Outcomes and effectiveness research in Alzheimer disease.
"Outcomes and effectiveness research" is a relatively new clinical area, although the principles involved are not new. Outcomes and effectiveness research has grown in importance for several reasons. Changes in disease prevalence in the United States have led to more people with chronic disease, for which traditional treatment "success" measures such as cure or death are not relevant, and new measures of effectiveness are needed. In addition, results of clinical trials are not always generalizable, and information is needed about what can be expected in usual treatment circumstances. National interests, such as the desire to control costs, increase patient autonomy, and assure accountability, also are incentives for the outcomes and effectiveness movement. Important characteristics of outcomes and effectiveness research include selection of best measures and relevant domains and matching measures to those who would use the results.
Clancy
C M
CM
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA.
Cooper
J K
JK
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care