The Community Preventive Services Task Force: A Useful Resource for Family Physicians

Many family physicians are familiar with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) evidence-based recommendations for clinical preventive services. However, they may not be aware of the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF), which differs from USPSTF in its focus on population health. Family physicians know that health is improved by interventions outside the examination room that impact social, behavioral, environmental, and community factors. CPSTF evaluates evidence and recommends effective interventions to improve health in the community, home, school, work, and health care settings. Systematic evidence reviews form the basis for these recommendations, which target upstream structural, economic, and social factors that affect health outcomes.