The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released its “12th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services.”
In this annual report, the USPSTF calls attention to high-priority research gaps related to promoting healthy behaviors throughout life. The report also reinforces the Task Force’s commitment to improving health equity by highlighting research gaps specific to high-risk populations.
The Task Force recognizes that everyone can improve their health by participating in physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and eliminating unhealthy alcohol and tobacco use. Empowering people through behavioral counseling to adopt a healthy lifestyle can be a way to increase the span of healthy living, reduce health disparities, and result in long-term health benefits.
Future research can help fill gaps in these areas and may result in new recommendations that provide guidance on engaging in healthy behaviors to help prevent disease and prolong life. By identifying evidence gaps and highlighting them as research priorities, the USPSTF aims to inspire collaboration among researchers to generate new knowledge in disease prevention, reduce disparities in healthcare, and close key evidence gaps.
Read the complete report on the USPSTF website.
