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Announcement Details

For announcements issued before January 1, 2011, please select: www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/announcearch.htm.

2012 Announcements

1/30/12 Scientific Director, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Want to play a role in shaping U.S. health care?

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) presents a unique opportunity to influence the future of evidence-based medicine in clinical preventive services. AHRQ seeks a senior level clinician to serve as the Scientific Director of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This is an opportunity to improve the health of all Americans by supporting the USPSTF in making evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive care. The Scientific Director provides a vital link between AHRQ and the USPSTF, sharing valuable guidance on a process that shapes clinical decisionmaking in our country. The candidate provides overall scientific leadership and direction to the USPSTF, working closely with its leaders, and is responsible for directing a team of dedicated medical professionals. The Scientific Director will also lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive national program of research related to clinical prevention.

Candidates must possess an M.D., D.O., doctoral level nursing degree, or be a physician assistant with a doctoral level degree. All candidates must have experience in prevention and primary care. This position is located at AHRQ's headquarters in Rockville, MD.

For more information on this position and an application, please visit:
M.D./D.O.: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/302462000
P.A.: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/304717000
Nurse: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/304716800

2/7/12 Appointment of New Members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced today the addition of four new experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine to serve as members of the panel. With guidance from Task Force leadership, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality appointed the following members: Linda Ciofu Baumann, Ph.D., R.N.; Mark H. Ebell, M.D., M.S.; Jessica Herzstein, M.D., M.P.H.; and Douglas K. Owens, M.D., M.S. These new members will each serve 4-year terms.

New members are appointed to replace members who have completed their terms. This year's appointees replace the following outgoing Task Force members: George Isham, M.D., M.S.; Rosanne Leipzig, M.D., Ph.D.; Bernadette Melnyk, Ph.D., R.N., C.P.N.P./P.M.H.N.P.; and J. Sanford Schwartz, M.D., M.B.A. The USPSTF congratulates and thanks these outgoing members for their many positive contributions to the Task Force's mission of improving the health of all Americans through evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services.

The USPSTF is an independent, volunteer panel of 16 private-sector experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that makes recommendations about preventive services such as screenings, counseling, or preventive medications. Its recommendations empower patients, their families, and their primary care providers in making informed decisions about prevention. More information on the Task Force is available at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.

2/28/12 USPSTF Posts Draft Research Plan on BRCA Mutation Risk Assessment and Testing for Public Comment

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) posted today a draft Research Plan on Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility. Once finalized, the Research Plan will guide the systematic evidence review that the USPSTF will use to update its recommendation on this important topic. Soliciting outside input on the scope and framing of the research will help ensure that the final recommendation is most valid, reliable, and useful in the end. The USPSTF encourages everyone interested in this topic to review the draft Research Plan and to offer feedback. The plan will be available for comment until March 27, 2012. To view the draft Research Plan and to offer comments, please visit the USPSTF Web site.

3/14/12 Release of USPSTF Final Recommendations on Screening for Cervical Cancer

Today, the USPSTF released its final recommendation statement on screening for cervical cancer. The draft recommendation statement was posted online for public comment from October 19 to November 30, 2011, with a Task Force public briefing on October 21. Since that time, the comments were reviewed and incorporated as appropriate into the Task Force's final recommendation statement. To view the final recommendation statement and the supporting evidence reports, click here.

4/10/12 USPSTF Draft Recommendation on Screening for Ovarian Cancer Now Available for Public Comment

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today its draft recommendation statement on screening for ovarian cancer. This draft recommendation statement will be posted on the Task Force's Web site for public comment from April 10 to May 8, 2012. The comments will be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate into the Task Force's final recommendation statement. To view the draft recommendation statement and submit comments, click here.

4/10/12 AHRQ Seeks Nomination of New Members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) welcomes nominations for new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Each year, AHRQ selects new members to replace those members who are completing their appointments. Qualified individuals may self-nominate or receive a nomination from others by visiting www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tfnominfo.htm.

Task Force members volunteer their time and are appointed by the Director of AHRQ to serve 4-year terms. The appointment process is one way that AHRQ fulfills its congressionally mandated role to support the Task Force. Candidates for the Task Force are experts in the critical evaluation of research and in the methods of evidence and national leaders in the fields of clinical prevention, health promotion, and primary health care. They are also experts in the implementation of evidence-based recommendations. Many members have clinical experience in primary health care, while others provide expertise in methodology. AHRQ particularly encourages nominations of women, members of minority populations, and persons with disabilities.

The USPSTF is an independent group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, or preventive medications. More information on the Task Force is available at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.

AHRQ's Prevention and Care Management Portfolio provides ongoing administrative, research, technical, and dissemination support to the USPSTF. More information is available at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/prevenix.htm.

4/17/12 Evidence Review Published on Chronic Kidney Disease

The Annals of Internal Medicine published today a review of the evidence on screening for, monitoring, and treatment of chronic kidney disease stages 1 to 3. This review is based on a report that was posted for public comment from March 22 to April 6, 2011, through a partnership with the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality's Effective Health Care Program. The evidence review will inform the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's forthcoming draft recommendation statement on screening for chronic kidney disease. The evidence review is available at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf12/kidney/ckdart.htm.

4/30/12 Draft Recommendation Statement on Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease Now Available for Public Comment

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today its draft recommendation statement on Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease. This draft recommendation statement will be posted on the Task Force's Web site for public comment from April 30 to May 29, 2012. To review the draft recommendation statement and offer your comments, go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. To review the draft recommendation statement and the evidence that it is based on, go to: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsckd.htm. A fact sheet that explains the draft recommendation statement in plain language will also be posted on this site.

5/4/12 AHRQ Seeks Nomination of New Members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

As a reminder, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) welcomes nominations for new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Each year, AHRQ selects new members to replace those members who are completing their appointments. Nominations for consideration for appointments in January 2013 are due by May 15. Nominations are accepted all year round, and those received after May 15 will be considered for 2014. Qualified individuals may self-nominate or receive a nomination from others by visiting www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tfnominfo.htm.

5/8/12 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Release of Skin Cancer Final Recommendation Statement and Intimate Partner Violence Evidence Report

Final Recommendation Statement on Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer: In an update to its 2003 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends counseling children, adolescents, and young adults ages 10 to 24 years who have fair skin about minimizing their exposure to ultraviolet radiation to reduce risk for and prevent incidence of skin cancer.

The USPSTF also concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of counseling adults older than age 24 years about minimizing risks to prevent skin cancer.

A draft of this recommendation statement was posted for public comment from November 8, 2011 until December 8, 2011. The final recommendation statement appears in the May 8 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsskco.htm. This Web page also includes a summary of the evidence the Task Force reviewed and a fact sheet that explains the final recommendation statement in plain language.

Evidence review published on Screening for Intimate Partner Violence: Today, the Annals of Internal Medicine published a review of the evidence on screening women for intimate partner violence. The USPSTF will use the evidence review to update its 2004 recommendation statement on the topic of screening for family and intimate partner violence. The evidence review is available at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf12/ipvelder/ipvelderart.htm.

2011 Announcements

1/12/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Prevention of Falls in Older Adults

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on the prevention of falls in older adults. This is the first time since 1996 that the USPSTF is making a recommendation on this topic. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendations statement is available until February 9, 2011.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is working to make its recommendations clearer and more useful. This is part of its ongoing effort to keep its work and methods clear to the public it serves.

The USPSTF is a national, independent panel of medical experts that makes recommendations, based on scientific evidence, to primary care doctors and other health care providers about which clinical preventive services they should offer their patients.

1/18/11 Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Osteoporosis

In an update to its 2002 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends screening for osteoporosis in women ages 65 years and older and in younger women whose fracture risk is equal to or greater than that of a 65-year-old white woman who has no additional risk factors. The USPSTF also concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for osteoporosis in men.

This is the first final recommendation statement to be published since the implementation of the USPSTF public comment process for draft recommendation statements.

The recommendation appears in the January 18 online issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is also available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsoste.htm.

2/1/11 Final Recommendation Statement: Vision Screening in Children Ages 1 to 5

In an update to its 2004 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends vision screening in all children at least once during the ages of 3 to 5 years to detect the presence of amblyopia or its risk factors. The USPSTF found that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of vision screening in children younger than 3 years of age.

The recommendation was published in the February issue of Pediatrics and is also available at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsvsch.htm.

2/22/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Behavioral Counseling to Promote a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity in Adults

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthful diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults. This draft recommendation is an update of the USPSTF 2002 recommendation on behavioral counseling in primary care to promote physical activity and a partial update of its 2003 recommendation on behavioral counseling in primary care to promote a healthy diet (the part of the recommendation that dealt with counseling patients at risk of cardiovascular disease was not updated at this time).

To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendations statement is available until March 22, 2011.

The USPSTF is working to make its recommendations clearer and more useful. This is a new step as part of its ongoing effort to keep its work and methods clear to the public it serves.

3/14/11 Appointment of New Members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) today announced the appointments of Virginia A. Moyer, M.D., M.P.H., as chair, and Albert L. Siu, M.D., M.S.P.H., and Michael L. LeFevre, M.D., M.S.P.H., as co-vice chairs of the Task Force. The USPSTF is an independent, volunteer panel of 16 private-sector experts in prevention and primary care that makes recommendations to primary care clinicians about preventive services such as screenings, counseling, or preventive medications that may benefit patients before they experience signs or symptoms of a condition. More information, including biographies for each new and existing member, is available at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.

3/22/11 Public Comment on Draft Evidence Report: Screening for and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease

Through a partnership with the Effective Health Care Program, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is offering an opportunity for public comment on the evidence report on Screening for and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. To provide comments, please go to: http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/comment-draft-reports/?pageaction=displayDraftCommentForm&topicid=163&productID=641. Comments will be accepted until April 6, 2011.

As the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force works to increase the transparency of its methods and processes, additional opportunities for public comment will be available. Information about these opportunities will be posted on http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/.

3/28/11 New Content on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Web Site

Topic Nominations. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has expanded its Web site with new content. Now anyone—including individuals and organizations—can nominate a topic for the USPSTF to consider for a future recommendation directly through its Web site. A nomination may suggest a new preventive service topic that has not been reviewed by the USPSTF to date or recommend reconsideration of an existing topic. These nominations are accepted at any time and are considered by the USPSTF at one of its regularly scheduled meetings in March, July, or November. For more information or to nominate a topic, visit http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tftopicnom.htm.

Older Adults. The USPSTF Web site now provides information on preventive services and health-related topics for older adults, as well as children and adolescents. The new content focuses on the USPSTF's Older Adults Workgroup, including its members, mission and objectives, current research, and proposed research methods (including a new draft analytic framework for "geriatric syndromes"). For more information about the USPSTF's work with special populations, visit http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/populations.htm.

4/5/11 Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Testicular Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has reaffirmed its 2004 recommendation against screening for testicular cancer in adolescent and adult males without any symptoms. This is a grade D recommendation.

The recommendation was published in the April 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is also available at: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspstest.htm. The USPSTF is a national, independent panel of non-Federal medical experts that makes recommendations, based on scientific evidence, to primary care doctors and other health care providers about which clinical preventive services they should offer their patients.

7/28/11 Final Recommendation Statement: Ocular Prophylaxis for Gonococcal Ophthalmia Neonatorum

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has reaffirmed its 2005 recommendation that all newborns should receive topical eye medication for the prevention of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum within 24 hours of birth. This is a Grade A recommendation. The USPSTF concluded that there was no evidence of harms associated with the treatment, and the evidence showed a clear benefit to offering the preventive measure to all newborns. The recommendation is available at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf10/gonoculproph/gonocuprs.htm.

8/16/11 Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Bladder Cancer

In an update to its 2004 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for bladder cancer in asymptomatic adults. This is an I statement. Previously, the USPSTF concluded that the harms outweighed the benefits of screening for bladder cancer. The update focused on the benefits and harms of screening among people without symptoms, the accuracy of screening tests done in primary care settings, and the benefits and harms of treatment. The updated evidence review did not find any new high quality evidence to adequately determine the balance of benefits and harms of screening for bladder cancer. However, bladder cancer is a common cancer and can cause considerable health problems including death. Therefore, the Task Force determined that the evidence was insufficient to provide a recommendation for or against bladder cancer screening. The USPSTF emphasizes the need for additional research in this area.

The recommendation appears in the August 16, 2011 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsblad.htm.

9/14/11 Public Comment on Draft Evidence Report: Screening and Treatment for Glaucoma

Through a partnership with the Effective Health Care Program, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is offering an opportunity for public comment on the evidence report on Screening for Glaucoma.

To provide comments on Comparative Effectiveness of Screening for Glaucoma, please go to: http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/comment-draft-reports/?pageaction=displaydraftcommentform&topicid=182&productid=780&documenttype=draftReport.

To provide comments on Comparative Effectiveness of Treatment for Glaucoma, please go to: http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/comment-draft-reports/?pageaction=displaydraftcommentform&topicid=183&productid=779&documenttype=draftReport.

Comments will be accepted until October 12, 2011.

9/21/11 Evidence Report: Screening for Coronary Heart Disease With Electrocardiography

In order to update its 2004 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a review to identify and assess any new available evidence on screening for coronary heart disease in asymptomatic adults with resting or exercise electrocardiography (ECG). The review, conducted by the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center, examined four key questions: 1) whether screening with resting or exercise ECG improves coronary heart disease outcomes; 2) whether identifying high-risk people with resting or exercise ECG affects the use of treatments to reduce cardiovascular events; 3) whether resting or exercise ECG results can be used to accurately classify people into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups; and 4) whether there are harms associated with screening with resting or exercise ECG.

The evidence report was published in the September 20 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsacad.htm.

The USPSTF is a national, independent panel of nonfederal medical experts that makes recommendations based on scientific evidence to primary care doctors and other health care providers about which clinical preventive services they should offer their patients.

9/27/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Coronary Heart Disease With Electrocardiography

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on Screening for Coronary Heart Disease with Electrocardiography (ECG). This draft recommendation is an update of the USPSTF 2004 recommendation. The updated draft recommendation focuses on ECG rather than electron-beam computerized tomography, which is addressed separately in another recommendation (Using Nontraditional Risk Factors in Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessment).

To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendation statement will be available until October 25, 2011.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is a national, independent panel of medical experts that makes recommendations based on scientific evidence to primary care doctors and other health care providers about which clinical prevention services they should offer their patients.

10/4/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Hearing Loss in Adults Ages 50 Years and Older

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on Screening for Hearing Loss in Adults Ages 50 Years and Older. This is an update of the 1996 USPSTF recommendation. The updated draft recommendation applies to adults ages 50 years and older who show no signs or symptoms of hearing loss. It does not apply to people seeking treatment for hearing problems.

The USPSTF is a national, independent panel of medical experts that makes recommendations based on scientific evidence to primary care doctors and other health care providers about which clinical prevention services they should offer their patients.

10/5/11 Evidence Report: Screening for and Management of Obesity and Overweight in Adults

In order to update its 2003 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a review to identify and assess any new available evidence on screening for and management of obesity and overweight in adults. The review, conducted by the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center, examined five key questions: 1) whether primary care screening programs that identify obese or overweight adults improve health or physiological outcomes or result in weight loss; 2) whether weight loss interventions that are feasible or referable in primary care settings improve health outcomes; 3) whether weight loss interventions improve physiological outcomes; 4) whether weight loss interventions result in short-term (12 to 18 months) or long-term (more than 18 months) weight loss; and 5) whether weight loss interventions cause any harms.

The evidence report was published in the October 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf11/obeseadult/obeseart.htm. The USPSTF used the evidence report to inform its draft recommendation statement on screening for and management of obesity and overweight in adults, which will soon be available for public comment on the USPSTF Web site.

10/12/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Prostate Cancer

Earlier this week, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted its draft recommendation statement on screening for prostate cancer for public comment. The draft recommendation statement may be viewed at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The Task Force encourages interested individuals and organizations to review the draft recommendation statement and provide comments. Comments may be submitted until November 8, 2011.

Task Force members will also be holding a briefing via conference call on its draft recommendation on screening for prostate cancer on Friday, October 14 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, ET. During this briefing, they will provide an overview of the USPSTF, summarize the systematic review of the evidence, and walk through the draft recommendation statement. They will not be able to respond to questions during the call, but will encourage participants to submit their comments via the Web site. The call will be limited to the first 200 people who respond.

If you are interested in listening to this week's briefing, please RSVP to jburwell@amplifypublicaffairs.net by Friday, October 14 at 10:00 am, ET and include your name, organization, and email address. An email will be sent the day of the call with the call-in information and materials for the call.

10/19/11 Evidence Report and Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Cervical Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on screening for cervical cancer, and holding a briefing via conference call on the same topic.

The draft recommendation statement on screening for cervical cancer is an update of the 2003 USPSTF recommendation. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendation statement will be available until November 16. The evidence report was published in the October 18 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf11/cervcancer/cervcancerupd.htm.

Task Force members will also hold a briefing via conference call on its draft recommendation on screening for cervical cancer on Friday, October 21 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, ET. During this briefing, they will provide an overview of the USPSTF, summarize the systematic review of the evidence, and walk through the draft recommendation statement. They will not be able to respond to questions during the call, but will encourage participants to submit their comments via the Web site. The call will be limited to the first 200 people who respond.

If you are interested in listening to this week's briefing, please RSVP to jburwell@amplifypublicaffairs.net by Friday, October 21 at 8:00 am, ET and include your name, organization, and email address. An email will be sent the day of the call with the call-in information and materials for the call.

10/26/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening and Management of Obesity in Adults

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on screening and management of obesity in adults. The draft recommendation statement on screening and management of obesity in adults is an update of the 2003 USPSTF recommendation. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The evidence report that informed the draft recommendation was published in the October 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and is available on the USPSTF Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf11/obeseadult/obeseart.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendation statement will be available until November 23.

10/28/11 USPSTF First Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services

Each year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) works to fulfill its mission of making evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive services to empower health care professionals, health care systems, and the American people to make informed decisions about their health and health care. The Task Force makes its recommendations based on comprehensive, systematic reviews and careful assessment of the available medical evidence. Despite these efforts, the USPSTF is not always able to provide recommendations on topics of critical importance due to a lack of available evidence.

In its “First Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services,” the USPSTF highlights 11 high-priority clinical preventive services that the USPSTF believes deserve further examination, with the hope that it will assist public and private researchers and research funders in targeting their efforts. Additionally, the Report includes an overview of the USPSTF, its methods, and processes.

Concurrent with the release of the USPSTF's report, the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) issued its first Report to Congress. The work of the USPSTF complements that of the CPSTF, which makes recommendations to identify programs, services, and policies proven effective in communities, worksites, schools, and local governments. The CPSTF report provides background on the CPSTF, its methods, findings, and recommendations, and describes both gaps in existing research on community preventive services and priorities for future Task Force efforts.

Taken together, the recommendations of the two Task Forces provide our nation with the knowledge of how health is improved by prevention in both clinical and community settings. The two reports were submitted to Congress together on October 27, 2011 to demonstrate the close collaboration of the two Task Forces, and to provide a full picture of our nation's prevention research needs.

Please click here http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/annlrpt/tfannrpt2011.pdf to read the complete USPSTF report. You may access the CPSTF report via the USPSTF Web site at: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/about.htm.

11/9/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on behavioral counseling to prevent skin cancer. This is an update of its 2003 recommendation statement. The updated draft statement recommends that primary care clinicians counsel children, adolescents, and young adults aged 10 to 24 years about minimizing exposure to ultraviolet radiation to prevent skin cancer. This recommendation applies to young people, who are at increased risk for skin cancer, especially fair-skinned individuals (who freckle and sunburn easily). The draft recommendation also states that for adults over the age of 24 years, there is not enough evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of counseling to prevent skin cancer

To view the recommendation and provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendation statement will be available until December 6, 2011.

11/30/11 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation Statements: Screening for Coronary Heart Disease, Hearing Loss, and Prostate Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) discovered technical issues with its Web site that resulted in the loss of a portion of the public comments submitted electronically for its recent draft recommendation statements on screening for coronary heart disease, hearing loss, and prostate cancer.

Comments submitted were affected as follows:

For screening for coronary heart disease with electrocardiography: comments submitted between September 27 and October 11, 2011.
For screening for hearing loss in older adults: comments submitted between October 4 and October 11, 2011.
For screening for prostate cancer: comments submitted on October 11, 2011 before the late afternoon.

Individuals who submitted comments electronically during these periods received messages confirming their comments were submitted even though the USPSTF was not receiving them.

While this technical issue was immediately resolved and many public comments on all of these topics have been received, the Task Force wants to ensure that anyone who submitted comments that may have been lost has the opportunity to send them. To this end, the public comment period for these three topics will be reopened from November 30 to December 13.

The USPSTF regrets this inconvenience, but believes it is most important to allow everyone's voice to be heard. The Task Force will carefully review all comments from the public it receives and will use them to craft its final recommendation statements.

12/12/11 Public Comment on Draft Research Plan: Screening for Peripheral Artery Disease

On December 15, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) will post the draft Research Plan on screening for peripheral artery disease for public comment. The Research Plan, once finalized, will guide the systematic evidence review that the USPSTF will use to update its recommendation on this important topic. The USPSTF wants to ensure that it frames the questions correctly at the beginning of the recommendation making process, so that the final recommendation is the most valid, reliable, and useful in the end. Beginning on December 15, you will be able to view the draft Research Plan and provide your feedback to the USPSTF at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm.

Additionally, the USPSTF will host a Webinar to discuss the draft Research Plan on screening for peripheral artery disease on Thursday, December 15 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., ET. A member of the USPSTF will provide an overview of the Task Force and its recommendation process, will walk listeners through the draft Research Plan on how the Task Force plans to frame the evidence review on screening for peripheral artery disease, and will also provide instructions for submitting feedback and comments on this draft document. This Webinar is limited to the first 200 people who respond.

If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to rsvp@uspstf.net by Wednesday, December 14 at 12:00 p.m., ET, and include your name, organization, phone number, and email address. An email will be sent the day of the Webinar with the login information.

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