C, Whitlock EP, Beil TL, Lederle FA. Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm: A best-evidence systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2005;142(3):203-211.
Fleming C, Whitlock EP, Beil TL, Smit B, Harris RP. Screening for primary open-angle glaucoma in the primary care setting: An update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Fam Med 2005;3(2):167-170.
Guise JM, Mahon SM, Aickin M, Helfand M, Peipert JF, Westhoff C. Screening for bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. AJPM 2001:20:62-71.
Guise JM, Palda V, Westhoff C, Chan BKS, Helfand M, Lieu TA. The effectiveness of primary care-based interventions to promote breastfeeding: systematic evidence review and meta-analysis for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Fam Med 2003;1(2):70-78.
Haney EM, Huffman LH, Bougatsos C, Freeman M, Steiner RD, Nelson HD. Screening and treatment for lipid disorders in children and adolescents: systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics 2007;120(1):e189-e214.
Harris RP, Helfand M, Woolf SH, Lohr KN, Mulrow CD, Teutsch SM, Atkins D. Current methods of the US Preventive Services Task Force: a review of the process. AJPM 2001;20:21-35.
Helfand M. Screening for subclinical thyroid dysfunction in nonpregnant adults: a summary of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2004;140:128-141.
Helfand M, Buckley DI, Freeman M, Fu R, Rogers K, Fleming C, Humphrey LL. Emerging risk factors for coronary heart disease: a summary of systematic reviews conducted for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2009;151:496-507.
Helfand M, Mahon SM, Eden KB, Frame PS, Orleans CT. Screening for skin cancer. AJPM 2001;20:47-58.
Hillier TA, Vesco KK, Pedula K,. Beil TL, Whitlock EP, Pettitt DJ. Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 148:766-775.
Humphrey LL, Chan BK, Sox HC. Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Ann Intern Med 2002;137:273-84.
Humphrey LL, Fu R, Buckley DI, Freeman M, Helfand M. Periodontal disease and coronary heart disease incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med 23:2079–2086.
Humphrey LL, Fu R, Roger K, Freeman M, Helfand M. Homocysteine level and coronary heart disease incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mayo Clin Proc 2008;83:1203-1212.
Humphrey, LL, Teutsch, S, Johnson, M. Lung cancer screening with sputum cytologic examination, chest radiography, and computed tomography: An update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2004;140(9):740-753.
LeBlanc ES, Janowsky J, Chan BKS, Nelson HD. Hormone replacement therapy and cognition: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 2001;285:1489-1499.
Lin JS, Whitlock EP, O'Connor E, Bauer V. Behavioral counseling to prevent sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 149(7):497-508.
Miller J, Chan BKS, Nelson HD. Postmenopausal estrogen replacement and risk for venous thromboembolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2002;136:680-690.
Morris CD, Carson S. Vitamin supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease: a review of the evidence. Ann Intern Med 2003; 139(1):56-70.
Nelson HD. Assessing benefits and harms of hormone replacement therapy: clinical applications. JAMA 2002; 288:882-886.
Nelson HD, Bougatsos C, Nygren P. Universal newborn hearing screening: systematic review to update the 2001 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation. Pediatrics 2008;122(1): e266-e276.
Nelson HD, Helfand M. Screening for chlamydial infection. AJPM 2001;20:95-107.
Nelson HD, Helfand M, Woolf SH, Allan JD. Screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis: a review of evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2002; 137:529-541.
Nelson HD, Huffman LH, Fu R, Harris EL. Genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility: systematic evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2005; 143:362-379.
Nelson HD, Humphrey LL, Nygren P, Teutsch SM, Allan JD. Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: scientific review. JAMA 2002;288:872-881.
Nelson HD, Klein J, Nygren P. Screening women and elderly adults for family and intimate partner violence. Ann Intern Med 2004; 140:387-396.
Nelson HD, Nygren P, Walker M, Panoscha R. Screening for speech and language delay in preschool children: systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics 2006;117:e298-e319.
Nelson HD, Tyne K, Naik A, Bougatsos C, Chan BK, Humphrey L. Screening for breast cancer: an update for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2009;151:703-715.
Norris SL, Kansagara D, Bougatsos C, Fu R. Screening adults for type 2 diabetes: a review of the evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2008;148(11):855-868.
Nygren P, Fu R, Freeman M, Bougatsos C, Klebanoff M, Guise JM. Evidence on the benefits and harms of screening and treating pregnant women who are asymptomatic for bacterial vaginosis: an update review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2008;148:220-233.
Nygren P, Nelson HD. Screening children for family violence: a review of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Fam Med 2004;2:161-169.
O’Connor EA, Whitlock EP, Beil TL, Baynes BN. Screening for depression in adult patients in primary care settings: a systematic evidence review. Ann Intern Med 2009; 151(11):793-803.
Pignone M, Saha S, Hoerger T, Mandelblatt J. Cost-effectiveness analyses of colorectal cancer screening: a systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2002;137:96-104.
Rischitelli G, Nygren P, Bougatsos C, Freeman M, Helfand M. Screening for elevated lead levels in childhood and pregnancy: an updated summary of evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics 2006;118(6):e1867-e1895.
Saha S, Hoerger TJ, Pignone MP, Teutsch SM, Helfand M, Mandelblatt JS. The art and science of incorporating cost effectiveness into evidence-based recommendations for clinical prevention services. AJPM 2001;20:36-43.
Shipman SA, Helfand M, Moyer VA, Yawn BP. Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip: a systematic literature review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics 2006:117(3):e557-76.
Thompson DC, McPhillips H, Davis RL, Liu TL, Homer CJ, Helfand M. Universal newborn hearing screening: summary of evidence. JAMA 2001:286:2000-2010.
Whitlock EP, Garlitz BA, Harris EL, Beil TL, Smith PR. Screening for hereditary hemochromatosis: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2006;145(3):209-23.
Whitlock EP, Lin JS, Liles E, Beil TL, Fu R. Screening for colorectal cancer: a targeted, updated systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 149(9):638-658.
Whitlock EP, Orleans CT, Pender N, Allan J. Evaluating primary care behavioral counseling interventions: an evidence-based approach. AJPM 2002;22: 267-284.
Whitlock, EP, Polen, MR, Green, CA, Orleans, T, Klein, J. Behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce risky/harmful alcohol use by adults: A summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2004; 140(7): 557-568.
Whitlock EP, Williams SB, Gold R, Smith PR, Shipman SA. Screening and interventions for childhood overweight: A summary of evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics 2005;116(1):e125-e144.
Williams SB, O'Connor EA, Eder M, Whitlock EP. Screening for child and adolescent depression in primary care settings: a systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics 123:e716-e735.
Williams SB, Whitlock EP, Edgerton EA, Smith PR, Beil TL. Counseling about proper use of motor vehicle occupant restraints and avoidance of alcohol use while driving: a systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 147(3):194-206.
Related Links
US Preventive Services Task Force
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2009
This page last updated on: January 19, 2010.