USPTSF Details 5 Evidence Gaps in Women’s Health

In a report issued to Congress, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) identified and outlined 5 high-priority evidence gaps in women’s health.
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In the Fifth Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services, the USPSTF pointed to the following issues in need of improvement:

  • Screening for intimate partner violence, illicit drug use, and mental health
  • Screening for thyroid dysfunction
  • Screening for vitamin D deficiency, supplementation to prevent fractures, and screening for osteoporosis
  • Screening for cancer
  • Implementing clinical preventive services

More specific gaps included the need for further understanding of the effects of screening for osteoporosis during menopause, how to improve the accuracy of breast density assessments, the benefits of daily supplementation with high doses of vitamin D, optimal screening intervals for major depressive disorder, accuracy of clinical screening questionnaires for illicit drug use, and screening approaches for intimate partner violence.

“The USPSTF appreciates the opportunity to report on its activities, to highlight critical evidence gaps related to preventive services for women, and to recommend important new areas for research in clinical preventive services. Future work to resolve these evidence gaps will improve the quality and effectiveness of preventive services for women. The volunteer members of the Task Force look forward to their ongoing work to improve the health of all Americans,” they concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

US Preventive Services Task Force. Fifth annual report to congress on high-priority evidence gaps for clinical preventive services. November 2015. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Name/fifth-annual-report-to-congress-on-high-priority-evidence-gaps-for-clinical-preventive-services.