Case Studies

An NIH study of treatments for high blood pressure, called the ALLHAT trial, shows some of the strengths and limitations of comparative effectiveness research to improve patient care. More...

Recent Blog Posts

Researcher knows common flaws in CER studies, dangers of result's misuse
March 8, 2010 |

A recent article by Jerome Groopman, M.D, provides some valuable, first-hand insight as to what can go wrong when policy makers “give teeth” to comparative effectiveness research (CER) studies by translating results into “best practices.” Groopman’s understanding of the limitations of CER and the complexities of delivery high quality care to each patient, lead him to caution against blunt application of CER in ways that do not give physicians the ability to deviat

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New USPSTF guidelines underscore need for patient-centered CER
December 16, 2009 |

A few days ago, I posted about what I saw as one of the key lessons from the controversy over the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) mammography guidelines, namely, that expert panels can sometimes come to different conclusions based on the same evidence.

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PIPC urges inclusion of Senate CER provision in final reform legislation
December 10, 2009 |

Agree or disagree with the recent changes to mammography guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), one thing is clear – two sets of highly qualified experts can come to very different conclusions when looking at the same evidence. This holds big implications for provisions of health care reform like comparative effectiveness research (CER).

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Better Outcomes and Improved Quality

In addition to being included in the governance of a CER institute, patients and providers should have a central in deciding which research questions the institute should answer.
Having an open, patient-centered process for setting research goals and allowing patient and provider voices to be heard will ensure that comparative research yields results that are relevant to them. By working on the research questions that matter most to patients and doctors, the institute's work will have the maximum positive affect on improved patient outcomes and health care quality.
Assuring that studies are technically sound and appropriate will enhance the research's credibility. Poorly done CER has the potential to undermine high-quality health care. Methods for conducting CER are still maturing, and it will be critical to ensure that studies undergo an independent peer-review process before research results are finalized and incorporated into the health care delivery system.