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Understanding How the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Works

USPSTF 101

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Following is the text version of the USPSTF 101 slide presentation.

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Slide 1

Understanding How the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Works: USPSTF 101

Slide 2

Goals

• Improve understanding of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force).
• Explain the connection between the USPSTF and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
• Describe how the Task Force develops recommendations.
• Highlight opportunities for public input.

Slide 3

Overview

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force...

• Makes recommendations on clinical preventive services to primary care clinicians:
  • The USPSTF scope for clinical preventive services include:
    • Screening tests
    • Counseling
    • Preventive medications
  • Services are offered in a primary care setting.
  • Recommendations apply to adults and children with no signs or symptoms.

Slide 4

Overview (continued)

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force...

• Makes recommendations based on rigorous review of existing peer-reviewed evidence.
• Does not conduct the research studies, but reviews and assesses the research.
• Evaluates benefits and harms of each service based on factors such as age and sex.
• Is an independent panel of non-Federal experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine.

Slide 5

USPSTF Members

• The 16 volunteer members represent disciplines of primary care including family medicine, internal medicine, nursing, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and behavioral medicine.
• Led by a Chair and Vice Chairs.
• Serve 4-year terms.
• Appointed by AHRQ Director with guidance from Chair and Vice Chairs.
• Current members include deans, medical directors, chief health officers, practicing clinicians, and professors:
  • www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/members.htm

Slide 6

AHRQ's Support of the Task Force

• AHRQ’s Mission: To improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.
• AHRQ provides administrative, scientific, technical, and dissemination support to the USPSTF.
• AHRQ’s Director, with guidance from the USPSTF Chair and Vice Chairs, appoints USPSTF members.
• While AHRQ provides support to the USPSTF, it is important to note that the USPSTF is an independent entity.

Slide 7

Topic Nominations

• How are topics nominated for review?
  • Anyone can nominate a topic for the USPSTF to consider via its Web site:
    www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tftopicnom.htm
  • The public may:
    • Suggest a new preventive service topic.
    • Recommend reconsideration of an existing topic.
      • Due to the availability of new evidence.
      • Changes in the public health burden of the condition.
      • Availability of new screening tests supported by new evidence.
  • Topic nominations are accepted all year round and are considered by the USPSTF at their three annual meetings.

Slide 8

Steps the USPSTF Takes to Solicit Public Input and Make a Recommendation

• Create Research Plan
• Compile Evidence Report
• Develop Recommendation
• Disseminate Recommendation

Slide 9

Steps the USPSTF Takes to Solicit Public Input and Make a Recommendation: Step 1

• 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.
• Compile Evidence Report
• Develop Recommendation
• Disseminate Recommendation

Slide 10

Steps the USPSTF Takes to Solicit Public Input and Make a Recommendation: Step 2

• Create Research Plan
• 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.
• Develop Recommendation
• Disseminate Recommendation

Slide 11

Steps the USPSTF Takes to Solicit Public Input and Make a Recommendation: Step 3

• Create Research Plan
• Compile Evidence Report
• 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.
• Disseminate Recommendation

Slide 12

Steps the USPSTF Takes to Solicit Public Input and Make a Recommendation: Step 4

• Create Research Plan
• Compile Evidence Report
• Develop Recommendation
• Disseminate Recommendation
  • Publish and Disseminate Final 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.

Slide 13

Recommendation Grades

Letter grades are assigned to each recommendation statement. These grades are based on the strength of the evidence on the harms and benefits of a specific preventive service. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/grades.htm

Grade	Definition
A	The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial.
B	The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial.
C	The USPSTF recommends selectively offering or providing this service to individual patients based on professional judgment and patient preferences. There is at least moderate certainty that the net benefit is small.
D	The USPSTF recommends against the service. There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harms outweigh the benefits.
I Statement	The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of the service. Evidence is lacking, of poor quality, or conflicting, and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined.

Slide 14

Thank You for Your Interest

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org

Updated as of September 2012
Current as of March 2012

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Internet Citation:

Understanding How the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Works: USPSTF 101 (Text Version). U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. September 2012. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf101_slides/uspstf101.htm

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