U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Opportunities for Public Comment

Available for Comment

Draft Research Plans

Screening for Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Nonpregnant Adolescents and Adults
October 9–November 6, 2012

Draft Evidence Reports

There are currently no Evidence Reports available for public comment.

Draft Recommendation Statements

Screening and Behavioral Counseling in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse
September 24–October 22, 2012

Helpful Information

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In an effort to make the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations clearer and its processes more transparent, the Task Force started posting draft Recommendation Statements online for public comment in 2010. To further enhance its work, beginning in December 2011, the Task Force is inviting public comment on all its draft Research Plans. To learn more about and comment on USPSTF draft Research Plans or draft Recommendation Statements, continue reading below.

Research Plans

A small group of USPSTF members, called topic leads, works with researchers from the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) to create a draft Research Plan to guide the systematic review of the evidence. The Research Plan consists of an analytic framework, key questions, and a literature search strategy or research approach. Each draft Research Plan is posted for public comment for 4 weeks. The USPSTF topic leads, with the assistance of the EPC researchers, review all of the comments received, revise the draft plan, and develop a final Research Plan. The final Research Plan is then posted on this Web site.

Evidence Reports

The research team at the EPC independently implements the final Research Plan by conducting a systematic review of the evidence to address the questions posed by the USPSTF. The EPC currently shares all draft Evidence Reports with a panel of external subject matter experts and revises its work based upon this feedback. In the future, the Task Force will post the draft Evidence Reports for public comment. The research team presents the revised draft Evidence Report to the full USPSTF at one of its in-person meetings. After the meeting, based on feedback received from Task Force members, the research team finalizes the Evidence Report and prepares a manuscript summarizing the evidence for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or on this Web site. The USPSTF, in partnership with AHRQ's Effective Health Care (EHC) Program, currently offers opportunities for public comment on EHC draft Evidence Reports that are related to the USPSTF's work. To learn more about and comment on draft Evidence Reports from AHRQ's EHC Program, visit http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/.

Recommendation Statements

During one of its in-person meetings, the entire USPSTF reviews the evidence, evaluates the benefits and harms of the clinical preventive service, and discusses and develops one or more specific recommendations. After the meeting, the topic leads write a full draft Recommendation Statement that includes the specific recommendations of the entire USPSTF, a rationale section, a section of clinical considerations to guide health care professionals, and a discussion section that reviews the evidence and discusses the recommendations of other organizations. The USPSTF posts its draft Recommendation Statement on this Web site for public comment for 4 weeks. The USPSTF topic leads review all of the comments received and revise the draft Recommendation Statement. The final Recommendation Statement is reviewed and voted on by the full Task Force, and posted on this Web site.

How to Comment

Any visitor to this site can comment on any of the listed USPSTF draft Research Plans or draft Recommendation Statements. However, readers should note that the USPSTF writes these documents for researchers, primary care doctors, and other health care providers, using medical and scientific language as appropriate for these audiences. To comment, click on the title of the draft document in the box at top right. Comments must be received before the comment deadline listed below each title. The comment period for draft documents is 4 weeks. Once the draft Research Plan or Recommendation Statement is removed from the public comment page, the USPSTF begins considering comments and finalizing the document. Until the final Recommendation Statement is published, the USPSTF considers the Recommendation Statements on this Web site to be current. You will receive acknowledgement that your comments have been transmitted. At the present time, the USPSTF cannot provide responses to individual comments.

Previous Opportunities for Public Comment

Prevention of Dental Caries in Preschool-Aged Children (Draft Research Plan)	July 10–August 7, 2012
Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Osteoporotic Fractures in Adults	June 12–July 10, 2012
Screening for Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse of Elderly and Vulnerable Adults	June 12–July 10, 2012
Menopausal Hormone Therapy for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions	May 29–June 26, 2012
Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease	April 30–May 29, 2012
Screening for Ovarian Cancer	April 10–May 8, 2012
Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility (Draft Research Plan)	February 28–March 27, 2012
Screening for Peripheral Artery Disease (Draft Research Plan)	December 15, 2011–January 12, 2012
Screening for Coronary Heart Disease with Electrocardiography	November 30–December 13, 2011
Screening for Hearing Loss in Older Adults	November 30–December 13, 2011
Screening for Prostate Cancer	November 30–December 13, 2011
Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer	November 8–December 6, 2011
Screening for Cervical Cancer	October 19–November 30, 2011
Screening and Management for Obesity in Adults	October 26–November 23, 2011
Screening for Prostate Cancer	October 11–November 8, 2011
Screening for Hearing Loss in Older Adults	October 4–November 1, 2011
Screening for Coronary Heart Disease with Electrocardiography	September 27–October 25, 2011
Screening and Treatment for Glaucoma	September 14–October 12, 2011
Counseling to Promote a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity in Adults	February 22, 2011–March 22, 2011
Falls Prevention in Older Adults	January 12, 2011–February 9, 2011
Screening for Bladder Cancer	November 30, 2010–December 28, 2010
Screening for Testicular Cancer	September 21, 2010–October 19, 2010
Ocular Prophylaxis for Gonococcal Ophthalmia Neonatorum	August 16, 2010–September 13, 2010
Screening for Osteoporosis	July 6, 2010–August 3, 2010