Andrew L. Avins, MD, MPH

People

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3557 (phone)
andy.l.avins@kp.org
Kaiser Permanente Researcher Profiles

Andrew L. Avins, MD, MPH, is a research scientist at the Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; he holds appointments in the Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, where he remains active in the clinical and teaching programs. Dr. Avins is a board-certified general internist. His research interests include musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases, preventive medicine (with an emphasis on screening and treatment policies), complementary and alternative medicine (with an emphasis on clinical trials of alternative therapies), and research methodologies.

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist III, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine and Adjunct Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco
Physician, Urgent Care, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, CA
Staff Physician, General Internal Medicine Section, Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

Section Affiliations:

Behavioral Heath and Aging

Primary Research Interests:

Musculoskeletal diseases
Cardiovascular diseases
Preventive medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine
Research methodologies, with an emphasis on clinical trials

Studies

Pragmatic Trial of Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults

The goal of this project is to conduct a three-arm parallel-group randomized clinical trial of two acupuncture interventions vs. a usual-care control group for change in low back pain symptoms among adults at least 65 years of age.

Investigator: Avins, Andrew
Funder: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Noninferiority Trial of Adductor Canal Catheters for Postoperative Pain Management among Patients Undergoing Elective Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

A randomized, double-blind noninferiority trial of adductor canal catheters for postoperative pain management among patients undergoing elective, unilateral, total-knee arthroplasty.
Investigator: Avins, Andrew
Funder: The Permanente Medical Group

Risk-Based Breast Cancer Screening and Surveillance in Community Settings

The major goal of this project is to maintain and expand the San Francisco Mammography Registry and to evaluate the performance of mammography in an ethnically diverse population.
Investigator: Avins, Andrew
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trial (CREST-2)

Carotid revascularization for primary prevention of stroke (CREST-2) is two independent multi-center, randomized controlled trials of carotid revascularization and intensive medical management versus medical management alone in patients with asymptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis. One trial will randomize patients in a 1-to-1 ratio to endarterectomy versus no endarterectomy, and another will randomize patients in a 1-to-1 ratio to carotid stenting with embolic protection versus no stenting. Medical management will be uniform for all randomized treatment groups and will be centrally directed. The purpose of this trial is to determine the best way to prevent strokes in people who have a high amount of blockage of their carotid artery but no stroke symptoms related to that blockage.
Investigator: Avins, Andrew; Chang, Robert; Nguyen-Huynh, Mai
Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

An Evaluation of the KPNC Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program

The objective of this study is to evaluate a new Northern California screening program for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in terms of its effect among relevant patients on their AAA-related outcomes of care and processes of care. Aneurysms of the infrarenal portion of the abdominal aorta are generally asypmptomatic until they rupture, an event that is usually fatal. Clinical trials have shown that, despite the risk associated with interventions, repair of the aneurysm results in a lower overall and cardiovascular mortality among male smokers, aged 65-75. KPNC will invite all members in this group to a one-time ultrasound screening appointment in a stepped fashion across all facilities. We will take advantage of this stepped program implementation to investigate the effect of an invitation to screening vs. the control membership awaiting screening; the primary outcomes are total mortality, AAA-related mortality and the need for emergent surgery for a ruptured AAA.
Investigator: Avins, Andrew
Funder: Center for Effectiveness and Safety Research

Mindfulness and Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this study is to conduct a randomized clinical trial of a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention versus a usual care control for the prevention of recurrent migraine in adults.
Investigator: Avins, Andrew
Funder: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

A Pragmatic Trial of Lumbar Image Reporting with Epidemiology (LIRE2)

The goal of this investigation is to study the effect of providing descriptive epidemiologic information to primary care providers on lumbar spine imaging reports. A pilot study by this group found that including information about the prevalence of abnormal radiographic findings among normals on the radiology reports of lumbar spine imaging reduced health-care utilization and the prescription of opiods to patients with low back pain who had abnormalities on the lumbar spine imaging. This will be a multicenter study using cluster-randomization techniques.
Investigator: Avins, Andrew
Funder: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Highlighted Publications

No results found matching criteria

Publications

Changes in Prostate Cancer Presentation Following the 2012 USPSTF Screening Statement: Observational Study in a Multispecialty Group Practice

Author(s): Presti J; Alexeeff S; Horton B; Prausnitz S; Avins AL

J Gen Intern Med. 2019 Dec 09.

Current Position(s):

Section Affiliations:

Primary Research Interests:

Studies

Pragmatic Trial of Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Noninferiority Trial of Adductor Canal Catheters for Postoperative Pain Management among Patients Undergoing Elective Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Risk-Based Breast Cancer Screening and Surveillance in Community Settings

Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trial (CREST-2)

An Evaluation of the KPNC Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program

Mindfulness and Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A Pragmatic Trial of Lumbar Image Reporting with Epidemiology (LIRE2)

Highlighted Publications

Publications

Changes in Prostate Cancer Presentation Following the 2012 USPSTF Screening Statement: Observational Study in a Multispecialty Group Practice

Postoperative Opioid Use Before and After Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program Implementation

Conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial of community-based mindfulness-based stress reduction versus usual care for moderate-to-severe migraine: protocol for the Mindfulness and Migraine Study (M&M)

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Severity by CT or MRI Does Not Predict Response to Epidural Corticosteroid versus Lidocaine Injections

Multisite Pain Is Associated with Long-term Patient-Reported Outcomes in Older Adults with Persistent Back Pain

A Randomized Controlled Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and Informal Cancer Caregivers: A Feasibility Study Within an Integrated Health Care Delivery System

A Pilot Mobile-based Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and their Informal Caregivers

Two Genetic Variants Associated with Plantar Fascial Disorders

Systemic effects of epidural steroid injections for spinal stenosis

Long-term outcomes of a large, prospective observational cohort of older adults with back pain

Novel Telestroke Program Improves Thrombolysis for Acute Stroke Across 21 Hospitals of an Integrated Healthcare System

Genome-wide association study identifies a locus associated with rotator cuff injury

Associations of Race and Ethnicity with Patient-Reported Outcomes and Health Care Utilization among Older Adults Initiating a New Episode of Care for Back Pain

A Genetic Marker Associated with De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Two genetic loci associated with ankle injury

Associations of Early Opioid Use with Patient-Reported Outcomes and Healthcare Utilization Among Older Adults with Low Back Pain

Study of Methods for Assessing Research Topic Elicitation and pRioritization (SMARTER): Study Protocol to Compare Qualitative Research Methods and Advance Patient Engagement in Research

Using Natural Language Processing of Free-Text Radiology Reports to Identify Type 1 Modic Endplate Changes

A Genetic Marker Associated with Shoulder Dislocation

Two Genetic Loci associated with Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

Long term effects of repeated injections of local anesthetic with or without corticosteroid for lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized trial

Prioritizing research topics: a comparison of crowdsourcing and patient registry

Genome-wide association screens for Achilles tendon and ACL tears and tendinopathy

Quantifying Worry in the Face of Uncertainty : Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging

Assessing the Value of High-Quality Care for Work-Associated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Large Integrated Health Care System: Study Design

The impact of comorbid knee and hip osteoarthritis on longitudinal clinical and health care use outcomes in older adults with new visits for back pain

Study Protocol: The Back pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD) Registry

Efficacy of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Simple Knee Arthroscopy

A genome-wide association study identifies four novel susceptibility loci underlying inguinal hernia

Lumbar Imaging With Reporting Of Epidemiology (LIRE)-Protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized trial

Prevalence of migraine in a diverse community-electronic methods for migraine ascertainment in a large integrated health plan

Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degeneration in Asymptomatic Populations

Association of early imaging for back pain with clinical outcomes in older adults

Clinical decision rule for primary care patient with acute low back pain at risk of developing chronic pain

Effectiveness of a pharmacist-based gout care management programme in a large integrated health plan: results from a pilot study

Patients' attitudes about the use of placebo treatments: telephone survey

Clinical and ethical aspects of placebos in clinical practice-reply

Needling the Status Quo: Comment on 'Acupuncture for Chronic Pain'

Safety and Toxicity of Saw palmetto in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Urological Symptoms (CAMUS) Trial

Placebo adherence and mortality in the heart and estrogen/progestin replacement study

Audio recordings of mindfulness-based stress reduction training to improve cancer patients' mood and quality of life-a pilot feasibility study

Should we reconsider the routine use of placebo controls in clinical research?

The prognosis of acute low back pain in primary care in the United States: a 2-year prospective cohort study

Study Protocol- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections for Spinal Stenosis (LESS): a double-blind randomized controlled trial of epidural steroid injections for lumbar spinal stenosis among older adults

Adherence to placebo and mortality in the Beta Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST)

What do I tell patients about saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Randomised trial comparing hand expression with breast pumping for mothers of term newborns feeding poorly

Performance of the American Urological Association Symptom Index with and without an additional urge incontinence item

A comparison of two worlds: How does Bayes hold up to the status quo for the analysis of clinical trials?

Clinical-trial regulation

Placebo adherence and its association with morbidity and mortality in the studies of left ventricular dysfunction

Glucosamine and the ongoing enigma of chronic low back pain

When clinical practice guidelines meet the black box

Comparing recruitment strategies in a study of acupuncture for chronic back pain

Characteristics of patients with chronic back pain who benefit from acupuncture

A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain

A detailed safety assessment of a saw palmetto extract

Initial experience with a group presentation of study results to research participants

Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic low back pain: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Hepatic effects of lovastatin exposure in patients with liver disease: a retrospective cohort study

Creating a culture of research

Saw palmetto and lower urinary tract symptoms: what is the latest evidence?

Saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Spontaneous bleeding associated with ginkgo biloba: a case report and systematic review of the literature: a case report and systematic review of the literature

Use of an embedded N-of-1 trial to improve adherence and increase information from a clinical study

Nonvitamin, nonmineral supplement use over a 12-month period by adult members of a large health maintenance organization

Bundle-branch block and in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction. National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2 Investigators