Perspectives of Comparative Effectiveness Research from the World of Decision Making

Abstract

Interest in comparative effectiveness research (CER) and reliance on CER for treatment selection and resource allocation decisions continues to grow. However, the goals of CER (i.e., to inform decision making by providing evidence on the effectiveness and consequences of treatment options) are often difficult to attain, and the pace of change in conducting and disseminating the results of CER has been frustratingly slow. This introduction to Decision Making in a World of Comparative Effectiveness Research surveys the wide range of viewpoints that reflect on various challenges facing both researchers conducting CER and healthcare decision makers. As a whole, the vision for CER expressed in this book is one that remains optimistic in achieving its goals, where real-world studies and big data analyses are applied to meet pragmatic needs of clinicians, patients, and policymakers.