USPSTF Highlights 5 Evidence Gaps in Women's Health

Medical News |

November 19, 2015

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has identified five high-priority evidence gaps in women’s health in its annual report to Congress. The areas requiring more research are:

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  Screening for intimate partner violence, illicit drug use, and mental health conditions

  
  


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  Screening for thyroid dysfunction

  
  


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  Screening for vitamin D deficiency; use of vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent fractures; and screening for osteoporosis

  
  


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  Screening for cancer

  
  


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  Implementing clinical preventive services

  
  

“Preventive services improve women’s health and can yield benefits for their families and communities as well,” said the task force’s vice chair in a press release. “It is our hope that by highlighting gaps in evidence related to this important population, researchers will target their efforts to improve the quality of preventive health care for all women.”

The USPSTF’s yearly report to Congress is mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

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USPSTF Highlights 5 Evidence Gaps in Women"s Health