Recent controversies on comparative effectiveness research investigations: Challenges, opportunities, and pitfalls

The purpose of comparative effectiveness research (CER) is to improve health outcomes by developing and disseminating evidence-based information about which currently available interventions and practices are most effective for patients. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) are the hallmark of scientific proof, and have been used to compare interventions used in variable ways by different clinicians (comparative effectiveness RCTs, CER-RCTs). But such CER-RCTs have at times generated controversy. Usually the background for the CER-RCT is a range of “standard therapy” or “standard of care.” This may have been adopted on observational data alone, or pilot data.

Source: Seminars in Perinatology - July 12, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Haresh Kirpalani, William E. Truog, Carl T. D’Angio, Michael Cotten Source Type: research