How to Read the New Recommendation Statement: Methods Update from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

17 July 2007 | Volume 147 Issue 2 | Pages 123-127

Since 2001, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has worked to refine its methods of evidence review and assessment and to create more usable documents in response to clinicians' needs. These changes have resulted in a revised grading system, as well as a new format and new language for the recommendation statement. This paper focuses on the changes to and the new look of the USPSTF recommendation statement. The new recommendation statement comprises 9 sections. Important changes include standardization of the format of the summary statement to specify what service is being recommended in what population; standardization of the headings in the rationale section; a change in the wording of the grade C recommendation and the I statement; and a new section, called "Other Considerations," in which salient issues related to cost-effectiveness, mandates, and other implementation issues are described.

Author and Article Information

From the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, Maryland.

Acknowledgment: The authors thank Jan Genevro for her creativity and expertise in professional communication and invaluable contributions to the development of the 1-page summary document.

Grant Support: The work of the USPSTF is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.

Requests for Single Reprints: Reprints are available from the USPSTF Web site (http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov) and from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Publications Clearinghouse (800-358-9295 or e-mail at AHRQPubs{at}ahrq.hhs.gov).

Current Author Addresses: Drs. Barton, Miller, and Wolff: Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850.

Dr. Petitti: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 299 East Laurel Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Dr. LeFevre: University of Missouri School of Medicine, M223 Medical Sciences Building, Columbia, MO 65212.

Dr. Sawaya: University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA 94143-0856.

Dr. Yawn: Olmsted Medical Center, 210 Ninth Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904.

Dr. Guirguis-Blake: University of Washington Tacoma Family Medicine Residency Program, 521 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, WA 98403.

Dr. Calonge: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.

Dr. Harris: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, CB#7590, Sheps Center, 725 Airport Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590.