U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Methods to Communicate and Disseminate Clinical Preventive Services Recommendations

Abstract

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issues evidence-based screening and prevention recommendations, and key to this task is dissemination and implementation of these recommendations. The Task Force has recommendations for more than 84 topics; each USPSTF Recommendation Statement includes a letter grade, a topline summary to guide clinician interpretation in practice, and a summary of gaps in evidence to help catalyze clinically relevant research. The USPSTF aims to update existing topics regularly and considers new topics to add each year. Clearly communicating and disseminating each recommendation is a critical task to ensure maximum benefit from use of the recommendations. The primary USPSTF audience is primary care clinicians. Over time, other audiences have become interested in the USPSTF and these entities have broad and diverse needs, necessitating a range of communication platforms and approaches. This includes engagement with and input from topic experts, primary care and federal partners, and the public to help shape the development of the recommendations. It also includes engagement of partners to disseminate USPSTF recommendations to help ensure that the primary care workforce remains up-to-date on USPSTF recommendations. This paper outlines the approaches used by the USPSTF to both solicit input (e.g., public comment periods), as well as to facilitate dissemination of its recommendations to help improve the health of all Americans (e.g., web-based and mobile application tools, journal publications, and annual reports to Congress).