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Topics in Progress

Nominating a Topic

The USPSTF makes recommendations about three types of clinical preventive services: screening tests, preventive medications, and counseling. Recommendations on preventive services are made for asymptomatic people (people without signs and symptoms of the conditions targeted by the preventive services). For more information and to nominate a topic, click here.

The following topics are in review and development with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force). The purpose of a review is to update a recommendation based on new research or to add a new recommendation to the Task Force library.

Every recommendation involves several stages of development. The diagram below outlines the current stage for each topic now under review. The review process takes into account input from the medical and research community, stakeholders, and the general public.

The length of time for the entire recommendation process varies depending on the amount and type of available evidence and the time required for compilation of data into a draft recommendation, public comment periods and consideration of comments, and in-depth review and discussions among Task Force members.



Stages of Development

Topics under review and development are listed below.

Create Research Plan. Draft Research Plan: Task Force members work with researchers from an Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) to create a draft Research Plan that guides the recommendation process. Invite Public Comments: The draft Research Plan is posted on the USPSTF Web site for public comment. Finalize Research Plan: The Task Force and EPC review all comments, address them as appropriate, and create a final Research Plan.

Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children (S)
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia (S)
Iron Deficiency Anemia in Childhood and Pregnancy (S)
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Impaired Fasting Glucose, and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (S)
Vitamin D Deficiency (S)

Compile Evidence Report. Draft Evidence Report: Using the final Research Plan, the research team at the EPC independently gathers and reviews the available published evidence and creates a draft Evidence Report. The draft Evidence Report is critiqued by external national subject matter experts. Invite Public Comments (beginning in 2013): The draft Evidence Report is posted on the USPSTF Web site for public comment. Finalize Evidence Report: The EPC reviews all comments, addresses them as appropriate, and revises the Evidence Report.

 

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (S)
Aspirin Use to Prevent Preeclampsia (PM)
Carotid Artery Stenosis (S)
Dementia (S)
Dental Caries Prevention in Children From Birth to Age 5 Years (S and PM)
Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults at Risk (C)
Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Nonpregnant Adolescents and Adults (S)
Hypertension in Children and Adolescents (S)
Illicit or Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use in Children and Adolescents (C)
Lung Cancer (S)
Multivitamin Supplements to Prevent Cancer and CVD (PM)
Peripheral Artery Disease (S)
Risk Assessment and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer (S)
Sexually Transmitted Infections (C)

Develop Recommendation. Draft Recommendation: Task Force members discuss the Evidence Report and deliberate on the effectiveness of the service. Based on the discussion, Task Force members create a draft recommendation. Invite Public Comments: The draft Recommendation is posted on the USPSTF Web site for public comment. (The Evidence Report is updated and published.) Finalize Recommendation: The Task Force reviews all comments, addresses them as appropriate, and creates a final Recommendation. Members vote to ratify the final Recommendation.

Breast Cancer Risk-Reducing Medications (PM)
Child Maltreatment Prevention (C)
Dental Caries Prevention in Children From Birth to Age 5 Years (S and PM)
Gestational Diabetes (S)
Glaucoma (S)
Hepatitis C (S)
Oral Cancer (S)
Peripheral Artery Disease (S)
Risk Assessment and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer (S)
Suicide Risk (S)
Thyroid Disease (S)
Tobacco Use in Children and Adolescents Prevention (C)

Disseminate Recommendation. The final Recommendation and supporting materials are posted on the USPSTF Web site at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Final Recommendations also are made available through electronic tools, peer-reviewed journals, and consumer guides.

Abbreviations: C = Counseling; PM = Preventive Medications; S = Screening

Notes:
For more information about EPCs, follow this link.
Follow this link to see the Methods and Processes information.
To see the public comment page, follow this link.
Follow this link to see the list of all Recommendation Statements.

Current as of May 2013

Internet Citation:

Topics in Progress. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/topicsprog.htm

 


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