Top research highlights in 2025

From acupuncture for chronic back pain to improved cancer screening, these are the research stories that made headlines over the last year

This has been a year of change and uncertainty for the research community. But it has also been a year with much to celebrate.

Below we feature just a handful of the many research achievements at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) over the last 12 months. These highlights reflect the work of many contributors — including our wonderful staff, partners, and study participants — and our commitment to continuous learning through research collaborations with care teams, health care leaders, and funders in our region and nationwide. They also reflect our unwavering dedication to our mission: to improve the health and well-being of Kaiser Permanente Washington members and all communities.

Mailed HPV test kits cost-effective for screening 

Mailed screening kits provide a convenient way for patients to test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) — the main cause of cervical cancer. Earlier research co-led by KPWHRI found that mailed kits significantly increased cervical cancer screening rates, but questions remained about whether this screening approach was financially viable for health care organizations. A recent study at Kaiser Permanente Washington provides strong economic justification, finding that mailed kits are cost-effective for screening across different patient groups, including those who are up to date on screening or overdue.

Acupuncture effective for low back pain in older adults 

KPWHRI researchers co-led the first large-scale randomized controlled trial on acupuncture for adults ages 65 and older with chronic low back pain. After 6 and 12 months of follow-up, study participants who added acupuncture to their usual care had greater improvements in their pain-related physical limitations than those who had usual care alone. Participants also reported few adverse effects from acupuncture, confirming that this is a low-risk option for older adults — an age group that has a higher risk of side effects from pain medications and other common treatments for chronic back pain.

Helping first-time screeners know when to return 

Lung cancer screening saves lives, but it needs to be repeated annually to detect early-stage cancers. KPWHRI research suggests that well-timed outreach with patient-centered materials can boost awareness about repeat screening and when to get it.

The researchers collaborated with a patient advisory board and with primary care physicians and leaders to understand the challenges and barriers to screening. These partnerships produced a communication intervention for people who had recently had screening, combining print materials with a “patient voices” video. In a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of this intervention, the researchers found that first-time screeners were particularly likely to benefit: Those who’d received the intervention were 35% more likely to know to return in a year.

Frequent standing may boost heart health post menopause 

The simple daily habit of standing up more often may improve heart health for older women who are overweight or have obesity, according to a study co-led by KPWHRI.

The researchers evaluated different approaches for changing sitting habits by randomly assigning study participants to 3 groups:

• Sit less group: Try to sit less during the day by standing more
• Sit-to-stand group: Focus on rising from a sitting position more frequently
• Control group: Not asked to change their sitting habits but received general health tips

Women in the “sit-to-stand” group increased the number of times they stood by an average of 25 times per day but did not significantly change their total sitting time. After 3 months, their diastolic blood pressure was 2.24 mmHg lower on average than that of women who hadn’t changed their sitting habits. Notably, women in the “sit less” group did not have significant improvements in their blood pressure. These findings suggest that interrupting sitting with brief standing breaks can support healthy blood pressure, even if total sitting time doesn’t change.

Another KPWHRI-led study suggests another reason for older women to take frequent breaks from sitting: a lower risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially serious condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein.

Remote programs effective for chronic pain 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective nondrug treatment for people with chronic pain, but it can be expensive and isn’t always available — especially in rural areas. A randomized clinical trial co-led by KPWHRI found that CBT delivered remotely — via telehealth or an online program — is also effective. After 3 months, study participants having either type of remote CBT were significantly more likely to have a 30% or greater improvement in pain severity than those having routine care plus a mailed resource guide. The benefits were sustained over 12 months of follow-up.

Using analytics to prevent adverse COVID-19 outcomes 

More than 5 years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, infection with the disease remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death in the United States. Health systems need a quick and accurate way to identify patients at high risk of adverse outcomes, so they can ensure that Paxlovid and other potentially lifesaving medications are offered within the short window of time when treatment is effective.

Thanks to a novel COVID-19 risk prediction model, Kaiser Permanente Washington has had this capability since 2023. This model was developed by the advanced analytics team at KPWHRI’s Center for Accelerating Care Transformation (ACT Center). In a recent paper, the team shared a closer look at the model and how they developed it in hopes that other health systems can use their results to benefit patients nationwide.

Evaluating telehealth: Progress, challenges, and road ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly transformed health care delivery, making telehealth a core component of care. To help ensure equitable and effective delivery of telehealth, the California Health Care Foundation partnered with KPWHRI’s Center for Community Health and Evaluation (CCHE) to evaluate telehealth initiatives in safety net settings (facilities that provide health care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay). Since 2020, CCHE’s evaluations have provided insights into what makes telehealth work in California’s safety net — such as dedicated resources to make operational changes, adoption of patient-friendly technology, and support for patients who experience digital barriers.

CCHE’s latest report takes a broader perspective, analyzing California’s decades-long journey with telehealth. This comprehensive assessment provides actionable steps for key partners — including policymakers, health plans, health system leaders, providers, and researchers — to ensure that telehealth works for everyone, especially those who face the greatest barriers to care.
 

We look forward to continuing our many collaborations and projects to improve health and well-being for all in 2026 — and we wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy new year.

By Sophie Ramsey​​​​